Luxury Timepiece Answers The Question ‘What If That House Was A Watch?’

In a creative fusion of horology and architecture, renowned Swiss watchmaker MB&F has introduced its latest masterpiece: the Horological Machine Nº11 Architect.

Inspired by experimental architecture from the mid- to late-1960s, this timepiece was made to answer the question, “what if a house was a watch?” As architect Le Corbusier put it, “une maison est une machine à habiter“ (a house is a machine to live in).

At the heart of this unique creation is a central flying tourbillon, symbolizing the core of a house. 

The tourbillon sits beneath a double-domed sapphire roof, giving the impression of a dwelling. What makes this watch truly exceptional is its ability to be rotated, revealing four distinct rooms, each with its own function.

The first room displays the time, using rod-mounted orbs as hour markers. These orbs, made from polished aluminum and titanium, create a striking visual effect against the glossy white walls.

The second room is dedicated to the power reserve display. Like the time room, it uses rod-mounted orbs and a red-tipped arrow to indicate the remaining power reserve, which can reach an impressive 96 hours.

In an unexpected move, the third room houses a thermometer, a feature rarely seen in watches. This mechanical thermometer operates without external energy input and offers readings in either Celsius or Fahrenheit.

The fourth and final room appears seemingly empty, save for a small round badge with the MB&F logo. However, this space serves as the time-setting crown of the watch, allowing wearers to adjust the time.

Crafted from challenging materials like titanium and sapphire crystal, the Horological Machine Nº11 Architect pushes the boundaries of watchmaking. The intricate case design requires close to a week to complete, involving milling, finishing, and quality control.

One striking feature of this watch is its transparent crown, allowing an unobstructed view of the movement.

This 10mm sapphire crystal crown presented unique technical challenges, as it needed to prevent water and dust ingress while turning smoothly.

Despite its architectural complexity, the watch maintains a sleek and wearable 42mm diameter case. The curved case feet, serving as strap attachment points, ensure comfort and stability on the wrist.

[via Hodinkee and A Blog To Watch, images via MB&F]