Credits: Article and images by Joshua Munchow @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/12/30/m-a-d-1-red-owners-review-the-spirit-of-something-greater-and-the-most-affordable-horological-machine-by-maximilian-busser-plus-videos-reprise/
—————————————————————————————————–
For interesting watches built off base calibers, the movement cost is hardly ever the retail price driver, the modification, finishing, and custom components are what make the whole. It would be difficult for many small brands or microbrands to drop a watch like the M.A.D.1 for the price Max Büsser did because they aren’t used to creating incredibly atypical designs, but Max knows how to optimize aesthetics to fit within production capabilities.
The reason MB&F watches cost so much is because the movements, finishing, and case components are all dramatically more complex and much more limited in production, but the same considerations apply.
Requited love
As someone that works in product development, loves mechanics, design, and creativity, the M.A.D.1 Red lights up all the right areas of my brain to fall head over heels for this watch, and its relation to Max Büsser and MB&F is enough to make it a grail watch. Does it compare with the ultra-expensive MB&F watches I’ve held over the years?
Yes, but it isn’t a 1:1 comparison, it’s relative. You know the people behind it, the passion behind it, the production limitations behind it, and the fact that it’s rare to be able to buy something from your favorite avant-garde ultra-luxury watchmaker for a price most could justify spending.
Max meant it from the bottom of his heart that he wanted to create something for those that adore his watches but aren’t millionaires and billionaires, which is effectively most watch-loving people.
I struggle with my love for watches that are egregiously expensive because I want to make such watches, but I know that it means the people I would want to make them for couldn’t afford them. Should Max (or I) never aspire to bring incredible ideas to life? No. But he also understands he should use his creativity and relative privilege in the industry to spread the love to all the WIS that want an MB&F but will never be able to acquire one for themselves.
The M.A.D.1 Red is not an MB&F watch, but it is about as close as you can semantically get while making sure you don’t have to sell your kidneys (please don’t sell your kidneys). I still hold that, barring some life-altering event or a very (very) generous work-for-trade agreement with MB&F, I will never own an MB&F watch. But I can find some peace now that I am lucky enough to have a M.A.D.1 Red, a watch that will never leave my collection until I die or gift it to a child.
It may not be the grail I imagined years ago, that unrequited love that never will be, but it is a watch that returns my love for MB&F to me in way I never expected but will graciously accept.
If, like me, you feel that this is the watch for you, the next raffle for the second batch of M.A.D.1 Red pieces runs until the 5th of March 5, 2023, and offers the opportunity to order one of the limited pieces available.
In the video above, Max Büsser explains how the M.A.D.1 Red lottery works.
For more information, please visit https://shop.madgallery.ch/products/m-a-d-1-red-raffle.
Quick Facts M.A.D.Editions M.A.D.1 Red
Case: 42 x 18.8 mm, stainless steel and mineral glass
Movement: inverted automatic Miyota 821A caliber, 60-hour power reserve, 21,600 vph/3Hz
Functions: Lateral hours and minutes
Limitation: Limited by production
Price: 2,900 CHF
You may also enjoy:
Why I Bought It: MB&F Legacy Machine 101 2021 Edition
Behind The Lens: MB&F Horological Machine No. 9 Sapphire Vision In White Gold
Credits: Article and images by Joshua Munchow @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/12/30/m-a-d-1-red-owners-review-the-spirit-of-something-greater-and-the-most-affordable-horological-machine-by-maximilian-busser-plus-videos-reprise/