M.A.D.Editions Raffle

The aim was not to recreate the original Baladin or turn it into a vintage reissue, but to preserve the spirit of Vincent Calabrese’s complication and bring it into the M.A.D.Editions universe.

As the original mechanism was difficult to reproduce at scale, our technical team rebuilt the wandering-hours module from the ground up - while retaining its signature fluid and progressive transition of the hours.

For over fifty years, Vincent Calabrese has quietly influenced modern watchmaking. Co-Founder of the AHCI (Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants), he is one of those figures whose influence can be found almost everywhere once you start paying attention. An outsider and self-described “l’enquiquineur de l’horlogerie” - the troublemaker of watchmaking - he has built his career on questioning conventions and rethinking mechanics from unexpected angles.

The complication began with a simple observation: Vincent Calabrese disliked the abrupt nature of traditional jumping hours, which felt disconnected from the sensation of time passing. He wanted the transition between hours to become visible and progressive.

Instead of jumping instantly, the hours travel slowly across the dial while the minutes move normally. Initially surprising, the display soon becomes intuitive - fluid, alive, and somehow more human.

This idea naturally fits the M.A.D.Editions philosophy: beneath its playful, unconventional designs lies a genuine interest in mechanical creativity, made accessible beyond the small circle of ultra-high-end independent collecting.