MB&F Legacy Machine N1 EVO Revives the 2011 LM1 at $109,000
The MB&F Legacy Machine N1 EVO is MB&F's return to the watch that started its Legacy Machine line. Announced on October 13 and 14, 2026, fifteen years after the original LM1 appeared in 2011, it keeps the two independent time displays and the 14mm suspended balance wheel, shrinks the case from 44mm to 42mm, lifts the power reserve from 45 to 60 hours and adds 80 meters of water resistance. It costs $109,000 in grade 5 titanium and $137,000 in 5N+ rose gold, limited to 33 pieces, and Hypebeast reports both are available now.
At a glance
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Model | MB&F LM1 EVO (Legacy Machine N°1 EVO); reference numbers not published in sources we read |
| Case | 42mm diameter, 16.8mm thick, bezel-less with high-domed sapphire; grade 5 titanium or 5N+ rose gold |
| Dial | Titanium: rhodium-plated plate, black displays, blue hands. Rose gold: green plate, gold-toned hands |
| Movement | Manual-wind, in-house, about 338 parts; 14mm flying balance with Straumann double hairspring; 25 jewels per two outlets |
| Power reserve | 60 hours (original: 45), inclined indicator at 6 o'clock |
| Water resistance | 80m (8 ATM), screw-down crowns, FlexRing shock protection |
| Strap | Integrated rubber strap, quick-release at case and clasp, matching titanium or rose gold folding buckle |
| Production | Titanium: not presented as limited. Rose gold: 33 pieces |
| Price | $109,000 titanium; $137,000 rose gold (CHF 82,000 / 102,000 and EUR 89,000 / 111,000 excluding VAT) |
| Availability | Available now through MB&F and its retail network, per Hypebeast (October 14, 2026) |
What is new on the MB&F Legacy Machine N1 EVO
The architecture is familiar. Two fully separate hour-and-minute displays sit at 3 and 9 o'clock, and a 14mm balance wheel floats between them under a high-domed sapphire crystal. What changes is how the watch is built around that layout. The case drops from 44mm to 42mm while staying 16.8mm thick, a figure Gear Patrol describes as close to the original, with the tall crystal accounting for much of the height.
The old vertical power-reserve gauge is replaced by an inclined, luminous indicator at 6 o'clock, which sources describe as easier to read. The dial contrast has been revised, with black displays on the titanium watch and a green plate on the rose gold one. Rhodium plating and blue hands give the titanium model a cooler look. Outlets differ on the exact rose gold green, from a deep green to a blue-green that shifts toward aquamarine.
The EVO treatment is practical rather than decorative. The bezel-less case has screw-down crowns and an 80m rating, and MB&F's FlexRing shock-absorbing system sits between movement and case. For a watch whose balance is visibly suspended in the open, that protection is the more consequential addition.
Movement: 60 hours and a Straumann double hairspring
The calibre is a manually wound, three-dimensional movement developed in-house by MB&F with Jean-François Mojon. Watchonista's spec pages list it that way, and WatchCollecting Lifestyle also names Kari Voutilainen as a collaborator, while Luxe.digital says Voutilainen supervised the finishing. No outlet we read gives a calibre name. WatchCollecting Lifestyle counts 338 components and 25 jewels, and Luxe.digital also gives 25 jewels and says the watch is not chronometer certified.
The headline change is the power reserve, which rises from 45 to 60 hours, a one-third increase. The regulating organ is the 14mm flying balance with a Straumann double hairspring, two opposing hairsprings intended to improve positional consistency, held by a redesigned titanium bridge. Gear Patrol says the hairspring comes from Precision Engineering AG, a sister company of H. Moser & Cie.
One detail is unresolved. Hypebeast quotes the balance at 2.5 Hz, which equals 18,000 vph, while the Watchonista spec pages list 18,800 vph. We therefore do not state a beat rate. Finishing is described as Geneva waves, internal anglage, polished gold chatons and hand engraving, with a black NAC finish on the movement parts.
Dual time that is not a GMT
Each display has its own hour and minute hands, and Gear Patrol says its own screw-down crown. The two zones are set independently, so the watch is not a conventional GMT with a fixed 24-hour second hand. That allows time zones with unusual offsets, and Hypebeast and WatchCollecting Lifestyle mention 30- and 45-minute offsets, while Luxe.digital cites 15- and 30-minute ones.
Two outlets note a second use: one display can track elapsed time while the other shows the current time. For readers comparing it with a traveler's watch, such as the Rolex GMT-Master or the Tudor Black Bay GMT, the logic is different. Those watches track a home or second zone on one dial. The LM1 EVO gives each zone its full face.
Strap changes are also easier than on most watches at this price. The integrated rubber strap releases at both the case and the folding clasp, and the buckle can be swapped to suit other straps. Luxe.digital says the strap fits only this case and not earlier EVO models.
Price, versions and availability
The titanium LM1 EVO is priced at $109,000, or CHF 82,000 and EUR 89,000 excluding VAT. The rose gold version costs $137,000, or CHF 102,000 and EUR 111,000, and is limited to 33 pieces. Hypebeast does not present the titanium watch as limited, and Luxe.digital calls it a non-limited model. We found no stated production run for it. Prices are indicative and will vary with local taxes.
The $28,000 gap between the two versions buys the gold case, the green dial and the numbered edition. Hypebeast says both watches are available now through MB&F and its retail network. Other outlets give no delivery dates, and Gear Patrol points buyers to MB&F's website to inquire. Given a 33-piece gold run, availability may differ by retailer.
In the wider market the price is consistent with independent watchmaking, where complex, small-series watches routinely sit well above the big maisons' core ranges. For context on how list prices have moved this year, see our watch price increases report.
The LM1 story and who the EVO is for
The original Legacy Machine N°1 launched in 2011 as MB&F's first Legacy Machine, a round-cased line drawing on 19th-century watchmaking while keeping the brand's three-dimensional architecture. Hypebeast says it won the Public Prize and Best Men's Watch at the 2012 Genève Grand Prix d'Horlogerie, though that is a single-source claim. WatchCollecting Lifestyle says MB&F released a stainless steel Final Edition in 2017, calling it the first and last steel LM1.
The EVO line adds water resistance, shock protection and rubber straps to Legacy Machine designs. Applying it to the LM1 turns a dress-leaning, pocket watch-inspired piece into a daily wearer. It suits collectors who travel and want a distinctive two-zone watch they do not have to baby, and buyers who passed on the 44mm original for its size.
It is not a bargain, and it is not for those who need a precise beat-rate or a certified chronometer. For the rest, the 42mm case, 60-hour reserve and sealed crowns address the original's main practical limits.
MB&F LM1 EVO versions at a glance
| Version | Case | Dial | Production | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titanium | Grade 5 titanium, 42 x 16.8mm | Rhodium-plated plate, black displays, blue hands | Not stated as limited | $109,000 |
| Rose gold | 5N+ rose gold, 42 x 16.8mm | Green plate, gold-toned hands | 33 pieces | $137,000 |
Background
MB&F does not have a dedicated page in our horological history library yet. For independent watchmaking context, our H. Moser & Cie history covers a house linked to the hairspring maker Gear Patrol names, and our Patek Philippe grand complications guide shows how the established houses approach complex watches.Sources: Hypebeast, WatchCollecting Lifestyle, Watchonista (specification pages), Luxe.digital, Gear Patrol and Revolution, all retrieved October 21, 2026. MB&F's own site could not be read, so reference numbers, the calibre name and delivery dates are not confirmed. Prices are indicative, shown excluding VAT, and may change by market. Where outlets disagree, we say so.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the MB&F Legacy Machine N1 EVO cost?
The titanium version is $109,000 (CHF 82,000, EUR 89,000 excluding VAT). The rose gold version is $137,000 (CHF 102,000, EUR 111,000 excluding VAT).
Is the MB&F LM1 EVO a limited edition?
The rose gold version is limited to 33 pieces. Hypebeast and Luxe.digital do not present the titanium version as limited, and no production number has been stated for it.
How big is the LM1 EVO?
The case is 42mm in diameter and 16.8mm thick, down from 44mm on the 2011 original. It is bezel-less with a high-domed sapphire crystal.
What is the power reserve of the LM1 EVO?
It has a 60-hour power reserve from a manually wound movement, up from 45 hours on the original LM1. An inclined indicator at 6 o'clock shows the reserve.
Is the LM1 EVO water resistant?
Yes. Most outlets and the Watchonista specification pages list 80 meters (8 ATM), with screw-down crowns and a FlexRing shock protection system.
How does the dual time work on the LM1 EVO?
Each of the two displays has its own hours and minutes and is set independently. It is not a conventional GMT, so it handles unusual time zone offsets, and one display can serve as an elapsed-time counter.
When was the original MB&F Legacy Machine N°1 released?
The original LM1 launched in 2011 with a 44mm case and 45-hour reserve. The EVO arrives fifteen years later.
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