The MB&F HM9-SV Timepiece Is Inspired by Retro Autos, Is Unlike Any Other

Swiss watchmaker Maximilian Büsser and Friends, or MB&F for short, has unveiled the latest iteration of the now-iconic Horological Machine N°9 introduced in 2018. Inspired by automotive and aviation design from the ‘40s and ‘50s, it was named HM9 Flow and introduced a design unlike any other before – or after.

HM9-SV, the latest addition to the prestigious line, or Horological Machine N°9 Sapphire Vision, maintains that outstanding design and throws in a full, clear case of sapphire crystal for good measure – and for watching the complications inside for hours on end. This piece, like its predecessor, is massive in size and with a shape meant to replicate the aerodynamic, curved lines of retro autos. It stands out for the fact that, for the first time, it allows a clear view at its internal movement from all sides.

The sapphire hull is scratch- and shatter-resistant and has a metal framework made of either white or red gold, which is fused to the clear case. A rubber gasket keeps the HM9-SV water resistant up to 30 meters (98 feet), in case you ever want to go diving with something like this on your wrist.

Creating one such timepiece is a time-consuming matter, as well. The watchmaker says each piece takes about 350 hours alone on the mechanism (MB&F’s LM2 engine also found in the previous model) since each component has to be polished and precision-machined. While the mechanism itself is meant to be the focus of all attention, you can still read the time on this piece on the vertical dial – a strange but admittedly necessary thing to put in writing.

MB&F offers four models of the HM9-SV: two with 18K red gold frame with either black engine or blue engine, and two with 18K white gold frame with either a purple or red gold plated engine. Only five examples for each model will be made, at a price of $440,000 (plus VAT) each, and they're already available for order.