MB&F continues their tradition of automotive-inspired haute horlogerie with the latest HM8 Mark 2 limited edition, this time draped in a vibrant metallic purple that transforms their driver’s watch concept into a truly regal timepiece.
Following the successful British racing green debut in 2023 and last year’s glossy blue iteration, this 33-piece purple edition maintains the collection’s annual limited release strategy while showcasing MB&F’s mastery of exotic materials and unconventional time display methods.
Purple Rain
The HM8 Mark 2’s distinctive architecture remains unchanged – a triumph of form following function in the most unconventional way possible. The Grade 5 titanium case structure sandwiches CarbonMacrolon panels on top and bottom, creating a material contrast that’s both visually striking and technically impressive.
CarbonMacrolon, MB&F’s proprietary polymer and carbon nanotube composite, weighs eight times less than equivalent steel while providing the structural integrity necessary for the watch’s complex construction.
The purple colorway achieves its rich, saturated appearance through metallic pigments borrowed directly from automotive paint technology – a fitting choice given the HM8’s racing-inspired design language. This color treatment transforms the already dramatic case architecture into something that demands attention, whether displayed on a wrist or showcased in a collection.
The watch’s most revolutionary feature remains its vertical time display system. Rather than placing time indication on the traditional dial surface, MB&F employs bi-directional jumping hour and trailing minutes discs that are refracted and magnified through sapphire prisms.
This ingenious system allows drivers to read the time without removing their hands from the steering wheel – a practical solution disguised as horological artistry. The jumping hour mechanism creates a satisfying mechanical snap every 60 minutes, while the trailing minutes provide smooth, continuous time indication.
Technical Sophistication Wrapped in Purple Splendor
Powering this automotive masterpiece is a sophisticated three-dimensional movement combining a Girard-Perregaux base caliber with MB&F’s in-house module for the jumping hour and trailing minutes complications.
The 28,800 VpH frequency ensures precise timekeeping, while the 42-hour power reserve provides adequate autonomy for weekend adventures. The darker anthracite finish on movement components creates visual contrast against the purple case elements, while the silver-toned automatic rotor maintains the cool color scheme established throughout the design.
The movement display occupies the upper portion of the case, creating a mechanical theater that showcases MB&F’s commitment to visual horological entertainment. Unlike traditional watches where the movement hides beneath a dial, the HM8 Mark 2 celebrates its mechanical complexity through transparent surfaces that invite examination and appreciation.
The crown features MB&F’s signature “double de-clutch” system – a mechanical nod to automotive transmission technology. Time setting requires pushing the crown inward and rotating it three-quarters of a turn to release the mechanism, creating an engaging ritual that reinforces the watch’s automotive inspiration.
At $88,000, the HM8 Mark 2 Purple commands serious investment, but delivers unprecedented horological innovation wrapped in exotic materials and limited-edition exclusivity. The 47mm diameter and 19mm thickness ensure substantial wrist presence, while the titanium and CarbonMacrolon construction keeps weight manageable despite the significant dimensions.
This purple edition represents MB&F’s ability to continuously reinvent existing concepts through color and material exploration while maintaining the core innovation that defines their Horological Machines philosophy. For collectors seeking the intersection of automotive passion and horological artistry, few options deliver this combination of technical sophistication and visual drama
