The Minimilians are a quirky collection of collectible, alien-like creatures with heads modelled after the various watches making up the MB&F collection.
Minimilian Frog with its pop-out eyes, Minimilian Thunderbolt with those cool aviation vibes, and Minimilian Aquapod with its chubby round face – just to name a few. Since kicking off in 2005, MB&F has rolled out over 20 different calibres in about 30 distinct case shapes, and now each one has its own unique figurine.
For every MB&F watch registered at The Tribe (the MB&F owners club) – whether it’s brand new or a well-loved gem from the secondary market – owners automatically score a matching Minimilian figurine, completely free of charge. This applies not just for new registrations; even if the watch is already registered at The Tribe, you’re in for a treat.
The Tribe currently boasts a tight-knit community of about 1,100 MB&F owners, all part of the MB&F family. The Minimilians are more than just cool collectibles; they’re a badge of honour, a sign that you’re in the club, with perks like special event access and exclusive products. Plus, Tribe members can extend their watches’ two-year warranty by another two years (if it’s currently under warranty). The Minimilians are a small token of gratitude to Tribe members, to thank them for having made the MB&F adventure possible since it started almost 20 years ago.
For MB&F owners who haven’t registered their watch yet at The Tribe, it takes just a few minutes, although you might need to grab your loupe to spot that serial number. Once you’re signed up, the corresponding Minimilian is boxed up and ready to find its new home. Every MB&F watch is at some point in their journey and each Minimilian is like a stepping-stone or a celebration in that journey, which will continue for decades or more. While many brands are diving into the digital world with blockchain, MB&F prefers to stay grounded with tangible treasures, and the Minimilians are a part of that philosophy.
Maximilian Maertens has been working with MB&F founder Maximilian Büsser for several years: he is the designer behind pieces like the T-Rex, TriPod and Orb clocks co-created with L’Epée 1839, or the MusicMachine1 Reloaded music box co-created with Reuge. Maertens was tasked with designing the individual characters; he was inspired by the chubby ghost from the 1984 Ghostbusters’ movie poster for the overall form of the Minimilians. He had to study each and every watch model in detail to decide which features were essential – what to include and what to ignore – as designing for 3D printing instead of CNC machining created a totally different approach.
Finally, the Minimilians’ packaging is taken care of by another long-time Friend of MB&F: Olivier Berthon from Soixante et Onze. For well over a decade, Olivier has been creating and manufacturing the vast majority of watch boxes and packaging for MB&F. Each Minimilian box is created from high-quality foam – the same foam that protects MB&F watch boxes – that protects the Minimilians as they travel to their new homes.
For more information please visit MB&F