BOUCHERON | Boucheron and MB&F's Unconventional Collaboration Watch

BOUCHERON

The Cutting Edge of Creation from a High Jeweler

Boucheron and MB&F: An Unlikely Collaboration Watch

High jeweler Boucheron unveils a new creation in collaboration with creative lab "MB&F." The result is an owl with a distinctive face,High Jewelrya watch.

Text by OPENERS

The "Horological Machine No.3" Adorned with Elaborate Design

Boucheron, one of the "Grands Cinq" jewelers, is a venerable institution with 152 years of history, renowned for its creations that overflow with dreams for women. Its designs are always free-spirited and bold. In recent years, Boucheron has also demonstrated innovative ideas in the watchmaking field, including a collaboration with Richard Mille. This year, they have once again joined forces with the creative lab "MB&F," led by Maximilian Büsser, to showcase their unparalleled talent.

The resulting timepiece is a unique creation truly deserving of the name "Jewelry Machine." The iconic "HM3 (Horological Machine No.3)," first unveiled in 2009 and immediately causing a sensation, has been reborn as an owl, a motif favored by Boucheron.

A Piece Where Expert Craftsmanship Shines

The two domes indicating hours, minutes, and day/night have been transformed into the owl's eyes by Boucheron, covered with large, sparkling cabochon-cut stones. The framework for setting the jewels, such as the owl's chest and wings, is divided into five parts, with MB&F technicians meticulously selecting the appropriate locations for each screw. The assembly required precision work down to the micron level, bringing together experts in gem setting, inlay, engraving, and goldsmithing. Notably, the owl's chest is carved from a single piece of amethyst (or rose quartz). Beneath the translucent stone, which creates a gradient from the owl's beak to its feet, the MB&F's signature battle-axe-shaped rotor can be glimpsed. Boucheron, the visionary behind this novel design, required advanced craftsmanship to carve the extremely hard amethyst and rose quartz.

MB&F's Maximilian Büsser shares his thoughts on this collaboration:
"I was impressed by Boucheron's great flexibility and passionate creativity. They are thoroughly avant-garde, and each of their creations is a masterpiece. In other words, while their work is aesthetic and feminine, unlike ours, their values are the same as ours. Moreover, they love creating surprising works. I was convinced that they could transform our Horological Machine into a three-dimensional masterpiece of high jewelry."

The innovative world of MB&F, brought to life by Boucheron's touch, has resulted in a timepiece that truly astonishes people, a testament to the combined power of both houses striving for the pinnacle of creation.

Boucheron Customer Service
Tel. 03-5537-2203