Swiss watch manufacturer MB&F has finally unveiled its first timepiece in an exotic material. HM5 CarbonMarcolon is completely different from anything MB&F has ever done. New watch which is black straight through is made of CarbonMacrolon, the material which is based on Makrolon – a fancy polycarbonate (first produced by Bayer in 1963) but strengthened with carbon nanotubes. This extremely dense and durable polycarbonate is as strong as steel, and can be polished like steel.
The HM5 CM is solid black to the core, but is identical actually to the earlier HM5 variants, measuring 51.5 mm by 49 mm and standing 22.5 mm high. The case construction is also identical, with an inner steel capsule containing the movement. What is one of the most interesting things about the watch is the louvre system on the top of the case, that recall the rear window sections of cars like the Lamborghini Muira. The lever along the side of the case opens and closes those louvres, allowing light to illuminate the jumping hour and minute discs. Time is read through a sapphire prism, which reflects and enlarges the numbers as seen on the discs below.
The movement is housed in its own special container and was developed by master designer Jean-Francois Mojon and Vincent Boucard at their company, Chronode, in Switzerland.
Limited to 66 pieces, the HM5 CarbonMacrolon is priced at 58,500 Swiss francs, or about US$62,600, exactly the same as the first edition HM5 in zirconium.
