It is that time of the year when some of the most prestigious watch brands exhibit their creations at Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH). Previously the event was mainly dominated by labels owned by the Richemont Group but it seems that 2017 has attracted a few independents. From what I have seen so far many of the timepieces look absolutely fantastic. Even though the industry is facing tough times and there are reports of many redundancies creativity hasn’t been stifled. A great example can be found in MB & F’s phenomenal new HM7 Aquapod.
Within the world of horology there are some big personalities who have seem to have extraordinary marketing skills. With the exception of Jean Claude Biver I would say Maximilian Büsser is one of the industries leading lights. Within a relatively small timescale he has created a luxury brand that has enticed a lot of discerning collectors. For me this is no surprise because all of their watches including the HM7 Aquapod are well designed and beautifully crafted.
When I first received the press release for the HM7 Aquapod I was impressed with the scale and design of the piece. I absolutely love large timepieces and so the mammoth 53.8mm x 21.3mm case (available in Grade 5 titanium and 18 karat gold) really appeals to me. From looking at MB & F’s Instagram pictures it also looks amazing on the wrist and I am certain it would feel very comfortable to wear. Although this complication is styled to look like a diver watch it is only water resistant to a depth of 50 metres. Therefore, it probably wouldn’t even be suitable in the shower.
Aesthetically the HM7 Aquapod bares a striking resemblance to Vianney Halter’s Deep Space Tourbillon. Both use dome sapphire crystal to great effect and have a sublime futuristic appearance. Out of the two I prefer the design of the Deep Space because of the overall simplicity. However, I still feel the HM7 Aquapod is a sensational piece of horological art and one of MB & F’s finest creations to date.
