Today in Taipei, Maximilian Büsser, MB&F founder, and Lori Shen, owner of MB&F retail partner Swiss Prestige, presented the LM Split Escapement EVO Taipei Edition which is limited to 20 pieces only.
It is distinguished by green subdials on a black baseplate in a grade 5 titanium case.
This new Limited Edition coincides with the complete transformation of the existing boutique into the redesigned “MB&F Lab” architecture, like the new spaces recently opened in Singapore, Paris and Beverly Hills. The re-opening of the MB&F Lab Taipei is scheduled for mid-October.
The partnership between MB&F and Swiss Prestige goes back practically to the beginnings of MB&F; and after the brand opened its first MB&F M.A.D.Gallery in Geneva, Swiss Prestige was the first partner to follow by opening their own M.A.D.Gallery in Taipei. An impressive challenge for Lori and her team at the time, since the company had been operating for many years as a distributor, but had no background in running an actual retail store. Mission accomplished!
Compared to the original LM Split Escapement, the entire movement of the ‘EVO’ versions has been rotated clockwise by 30 degrees, radically changing the symmetry of the watch and giving it a totally new character. These EVO variants are conceived for an active lifestyle: ergonomic case with integrated rubber strap, 80m of water-resistance with screw-down crown, “bezel-free” design… and the shock-absorbing “FlexRing” system, placed between the movement and the case. The manual-winding, 298-component calibre is driven by double barrels providing 72 hours of power reserve and features a user-friendly, foolproof rapid date-changing system. No tedious fiddling with the crown to set the date correctly!
Retail price of the LM SE EVO Taipei Edition – sold exclusively in that location – is TWD 3,200,000 including local VAT.
Let me conclude with a bit of a personal opinion on this watch. I had the privilege to view it ahead of time during Geneva Watch Days and shot some photos. Putting this watch on my wrist gave me a real impression of how it feels to wear and I was very much enamored with it on the wrist, it is comfy, the look with the green dials is absolutely phenomenal. Usually, I try not to give too much of a personal opinion, but in this case, it is well deserved. Visually, this timepiece is an absolute feat to the eyes. And to the wrist.