LM1 Xia Hang
Overview
Welcome to the world of LM1 Xia Hang, a collaboration between MB&F and a Chinese artist featured at the M.A.D.Gallery: Xia Hang..
LM1 Xia Hang retains all of the 19th century pocket watch-inspired features of the original LM1, including the majestically suspended oscillating balance wheel and dual time indications that can be set completely independently, but with a twist: the power reserve is indicated by a miniature, highly-polished aluminium man, designed by talented Chinese sculptor, Xia Hang. The man sits up straight when the movement is fully wound (Mr. Up) and gradually slumps over as the power diminishes (Mr. Down). Xia Hang first created full-size sculptures, which MB&F then scaled down to a height of just 4mm (1/8") and then developed the articulation required
About the collaboration
Xia Hang and MB&F share much in common. While MB&F create serious works of time-telling kinetic art, they don’t take themselves too seriously. Similarly, Xia Hang believes the world of art is often too serious; he likes it to be playful, and wants his sculptures to entertain and make people smile. And just like MB&F, Hang calls his kinetic sculptures 'machines'.
INDEPENDENT TIME ZONES
Both the hours and the minutes on each of the two sub dials can be set completely independently of each other – dual time zone complications usually do not allow independent adjustment of the minutes.
POWER RESERVE INDICATOR
MB&F scaled down a full-size Xia Hang sculpture to a height of just 4mm (1/8"); when upright "Mr Up" indicates full power; when power diminishes he turns into "Mr Down".
FLYING BALANCE WHEEL
Icon of the Legacy Machines, the oversized 14mm balance wheel with four traditional regulating screws flies above the movement and dials.
Machine in action
The in-house movement powering LM1 Xia Hang bears testimony to the enormous talent of its creators. Jean-François Mojon and his team at Chronode developed the LM1 calibre, which features the world's first vertical power reserve and allows completely independent setting – including minutes – of both time displays. Acclaimed independent watchmaker Kari Voutilainen was responsible for the aesthetic design and for strictly ensuring the utmost respect for tradition and finish.
THE MACHINE
Playing with materials and finishes
Legacy Machine N°1 Xia Hang (LM1 Xia Hang) retains all of the 19th century pocket watch-inspired features of the original LM1, including the majestically suspended slowly oscillating balance wheel and dual time indications that can be set completely independently, but with a twist: the power reserve is indicated by a miniature, highly-polished aluminium man, designed by talented Chinese sculptor, Xia Hang. The man sits up straight when the movement is fully wound (Mr. Up) and gradually slumps over as the power diminishes (Mr. Down).
"I call these little men 'comma men', and their distinctive shape comes from a selection of art I created from 2005 to 2008. Commas do exist in Chinese writing and for me the ‘comma man’ represents a chubby boy." Xia Hang
- Material: 18k red gold and 18k white gold
- Dimensions: 44 x 16 mm
- Three-dimensional horological movement created by Jean-François Mojon and Kari Voutilainen
- Manual winding with single mainspring barrel
- Unique vertical power reserve indicator: a highly-polished little man in aluminium, designed by Chinese artist Xia Hang
- Bespoke 14mm flying balance wheel visible on top of the movement
- 274 components / 23 jewels / 45h power reserve
- Superlative hand finishing throughout respecting 19th century style
- Hours and minutes; completely independent dual time zones displayed on two dials
- Left crown at 8 o'clock for setting time of left dial; right crown at 4 o'clock for setting time of right dial and winding
Inspiration
Legacy Machine N°1 was conceived when Maximilian Büsser started fantasising: "What would have happened if I had been born in 1867 instead of 1967? In the early 1900s the first wristwatches appear and I would want to create three-dimensional machines for the wrist, but there would have been no Grendizers, Star Wars or fighter jets for my inspiration. But I would have had pocket watches, the Eiffel Tower and Jules Verne, so what might my 1911 machine look like? It has to be round and it has to be three-dimensional: Legacy Machine N°1 was my answer."
LM1's power reserve complication was modified to enable Xia Hang's comma man to seamlessly transition from slumping right over when power is low to sitting up straight at full wind. Xia Hang first created full-size sculptures, which MB&F then scaled down to a height of just 4mm (1/8") and then developed the articulation required. The head, shoulders, back and chest of 'Mr. Up' (as the power reserve indicator in known when wound), all bend down – thanks to a concealed hinge – towards the horizontal as he becomes tired and Mr. Up becomes Mr. Down. The tiny micro-mechanical sculpture is crafted from aluminium to minimise energy requirements. A very high polish ensures that the little man both catches the light and the eye, as well as remaining faithful to Xia Hang's original conception.
