1- Before you began MB&F, you worked for Harry Winston and Jaeger-LeCoultre, two large companies. Which was the most important thing that you learned and took with you with MB&F?
If I look at behind, I think that I can say that I learned with JLC how to work and developed my passion for true horometry, whereas at Harry Winston, I Iearned which I am really. Leading this company over seven years taught me whose metal I was made of. Two experiments certainly helped to cut out the history of MB&F.
2- Thus you presented collections HM1, HM2 and HM3. Were all sold outside well?
That then, not all the pieces are sold outside – wouldn ‘t which is astonishing if they were! Series HM1 comes to the achievement – the first 80 movements out of 100 are indeed sold outside, and this is why we have wrought two limited editions of 10 pieces for the last 20 movements (the RS and black). Until HM2 (40 movements in 2009) and HM3 (80 movements in 2009), our whole production during this year is explained by our twelve associated with the detail, but this doesn ‘average of T why they all are sold through still. We take some enormous financial risks on our budgets of research and development, which return account roughly to 30% of our income. Because the company always develops three movements at the same time, the costs are prohibitory, and knowing that our weak annual production is already taken into account, a little relief allows us when we make with these projects.
3- Which is your preferred Horological machine?
I put ‘t want to resound bbte, but it is always the next one that I work above. In this case HM6. I like all our creations and each one represents for me a stage in my life (professional and personnel). One day in 7 seven years, I will be able to look at behind 10 machines, which will write the history of my decade. Probably at this point HM1 will seem like a distant memory (and will not refer so that I will create then), but it will be always the first piece which gave me the wish and courage to create my own company, to write my own history.
4- How much pieces of each Horological machine do you produce? Will you never increase these numbers?
It all depends on complexity and the means necessary. On a pure financial basis, we must carry out at time 10 million income of US$ to being able to roughly invest 3 million US$ to our annual budgets of research and development – the quantity necessary to develop our more ambitious projects up to now. Thus according to the points of the prices of our pieces, I would say that MB&F will never exceed 200 to 220 pieces per year (more than three machines).
5- What do you make to raise or increase MB&F? Or are you already where you want to be?
This year would owe us ouvrer roughly 140 machines. Most important is that our production is always much lower than the request, so that not only the request but also the stay of value of resale tops. We do not want to go more than 200 to 220 pieces, because that would mean to engage a personnel of support much more important, opening much more retailers, must invest in publicity, etc, etc – all that we DO NOT WANT TO DO!
6- Where do you see your mark in 10 years?
At the same point it should take place in two years – with a difference. We do not want to develop us, because our principal passion creates, growth of management. MB&F is more one decision of the life that an economic decision, and because such will remain pure . Our secondary goal is to develop a platform of angel of businesses to help of the craftsmen, clock and watch makers or creators with launching their company or marks – because we have already the factor of network, of experiment and of confidence with craftsmen, retailers and the press, we could help of others by drawing benefit from this.
7- When the HM4 leave does? HM5? HM6? Photographs of enigma?
Aha! HM4 is presented to come outside be from 2010 – HM5 in 2011 and this moment (if we can allow the development) HM6 in 2012.
Unfortunately no photograph of enigma, particularly because HM4 will be only revealed in over one year, but me cannot already indicate that it is largely inspired in these model planes which I had the practice to assemble at the age of ten.
8- Which are some other marks of watch which you admire?
More than of the marks, I tend to admire the clock making creators/who invent and innovate: for example, Felix Baumgartner in Urwerk, Denis Flageollet and David Zanetta at DeBethune, Halter de Vianney, F.P. Journe, Haldimann beat and much of others!
9- Except glances the beautiful ones and of outside-of-EC-world, which returns of the watches of so large MB&F?
I would never dare say that our pieces are large, but I will say that we met among the best engineers, craftsmen and clock and watch makers independent in Switzerland to make our with machine naps come to the life. It is important to say that our goal is not to improve on the execution of the modern movements (no silicon, aucuns outfalls free from oil, no carbon, etc), but on the contrary by employing the original historical traditions horological to establish our three-dimensional time giving of the machines. A good tree needs roots to develop, and our roots are soaked in incredibly rich person 250 years of history of manufacture of watch. It is probably why many observers tend to describe our pieces like pieces of a novel of Jules Verne.
10- If a famous brand of watch came to you and offered to repurchase the share of you, would you say no right?
CERTAINLY NOT! As I said front, it is a decision of the life, not businesses one. If my goal were to earn money, I would have chosen an economic model much easier and lucrative!
11. Do you employ distributors or are sold you directly to the customers?
Our machines are only sold with the detail by 12 associated with the detail independent around the world. In the countries where we do not have a retailer, we will exceptionally agree to sell to us directly to a customer, if is this what it wishes.
Thank you for the Maximilian interview!
HM1 (images and text)
HM2 (images and text)
HM3 (images and text)
MB&F (whole collection)
MB&F (official Web site)
MB&F (where to buy in the USA)
