Intro

The MB&F HM8 model is called the CAN AM after the Canadian American racing championships which first started in 1966, the HM8 was launched in 2016, 50 years later as a tribute to these races.

A bit about Max

Max Büsser’s ingenuity is on full display in this multifunctional machine that takes design cues from the automobile industry, since his role as orchestrator of the Harry Winston Opus series, CEO Maximilian Büsser has been challenging the way watches tell time for over 20 years. His creations at MB&F have continued this experimental theme, never compromising on the quality of the watches, for the sake of design. 

How its built

It’s built like a car, with the engine visible from the front, the oil sumps from behind where the watch movement is lubricated. The engine is protected by a slab of sapphire and two titanium roll bars, the roll bars are machined out of a whole ingot of titanium it takes thousands of hours with 3D Mills and five axis to achieve the shape, then it is hand polished to perfection the HM8 has been one of the most complex designs that Max has ever done with 50 prototypes leading up to this final finish. 

 This is the third and last item in the trilogy HM5, HMX, HM8, this has been the last iteration of the project, Max originally wanted to be a car designer, he originally started with one design and then saw himself improving it and finally arrived where he wanted to be with the HM8.

Case

The case’s foundations are constructed from 18K white gold and complemented by titanium components, including the polished “roll bars” designed to invoke the look of those found in Can-Am race cars.

What you see

Looking straight on, the wearer is greeted by the movement’s components and battle axe-shaped winding rotor rather than the time like on a conventional watch. A quick rotation of the wrist reveals this on the lateral side using automotive-inspired readouts sitting behind a magnified sapphire crystal. 

Under the hood

Internally, MB&F sourced a base movement from Girard-Perregaux, which has been neatly finished with Côtes de Genève across the bridges and is equipped with a 42-hour power reserve.

Strap

The HM8 is paired with a factory navy blue alligator strap crafted for MB&F by renowned leather goods producer, Camille Fournet. It’s linked to a titanium deployant clasp incorporating the watchmaker’s battle axe motif. 

Endnote

When you design there is no truth there is no right or wrong there is your gut feeling that its actually right it can take days, weeks, months, years before it starts resonating that it is right, Max never stops until he feels its right and that is the design spirit of every MB&F