Introducing: The MB&F; LM101 Gets A Cloisonné Twist With Enamel Artist Gabriel Colliard
What We Know MB&F; has certainly had a busy year. Between the launch of the insane HM12 ‘The Guardian’ robot-and-watch combo, the EVO updates of the Sequential Flyback chronograph and LM1, and a gemset version of the SP One, among other updates like a new M.A.D.Editions design, the brand seems to be firing on all cylinders, especially for a company that’s not even expanding production. And before we even get to the holiday season, the folks there have just introduced something really, really special—a twist on the LM101 that combines its distinctive design with a heavy dose of métiers d’art. The new LM01 Gabriel Collard, as you might figure out from the name, is a collaboration between MB&F; and the enamel painter Gabriel Collard. After studying fine arts in Argentina, Collard established his roots in the watch industry as a polisher. Eventually, he went to France to train in enameling, and then made his way into enameling workshops and Patek before going independent with his own workshop. This new series is a small limited edition run of 24 pieces, split between three designs that revolve around scenes in a jungle. Each of the three designs focuses on a particular animal and color scheme—red for the scarlet macaw, blue for the monkey, and green for the crocodile. All three are executed in cloisonńe enamel, which utilizes thin gold wires bent by hand to create varying compartments and the lines of the illustration, then all filled in with enamel in varying colo...