Latest MB&F LM101 Fuses Mechanical Ingenuity With Artistic Imagination

When independent artistry meets unconventional watchmaking, the result can be something truly extraordinary. MB&F’s latest collaboration brings three miniature jungle scenes to life through the ancient art of cloisonné enamelling.

There are watch collaborations, and then there are encounters that genuinely push the boundaries of what a wristwatch can be. MB&F has always been rather good at the latter, and its latest partnership with independent artist and enameller Gabriel Colliard is a particularly colourful example.

The result is three striking interpretations of the Legacy Machine 101 (LM101), each combining traditional decorative craftsmanship with the distinctive three-dimensional architecture that has become a hallmark of Maximilian Büsser’s horological concept laboratory.

Entitled the LM101 Gabriel Colliard, the collection comprises three limited editions, each restricted to just eight pieces. But these are not simply variations on a familiar dial. Each watch tells its own little story, brought to life through the painstaking application of cloisonné enamel.

Three watches, three miniature worlds

Taking inspiration from the richly coloured enamel dials of the 1950s, Colliard has created three compositions, each centred around a dominant colour.

The Macaw edition is a celebration of red, featuring a pair of scarlet macaws in flight between jungle and sea. Full of movement and energy, the composition reflects the birds’ sociable nature, with vibrant reds and oranges creating an exuberant visual identity.

The Monkey edition takes a rather different direction. Set against a predominantly blue landscape, a mischievous primate is surrounded by fruit and luxuriant vegetation beside a gently rippling lake. There is a playful quality to the scene, accompanied by a welcome reminder not to take life too seriously.

Completing the trio is the Crocodile edition, where a powerful reptile emerges from a green, swamp-like environment. Its imposing presence contrasts with the organic, almost dreamlike character of the surrounding landscape.

Each composition draws on Post-Impressionist and vintage Symbolist imagery, creating something that feels both historically informed and distinctly contemporary.

The art of working with fire

At the heart of these creations is cloisonné enamelling, one of the most demanding traditional decorative techniques in watchmaking. The process begins with an illustration. Colliard then painstakingly shapes extremely fine gold wires by hand, following the contours of the animals, vegetation and landscape. These wires form tiny compartments, known as cloisons, which are subsequently filled with finely ground enamel.

The dial is then fired in a kiln, allowing the enamel to fuse into a glass-like surface. The process is repeated, layer by layer, gradually building the colours, depth and detail of the composition. It is a delicate operation, not least because enamel has a character of its own. Colours can change during firing, and the final result depends on the thickness of the material, the surrounding shades and the temperature reached in the kiln.

Colliard works with translucent, semi-opaque and opaque enamels, carefully balancing their different responses to light. In these predominantly monochromatic compositions, even the smallest variation in tone becomes important. There is little room for error, and every firing carries an element of uncertainty.

Indeed, Colliard expects to complete approximately one enamel composition per month. Producing all 24 watches is therefore anticipated to take more than two years. This is craftsmanship operating at its own pace, rather than one dictated by a production line.

When mechanics become part of the artwork

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this collaboration is how the artwork interacts with the LM101 itself. The oversized suspended balance wheel, sculptural bridges and off-centre indications are already defining features of the watch. Rather than treating these elements as obstacles, Colliard and the MB&F team have incorporated them into the compositions.

Vegetation flows around the bridges, while the animals are positioned within the available spaces, allowing the mechanical architecture to become part of the visual landscape. Some technical adjustments were necessary to make this possible. The dial plate was modified to accommodate the thickness of the enamel, while the sub-dials were removed and their hands extended to maintain the indications.

The result is an intriguing relationship between two very different disciplines: the structured precision of mechanical watchmaking and the expressive freedom of artistic composition. Turn the watch over and there is another detail worth discovering. Colliard has also enamelled the ratchet wheel, echoing the colours and jungle motifs found on the front. It is a thoughtful touch that ensures the artistic identity continues beyond the dial.

A Legacy Machine with substance beneath the surface

First introduced in 2014, the LM101 has always been one of the more approachable members of the Legacy Machine family in terms of its overall dimensions, although there is nothing conventional about its appearance.

Its movement was the first to be entirely conceived by MB&F’s in-house engineering team, working alongside independent watchmaker Kari Voutilainen, who established the finishing specifications and ensured a connection with traditional horological codes.

For these Gabriel Colliard editions, the manually wound movement has received a welcome upgrade. Comprising 222 components and 23 jewels, the calibre now offers a 60-hour power reserve, increased from the previous 45 hours. Its impressive 14mm suspended balance wheel is fitted with a Straumann double hairspring and beats at 18,000 vibrations per hour.

The movement is housed in a 40mm platinum case, measuring 16.55mm in height, with sapphire crystals featuring anti-reflective coating on both sides.

Hours and minutes are displayed at two o’clock, while the power reserve indication sits at six o’clock. The movement is also a pleasure to examine through the sapphire crystal caseback, with its beautifully curved bridges, Geneva waves, hand-polished bevels, gold chatons and blued screws.

The value of creative freedom

There is something particularly appealing about the story behind this collaboration. MB&F’s intention was not simply to commission an artist to decorate an existing watch. Instead, the project began with a desire to support Colliard as an independent creative talent and give his work the opportunity to develop within an entirely different environment.

Having studied fine arts in Argentina, Colliard moved to Switzerland in 2003. After initially working in watchmaking through polishing, he discovered enamelling as a way of bringing his artistic interests and technical abilities together. Training in Limoges, France, followed by experience in specialist workshops and prestigious watchmaking companies, eventually led him to establish his own independent practice.

For the LM101 project, he was given unusual creative freedom to develop his own compositions, working closely with the MB&F team to explore what was possible. That freedom, combined with a willingness to experiment, has produced something rather special.

The three watches demonstrate that traditional métiers d’art need not be confined to historical interpretations. In the right hands, ancient techniques can find an entirely new expression, particularly when placed alongside such unconventional mechanical architecture.

The LM101 Gabriel Colliard is a reminder of what makes MB&F such an interesting name in contemporary independent watchmaking. It is not simply about creating another technically impressive movement or an unusual case design. It is about bringing together talented individuals, encouraging creative thinking and allowing unexpected ideas to flourish.

With just eight examples of each colourway, these are undoubtedly rare propositions. More importantly, they offer something beyond exclusivity: genuine artistic individuality, considerable technical achievement and a fascinating story of collaboration.

And perhaps that is the most fitting conclusion. In a world where precision is often regarded as the ultimate objective, the LM101 Gabriel Colliard celebrates the beauty of leaving a little room for uncertainty. After all, when it comes to enamel, the fire always has the final say.

Technical Specifications

The LM101 Gabriel Colliard editions feature a cloisonné enamel dial plate  and ratchet wheel by artist and enameller Gabriel Colliard.

Limited Editions of 8 pieces each

Monkey – Blue
Macaw – Red
Crocodile – Green

Engine

Three-dimensional horological movement developed in-house by MB&F with Kari Voutilainen
Manual winding
Power reserve: 60 hours, with sliding bridle barrel
Balance wheel: 14 mm diameter
Balance spring: Straumann double hairspring
Balance frequency: 18,000 bph / 2.5 Hz
222 components
23 jewels
Cloisonné enamel minute bridge and ratchet wheel by Gabriel Colliard
NAC-treated rear bridges and rhodium-plated mainplate

Functions

Hours and minutes indicated at 2 o’clock
Power reserve indicator at 6 o’clock
Central balance wheel with Straumann double hairspring
Crown at 4 o’clock: winding and time-setting positions

Case

Platinum case
Diameter: 40 mm
Height: 16.55 mm
Water resistance: 30 metres
35 components
Sapphire crystals with anti-reflective coating on both sides
Lug width: 21 mm

Strap

Alligator strap with matching stainless steel folding buckle with white gold cover
Buckle width: 20 mm

Price

Each edition – Macaw (red), Monkey (blue) and Crocodile (green) – is limited to eight pieces. Retail price is CHF 98,000 + VAT (USD 131,000 / EUR 107,000 + taxes)

For more information please visit MB&F