MB&F LM1 EVO Reintroduces Their Independent Dual Time Wristwatch

MB&F are continuing their quest to produce sportier versions of their signature complication watches through the expansion the EVO range. A range that’s designed to make the watches easier to live with and wear regularly – taking them out of the display case and onto the wrist. Now in their sights is the LM1 independent dual time, reimagined as the LM1 EVO. It’s also the first LM1 to be launched since 2017.

Starting with the case, it has been downsized from 44mm to 42mm, which immediately opens the watch to being wearable for a lot more people. It’s available in a choice of two metals, titanium of rose gold. Meaning you can lean into the lightweight, sporty aspect of the EVO range or still hedge towards the high end, prestige of an MB&F in gold but with the quality of life updates that the EVO brings.

In addition to the new size, the case now incorporates MB&F’s FlexRing shock absorber to protect the movement from jarring and bumps. The water resistance has also been increased from 30m to 80m with screw-down crowns (it has two, for setting each subdial separately). It’s still no diver, but it’s at least better protected from a heavy downpour, which falls into the remit of improving everyday wearability.

Another improvement for everyday convenience is that the power reserve has been extended from 45-hours to 60-hours. It’s still manually wound, so it’s convenient that there’s a power reserve indicator at 6 o’clock on the dial. For the EVO, that indicator has been given a visual update to tie in with the new sportiness, with a speedometer inspired semi-circular display rather than the previous straight line display.

The power reserve is not the only upgrade to the calibre because the balance wheel that dominates the dial-side display (suspended above the independent dual time subdials) has a new hairspring. It’s the Straumann double hairspring, a rare configuration where two springs are held in a single balance and oriented in opposite directions. The two springs counter each other’s discrepancies to improve isochronism. The balance is also oversize at 14mm and beats at 2.5 Hz.

For the visuals of the LM1 EVO, the titanium edition features a silver-tone base with black timekeeping subdials with a combination of spiral and circular brushing. Meanwhile the gold version has a vibrant green base also with black subdials for the twin time zone functions. Both dials show hours and minutes and can be set independently from each other, allowing you to show two time zones simultaneously including the zones that are offset from UTC by measures of 30 or 45 minutes on the hour.

The final EVO update is the fact the watches are presented on quick-change rubber straps in either grey or black depending on the edition. Again, reinforcing that sportier, easy to wear attitude in comparison to the dressy exotic leather strap as seen on the original LM1. Also, if you’re not a fan of rubber, the fact that’s quick-change means it’s the work of but a moment to swap it to your preference. As for pricing and availability, the titanium version is non-limited at CHF 82,000 + VAT (approx. £74,400 + VAT), and the rose gold is CHF 102,000 + VAT (approx. £92,500 + VAT) in a limited edition of 33 pieces. A dramatic reintroduction of the LM1 series almost a decade since it was discontinued.

More details at MB&F.