MB&F LM101 EVO - The 20-Year Celebration of Creative Watchmaking

 

When you hear about MB&F, you think of wild shapes, floating balance wheels, and machines that look more like art than watches. This year marks 20 years since Max Büsser launched his “machines for friends,” and to celebrate, MB&F gave one of its core models - the LM101 - the EVO treatment.

For those who follow the brand, this update felt inevitable. The EVO line started a few years ago with the LM Perpetual EVO, built for people who wanted to enjoy MB&F’s creative spirit in a watch they could actually wear every day. Since then, EVO has slowly spread through the collection. Now it’s the LM101’s turn, and the result is a cleaner, tougher, more practical take on one of MB&F’s most personal creations.

Source: Hodinkee

A Watch with History Behind It

The LM101 has a special place in MB&F’s story. When it was released in 2014, it was the first watch powered by a movement designed fully in-house. Kari Voutilainen, the Finnish watchmaker loved for his finishing work, helped with the aesthetics and the movement’s decoration. It represented a shift for MB&F - a brand known for complex, futuristic pieces suddenly creating something that focused on simplicity and proportion.

The LM101 was never a “normal” watch, but it was a bridge between MB&F’s more radical pieces and collectors who wanted something wearable. It showed time, power reserve, and that signature oversized balance wheel hovering above the dial - simple, but with personality.

Source: Hodinkee

The EVO Treatment

Now, in its 20th anniversary year, MB&F gives the LM101 a full EVO makeover. That means titanium construction, a redesigned case with better water resistance (up to 80 meters), and a built-in shock absorption system - the brand’s “FlexRing” that protects the movement from hard knocks.

At 40mm wide and 16.5mm thick, the LM101 EVO sounds big on paper, but titanium helps it feel lighter than it looks. The case hugs the wrist nicely thanks to a compact 49mm lug-to-lug distance and integrated rubber strap. MB&F’s deployant clasp, built by Chanel (yes, the same one they use for Richard Mille), keeps the fit tight and comfortable. The wearing experience is one of the best things about the EVO line - it turns what used to be a “special occasion” piece into something you could easily wear every day.

Source: Hodinkee

The Dial and Design

The new LM101 EVO comes with either a deep green or salmon dial plate, both paired with two black subdials - one for the time and one for the 60-hour power reserve. The black dials are brushed instead of enamel, giving a sportier and more modern look. It’s a subtle but clear shift from the older LM101s, which used white enamel subdials and blued hands.

There’s more contrast now, and it changes the personality of the watch. The EVO feels more grounded, more usable, but still entirely MB&F. The floating 14mm balance wheel remains at the centre, supported by elegant bridges that now look slightly more fluid and less sculptural than before. The green dial especially plays tricks with light - shifting from deep forest tones to hints of blue or teal depending on the angle.

One thing MB&F always nails is visual depth. You can stare at this watch for minutes and still notice new details - the tension in the balance spring, the curved bridges, the layered dial. It’s mechanical art that’s constantly alive.

Source: Hodinkee

Movement and Finishing

Inside beats MB&F’s own movement, with 23 jewels and a 40-hour power reserve. The finishing keeps the traditional touch - Geneva stripes, hand-polished anglage, and those long, flowing bridges that give the movement a sense of space. For the EVO, MB&F added an anthracite finish that fits perfectly with the sportier tone of the watch.

Technically, it’s not a huge update. But it doesn’t need to be. The LM101’s movement has always been one of the brand’s most balanced designs - simple enough to appreciate, yet full of character. The EVO version just refines what already worked.

Source: Hodinkee

The Real Question: Which LM101 Is Right for You?

Here’s where things get interesting. The LM101 EVO costs around €64,000 (compared to roughly €60,000 for the steel version of the regular LM101). For that price difference, you get titanium instead of steel, better water resistance, and a far more robust case designed for everyday life.

The question is what kind of MB&F experience you want. The original LM101 has a touch more classical charm, with enamel subdials and polished finishing that make it feel closer to traditional haute horlogerie. The EVO feels younger, lighter, and more casual - a watch that fits with the rhythm of modern life but still carries the heart of independent watchmaking.

There’s no right or wrong choice here. The LM101 EVO doesn’t replace the older version; it gives it a different context. For someone who wants to own an MB&F but actually wear it outside of collector events or dinner parties, the EVO is probably the one to go for.