Horological Machine N°5

Overview

At first glance HM5 appears to be a relatively simple timepiece… but it’s more complicated than you might think.

The time display consists of bi-directional jumping hours and trailing minutes – with indications inversed, reflected 90° and magnified thanks to an optical prism. Looking below the surface of the HM5 case reveals a surprise: another water resistant case, which protects the high-performance engine inside.

HM5 has a futuristic case design, but it’s a direct homage to two 1970’s icons: the first high-performance supercars, and the plucky Amida Digitrend watch. Last but not least, even though it was inspired by an era when quartz was king, HM5 has a self-winding mechanical movement.

Horological Machine N°5

What's so special about this machine?

A sapphire crystal prism, a waterproof engine container, louvres and exhaust pipes will bring your wildest 70s supercar dreams to life.

Horological Machine N°5

Machine in action

Horological Machine N^o5 CarbonMacrolon (HM5 CM): Super car styling; bi-directional jumping hours, compartmentalised Engine in its own water-resistant inner case; functioning louvres allowing light in to charge the Super-LumiNova indication discs; and water-draining exhaust ports.

Horological Machine N°5

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Horological Machine N°5

THE MACHINE

The wedge-shaped case of HM5 has unmistakable references to the low-slung supercars of the 70s.

The purpose of the louvres on these awe-inspiring cars was to restrict sunlight (and heat) from entering the near horizontal rear window. The functional louvres on HM5 do the opposite in that they open to allow light down onto the Super-LumiNova numbers on the hours and minutes indication disks to charge them.

The disks are actually flat on top of the movement (under the louvres), not vertically at the front of the case where they appear to be thanks to some optical magic. Opening and closing the louvres also changes the dial’s light intensity. The louvres are opened and closed by a slide set into the side of the case.

HM5 ZR in zirconium with stainless steel container, HM5 RT in red gold with titanium container and HM5 CarbonMacrolon in CarbonMacrolon with stainless steel container

Slide button to open/close flaps

Exhaust ports to drain water

Dimensions: 51.5 x 49 x 22.5mm

Three-dimensional horological engine developed by Jean-François Mojon and Vincent Boucard of Chronode
Powered by a GP/Sowind gear train
224 components / 30 jewels / 42h power reserve
Engine housed in a water resistant inner container

Smoked optical grade sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating and 20% magnification.
Sapphire crystal on back with anti-reflective treatment on both faces.

Bi-directional jumping hours and trailing minutes displayed by reflective sapphire crystal prism with integrated 20% magnifying lens

Horological Machine N°5

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Horological Machine N°5

Inspiration

For MB&F founder Maximilian Büsser, growing up as a child in the 1970s meant living in a constant state of awe and wonder. Supersonic jets flew through the air and through space; American muscle cars dominated the silver screen in road movies and fuelled the imagination.

The Lamborghini Miura launched a new genre of Italian super cars that looked as though they could break the sound barrier while standing still (creations that led the young Max to dream of being a car designer). Lasers, transistors, microwaves, hovercrafts and jet-packs gave the impression that the difference between science fiction and science fact was just a matter of when, not if.

And with the arrival of quartz wristwatches, watch designs were transformed from looking like something your grandfather wore, to something Captain Kirk might wear. HM5 takes these childhood dreams and gives them a new lease of life.