From stories of his childhood to tales of the HM1, which in 2005 along with the announcement of MB&F’s founding, he brought to his retailers with nothing more than drawings on paper.

This was just about the time that the Legacy Machine Perpetual was announced, so as he was giving the interview, he had the watch on his wrist. If you know a little about the watch, or the story that Max recounts about it, you’ll know that the gentleman who dreamt up this novel way to create the perpetual calendar movement, Stephen Mcdonnell, was instrumental in saving MB&F during one of its darkest times.

You look at the LM Perpetual and consider where the whole Legacy Machines concept started, that is the Legacy Machine No. 1. Unveiled in 2011, it was MB&F’s first round watch. Why is that ground breaking news? Wristwatches have been round ever since they came into being.

Well, because before the LM1, MB&F had never created a watch that was round. Unless you consider the HM1 maybe? But that’s two conjoined circles. Still not exactly a round watch in the classical sense. To have set out this reputation for outstandingly creative watch shapes — with the HM1, HM2, HM3 and HM4 — it must’ve been quite daunting to announce a watch that goes against this predisposition.

In a conversation with Max earlier this year, he explained that the minute a project he’s been working years on is unveiled to the world, exactly at that point, in his mind, the project is signed sealed and delivered. There still remains work to be done once a watch is announced, but that’s not what excites him and keeps him up at night. It’s the projects that are still under development behind closed doors. So we can only imagine the anxiety the man must’ve been going through as he was showing the world the HM1, while at the same time working on the LM1.

The first people Max would share his drawings of the LM1 with were, movement development expert Jean-François Mojon of Chronode and the incredible Kari Voutilainen, who without hesitation took on the task of movement design and finish specifications. Of course, there were a host of other individuals who were involved in the development of the LM1, including design maestro, Eric Giroud. But that was that and some four years of development later in 2011, Max showed the world what MB&F had managed to create: The MB&F Legacy Machine No.1.

The LM1 gave MB&F the boldness to pursue the LM2, the LM101 and eventually the LM Perpetual, which was the first Legacy Machine to bear a complication (a perpetual calendar no less). But meanwhile Max also took time to reimagine the LM1 itself. On top of the rose gold, the white gold and the platinum versions of the watch, there was also special editions created: the LM1 Xia Hang, the LM1 Silberstein and the LM1 M.A.D. Dubai.

Today MB&F announces the LM1 Final Edition. Which, in essence, means to say that MB&F will cease producing the LM1 once all 18 pieces of the Final Edition are sold off. It’s slightly saddening to realize. But hear me out. Remember how Max said that it isn’t the things that are already in the market that excite him, but the things he’s still working on behind the scenes? Well if LM1 has to be put to an end, it kinda means that Max has other things that’s in the pipeline that he needs to keep his shelves clear for. Can’t be upset about that well now can we?

“MB&F is as much my psychotherapy as my autobiography,” he continued. “This is my life. Of course, I am going to keep doing it, but I will never do pieces for the market. Everything I do, I create for myself.”

Technical Specifications: LM1 Final Edition

Movement

Three-dimensional horological movement developed exclusively for MB&F by Chronode with revised bridge design — similar to the LM Perpetual — and finishing specified by Kari Voutilainen; dual hours and minutes indications; dial-side power reserve indication of 45 hours

Case

44mm (diameter) x 16mm (height); stainless steel case

Strap

Black hand-stitched alligator strap with stainless steel buckle matching the case

Limited run of 18 pieces.