Credits: Article and images by Joshua Munchow @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/07/01/mbf-hm8-mark-2-horological-hypercars/
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MB&F HM8 Mark 2
As the name suggests, the HM8 Mark 2 is a follow up to the original HM8 with an inspiration distinct from its forebearer.
MB&F HM8 in white gold
While the former looked to the Can-Am race cars of the 60’s and 70’s, the Mark 2 looks more modern. The design language could easily be seen to be from something like the 2013 Porsche 918 Spyder, seat cowls and all, though it is still integrated with classic styling, including hints possibly drawn from the 1972 BMW E25 Turbo with it’s scooped rear deck and full-length body ridge, seen in the HM8 Mark 2 on the central titanium housing.
MB&F HM8 Mark 2 White
Design inspiration aside, the Mark 2 follows in the footsteps of many other MB&F pieces and functionally displays time like a “drivers” watch. That means a display that is either rotated or angled toward the driver while they would be holding the steering wheel, in this case with the display tilted vertically thanks to a pair of prisms sitting over top of the hour and minute disks. The prism display is also magnified to make up for the depth of the angled view, all integrated into the prism body.
MB&F HM8 Mark 2 Green
Core mechanics of the HM8 Mark 2 are largely the same between the original and the Mark 2, simplifying the build and allowing attention to other details. The crown has been updated with a unique “double de-clutch” mechanism that requires a push and three-quarter anti-clockwise turn to unlock, securing the crown against bumps and accidental adjustment. It isn’t as secure as a screw down crown for high amounts of water resistance (the Mark 2 sports 30 meters of resistance) but it makes a much more tactile experience for the user, and channels even more automotive easter eggs into the design.
MB&F HM8 Mark 2 Green
On the top of the Mark 2 we get a full view of the movement, classic battle ax rotor, and a peek at the rear of the display prisms. The sapphire crystal follows the shape of the display cowls and reminds me of the classic Hurst Hemi Under Glass, an exhibition car that purposefully had the rear mounted engine visible under a giant glass window. Now fairly common in super and hypercars, the origin was solidly in the 60’s and 70’s muscle car scene. But this is juxtaposed by the CarbonMacrolon body panels on the top and bottom of the case, a construction technique more modern than any classic car.
Mixing old and new
Taking a central case and bolting rigid body panels on the outside is definitely inspired by much higher end vehicles of the modern era, especially when you take into consideration what CarbonMacrolon is. As a composite, CarbonMacrolon is a “dense polycarbonate resin reinforced with carbon nanotubes” meaning that it is essentially a cast material that is extra rigid and can be shaped and colored in almost infinite ways.
MB&F HM8 Mark 2 Green
Making a material like CarbonMacrolon still requires a lot of planning because stiff materials have a tendency to crack when impacted, so the right formulation of the material will allow some flex to prevent a catastrophic failure while protecting the case and crystal from the all too common bumps of life.
Back of the MB&F HM8 Mark 2
In the case of the HM8, the bottom CarbonMacrolon panel is not on the outside but sandwiched between the outer titanium case back and the central case body. In this area it extends past the central case and acts like a bumper more than a shell, but the upper section is like a colored hard hat. The limited edition in British Racing green shows off the vibrancy possible with the material, though the non-limited version still opts for white which just glows on the wrist. This is also where it is clear that aesthetics are such a strong influencing factor for the team at MB&F.
MB&F HM8 Mark 2 White
The white version incorporates a British Racing green anodized rotor, sparkling under the sapphire fastback window, meaning that both versions lean into the racing history with a widely beloved color. For the limited edition, the rotor is a more traditional gold, yet green and gold are one of the most popular color combinations in racing thanks to famous liveries from Jaguar, Aston Martin, and Lotus. There is a reason, after all, it’s called “British” Racing green.
It’s also an example of how classic automotive history and the more modern side of research and development have come together in a single watch, and why it follows in the footsteps of some of the most successful car designs. The simple shape of the upper “body panel” with its twin cowls and flared bulge over the crown are just enough elements to demonstrate careful consideration of shape and the proper flow of the case.
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Credits: Article and images by Joshua Munchow @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/07/01/mbf-hm8-mark-2-horological-hypercars/
