MB&F Launch LM Longhorn Limited Edition Duo For 20th Anniversary

Considering how much of a mainstay of haute horology they have become, it’s easy to forget that MB&F are one of the younger brands on the scene. The brand was originally founded in 2005 by Max Büsser, meaning that this year marks their 20^th anniversary. To kick off this milestone year they’re launching a duo of 20-piece limited editions, the MB&F LM Perpetual Longhorn and LM Sequential Flyback Longhorn.

The term longhorn refers to the extended lugs of the two watches. Instead of being short and close to the case in the style of the traditional LM models, they arc outwards like horns. This aesthetic design is something MB&F have been trying to perfect since they first envisioned it in 2009. However, their initial R&D turned up fruitless when they became stumped by the puzzle of where to locate the spring bars – either close to the case or at the tip of the lugs. Depending on the wrist size of the wearer, both options could look clunky and incorrect and so the concept was abandoned.

Then, in 2021 MB&F were creating a unique piece for a charity auction based on the remaining LM1 prototype after that collection had been discontinued. This presented the chance to revisit the longhorn concept and they came up with an elegant solution to their previous problem. Why limit the lugs to one spring bar position when you can include the holes to support both and let the customer choose whichever setting they prefer? The unique piece was a huge success thanks to the unique lugs and a few other details such as the steel case and black dial, both of which were exclusive to that model. Now, the two new anniversary editions take those three aesthetic details and present them in a limited edition series for the first time.

LM Perpetual Longhorn

If any watch in the MB&F stable deserves an anniversary edition it’s the LM Perpetual. Perpetual calendars are regarded as haute horological royalty and MB&F’s is one of the most visually stunning out there. It has a flying balance wheel suspended over the dial, giving the watch an incredible vitality and energy that contrasts with the sedate pace of a calendar watch designed to count the years as they roll by. It also has a special place in MB&F’s history as it brought them success at the GPHG and was one of the calibres designed by Stephen McDonnell, an important collaborator from MB&F’s early days.

The LM Perpetual Longhorn edition has a 44mm case in steel with the signature long lugs we’ve been talking about. At 12 o’clock you can see the black lacquer time display, matched by black lacquer subdials. This is an inversion of the original LM1 displays that had white lacquer dials. In terms of functions it has hours, minutes, day, date, month, leap year and power reserve indicator. The power reserve itself is 72-hours. Considering how complex the display is, the elegant combination of black and steel grey gives it a surprising degree of class.

LM Sequential Flyback Longhorn

While the LM Perpetual has been a staple of MB&F for a decade, the LM Sequential Flyback represents modern MB&F. First released under the guise of the EVO in 2022 it was the brand’s first ever chronograph and their 20^th calibre. Those landmark achievements make it a worthy subject for a Longhorn anniversary edition. Its innovative ‘Twinverter’ technology allows it to operate as a split-seconds chrono, independent timer, cumulative timer and lap-timer, which resulted in another GPHG win.

Here, the same MB&F Longhorn design has been used for the steel 44mm case. It also has the anniversary series’ signature black dials and blued hands based on that original unique piece. MB&F have promised that the LM Longhorn anniversary limited editions are only the start of the celebrations with new watches, collaborations and more to come throughout the year.

More details at MB&F.

​Oracle Time 

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