When Stephen McDonnell designed the LM Perpetual for MB&F, he found there was nowhere to put the escapement, so he split it in two.
MB&F now introduces two new editions of the Legacy Machine Split Escapement EVO, proving, the brand says, that EVO is becoming a collection in its own right. The first is in titanium, with an icy blue base plate and a slate grey dial. The second, limited to 25 pieces, pairs a black base plate with a metallic blue dial.
McDonnell’s answer was what MB&F calls the world’s longest balance staff. It leaves the large balance wheel on its own, above the dial, and moves the anchor and escape wheel to the opposite side of the movement. On the back, a darkened treatment sets off the wheels, the rhodium-plated barrels and the rose gold details.
The EVO case is conceived for a more active lifestyle, with a screw-down crown, an integrated rubber strap and no bezel. Inside, a shock-absorbing “FlexRing” suspends the movement. The whole mechanism is rotated, too, with the crown at 4:30 instead of 2 o’clock.
MB&F says it is one of only a handful of artisanal brands that still finish components by hand, so the view of the movement is as mesmerising as the dial.
The Basics
Brand: MB&F
Model: Legacy Machine Split Escapement EVO
Dimensions: 44mm × 17.5mm
Case material: Grade 5 titanium; sapphire crystals front and back, anti-reflective on both faces; screw-down crown
Dial: Titanium version: pastel blue base plate, dark grey dials. 25-piece edition: black base plate, blue dials. Super-LumiNova on numerals and hands
Water resistance: 80m / 8ATM / 270 feet
Strap: Integrated rubber strap, titanium folding buckle
Limited edition: 25 pieces (black base plate edition)
The Movement
Calibre: Split escapement movement developed for MB&F by Stephen McDonnell
Functions: Hours, minutes, date, power-reserve indicator; push-button for quick date adjustment
Winding: Manual, double mainspring barrels
Power reserve: 72 hours
Frequency: 2.5Hz / 18,000bph
Jewels: 35
Images courtesy of MB&F.