MB&F’s automative-influenced horological family tree continues, with the HM5 (2012), HMX (2015) and the HM8 (2016) now followed by the new HM8 Mark 2, a new addition to its automotive-inspired Horological Machines.

All of the Mark 2’s predecessors have a speedometer-style display on the side of the case. The HM8 Mark 2 continues in this vein, with horizontal bi-directional jumping hours and trailing minutes discs that are magnified and projected 90 degrees to the vertical display thanks to reflective sapphire crystal prisms with integrated magnifiers.

Even without the branding, it is immediately obvious that the HM8 Mark 2 takes features from its predecessors, even those predecessors had, themselves, a very clear (car or watch) design lineage – from the HM5 the (to continue the automotive vein) the bodywork, its size is more akin to the HMX, and from its older namesake, the visible ‘motor’.

In comparison to these earlier watches, the new HM8 Mark 2 is, like the HM5 built from a chassis to which the other parts are added, as compared to the monobloc HMX and HM8.

The case measures 47mm x 41.5mm x 19mm and has a water resistance of 30m. It is made of grade 5 titanium with British racing green or white CarbonMacrolon® panels, and the case has a combination of matte and polished finishing. CarbonMacrolon® is a composite material developed for MB&F and is composed of a polymer matrix injected with carbon nanotubes.

The white model has a green CVD rotor and light green minute markers, and the British racing green version, which is limited to 33 pieces, comes with a red gold rotor and balance wheel and turquoise minute markers.

A new feature of the HM8 Mark 2 watch is a new type of crown – you have to push the crown in then turn it three-quarters of a turn to release it to use.

Powering this new model is an automatic movement which consists of a Girard-Perregaux base calibre with an MB&F jumping hour and trailing minutes module added to it. With a 22kt gold rotor in yellow or blue, it beats at 28,800 VPH and has a power reserve of 42 hours.

Coming on calf straps (white for the British green model and green for the white model) with a titanium tang buckle, the RRP for the HM8 Mark 2 is CHF 68,000 (excluding taxes).

[Photo credit: MB&F]

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