MB&F LM Perpetual EVO and LM Perpetual Baguette Diamonds 75th Anniversary Seddiqi

To celebrate a remarkable 75-year journey, Ahmed Seddiqi, the cornerstone of Dubai's horological landscape, is marking its anniversary in 2025 with a significant collaboration. The partner for this milestone is MB&F, a brand renowned for its avant-garde approach to watchmaking. This celebration is not just one, but two distinct limited editions, both built upon MB&F's celebrated Perpetual Calendar calibre. The release includes the LM Perpetual EVO, limited to just seven pieces, and the even rarer LM Perpetual Baguette Diamonds, limited to five. Both creations are distinguished by signature blue highlights, a nod to a previous successful collaboration.



For over seven decades, the house of Ahmed Seddiqi has been instrumental in building the appreciation for fine timepieces in the region. They have consistently championed independent and innovative brands, with MB&F being a prime example of their forward-thinking curation. This new release is more than a joint product; it serves as a recognition of the Seddiqi family's foundational role in the watch world and, just as importantly, a celebration of a profound friendship between the two partners.



Maximilian Büsser, the owner and creative director of MB&F, has spoken of this relationship in deeply personal terms. He notes that he has been privileged to count the Seddiqi family as close friends for 27 of their 75 years in business. Büsser recalls how they welcomed him when he was at his most vulnerable, offered help when he was down, and were present to celebrate MB&F's greatest achievements. It is for this reason he considers it a privilege and an honor to celebrate this milestone. The choice of movement was deliberate: for such an exceptional anniversary, only an equally exceptional calibre would suffice—the ground-breaking Perpetual Calendar developed by Stephen McDonnell.



The base watch for these new editions, the Legacy Machine Perpetual, first premiered in 2015 and quickly secured a GPHG award, solidifying its place as a favorite among MB&F collectors. The design has since evolved into the "EVO" series, a line of timepieces engineered for a more active lifestyle. These EVO models are not just mechanically complex but also robust, featuring enhanced 80 meters of water resistance, a secure screw-down crown, an integrated rubber strap, and MB&F’s patented FlexRing. This proprietary annular dampener is a critical component, providing sophisticated shock protection by fitting between the case and the movement.



The first of the new duo is the LM Perpetual EVO 75th Anniversary Seddiqi Limited Edition. This 7-piece run is housed in a 44mm grade 5 titanium case, a material prized for its lightness and strength, which is engraved with a commemorative 75th-anniversary theme on the case-back. Visually, the watch is immediately striking due to its use of a specific, vibrant blue. This is the same signature color that was first seen on the LM101 MB&F x H. Moser, another special edition created for Ahmed Seddiqi in 2020. On this EVO model, the blue has been applied to the sub-dials.



This color application creates a distinct visual character. The central time-telling sub-dial at 12 o'clock is a solid, opaque blue, providing a clear and legible display of hours and minutes. The skeletonized sub-dials for the day, date, and month are also rendered in this blue, appearing as floating rings above the intricate mechanics. This blue contrasts sharply against the dark anthracite dial plate in the background. The entire open-worked mechanism is on full display, crowned by the large, suspended balance wheel beating at the very center of the watch. This edition is paired with a sporty, integrated white rubber strap, completing its active, contemporary profile.



The second model, the LM Perpetual Baguette Diamonds 75th Anniversary Seddiqi Limited Edition, is an even more exclusive offering with just five pieces being produced. This edition marks a first for the entire Legacy Machine Perpetual series: it features a refined bezel meticulously set with 48 baguette-cut diamonds, totaling 1.5 carats. The 44mm case for this version is crafted from stainless steel, a material choice that provides a bright, modern contrast to the brilliance of the diamonds, and it is also engraved with the 75th Anniversary message.



The dial configuration on the Baguette edition is inverted from its EVO sibling, creating a different but equally compelling aesthetic. Here, the signature blue color is applied to the main dial plate itself, serving as the backdrop for the entire complication. The sub-dials—displaying the time at 12 o'clock with Roman numerals, along with the day, date, and month—are rendered in a deep, contrasting black. This makes the indicators "pop" against the blue background. Like the EVO, the full mechanical architecture and central flying balance wheel are completely visible. This opulent piece is finished with a formal white, hand-stitched alligator strap and a stainless steel folding buckle.



To understand why these watches are so special, one must look at the engine inside. The LM Perpetual calibre, developed by Northern Irish watchmaker Stephen McDonnell, remains one of the most innovative perpetual calendar systems in modern watchmaking. It completely re-imagined how this traditional complication should function, solving problems that had plagued watchmakers for generations. Its design is not just a technical feat but also an aesthetic one, built from the ground up to be fully integrated and visible from the dial side.



Conventional perpetual calendars present several significant problems. First, they are almost always "modules"—separate complications that are fitted on top of an existing base movement. They are typically synchronized by a long lever that runs across the top of the complication. As the date changes, this lever moves back and forth to transmit information to the various calendar components. This traditional system is notoriously unwieldy and places severe restrictions on movement construction, making a design like the open-worked, three-dimensional LM Perpetual a mechanical impossibility.



Furthermore, the logic of traditional perpetuals is inherently flawed. They operate by assuming, as a default, that all months have 31 days. At the end of months with fewer days (like February 28th or April 30th), the mechanism must rapidly "skip" through the superfluous dates—29th, 30th, 31st—before arriving at the 1st of the new month. This "skipping" action is a moment of high stress on the movement. Any attempt by the owner to manipulate or adjust the date during this changeover period can easily result in damage to the delicate mechanism, requiring complex and expensive repairs.



Stephen McDonnell's invention, the "mechanical processor," throws that entire concept out the window. Instead of modules and levers, it utilizes a series of superimposed disks. Its processor flips the logic entirely. It takes the default number of days in the month to be 28—because, logically, all months have at least 28 days. From this baseline, it then adds the extra days as required by each individual month, directed by a planetary cam. This ensures that each month has exactly the right number of days, every single time.



The benefits of this mechanical processor are immense. There is no "skipping over" of redundant days, which eliminates the possibility of the date jumping incorrectly. It also introduces a user-friendly quick-setting mechanism for the year, allowing it to be set correctly within the four-year leap year cycle. Traditional systems often require the user to scroll through up to 47 months just to arrive at the correct month and year. Perhaps most importantly, the processor features an inbuilt safety feature that automatically disconnects the quick-set pushers during the date changeover, making it physically impossible for the owner to damage the movement.



This fully integrated movement architecture is precisely what allows for the LM Perpetual's stunning aesthetics. By placing the entire calendar mechanism on top of the movement main plate, it can be fully appreciated from the dial side. Legibility, often a challenge with the sheer number of indications on a perpetual calendar, is cleverly addressed. The skeletonized sub-dials appear to float above the complication with no visible support from below, enhancing the sense of depth and mechanical artistry.



The undisputed visual centerpiece of the movement is its elegantly suspended balance wheel. This bespoke 14mm balance wheel, complete with traditional regulating screws, hovers high above the sub-dials. It is connected to the escapement, which is located on the back of the movement, by what is likely the world's longest balance wheel pinion. This single component is a testament to the watch's radical, three-dimensional engineering.



The engine itself is a manual-winding calibre powered by double mainspring barrels, providing a robust 72-hour power reserve. It beats at a traditional 2.5Hz (18,000bph), a frequency that allows the observer to fully appreciate the hypnotic motion of the oversized balance wheel. The movement is comprised of 581 components and 41 jewels, an immense number that speaks to its complexity. Its finishing is, without question, superlative, adhering to 19th-century style with internal bevel angles, polished bevels, Geneva waves, and hand-made engravings throughout.



This level of mechanical art is the signature of MB&F. Founded in 2005 by Maximilian Büsser, MB&F (Maximilian Büsser & Friends) was the world's first-ever horological concept laboratory. Büsser resigned from his comfortable Managing Director position at Harry Winston to pursue a radical vision: to deconstruct traditional watchmaking and create 3-D kinetic art. The "Friends" in the name is literal, as the lab is dedicated to crafting small series of concept watches by bringing together talented horological professionals Büsser respects.



The brand's creations are Split into two main families. The Horological Machines, which began with the HM1 in 2007, are fiercely unconventional, sculptural pieces with themes drawn from space, aviation, and science fiction. In 2011, MB&F launched the Legacy Machine collection. These round-cased pieces are more classical—at least, for MB&F—paying tribute to 19th-century watchmaking excellence by reinterpreting historical complications into contemporary art objects. The LM Perpetual EVO is a direct descendant of this line, evolved for modern, active collectors.



The "Friends" concept also spawned Performance Art pieces (MB&F machines revisited by external artists) and Co-creations (mechanical art devices, like clocks with L’Epée 1839, that are not wristwatches). To display these creations, Büsser created the MB&F M.A.D.Gallery (Mechanical Art Devices) rather than a traditional storefront, with locations now in Geneva and, fittingly, Dubai. The brand's innovation has been consistently recognized with no less than nine awards from the prestigious GPHG, including the coveted "Aiguille d’Or" (the "Golden Hand," for best watch of the year) in 2022 for the LM Sequential EVO.



This entire collaboration is made possible by the legacy of Ahmed Seddiqi. Founded by Mr. Ahmed Qassim Seddiqi in 1950 in Bur Dubai, the company has grown from a single boutique into a powerhouse network across the UAE. They are recognized as pioneers in the region, defined by a deep commitment to service excellence, horological expertise, and creating unique experiences for their clientele. Their technical expertise, passed down through generations, gives them an intricate mechanical knowledge of the timepieces they represent.



The Seddiqi contribution to watch culture extends beyond retail. In 2015, the company founded Dubai Watch Week, a global platform dedicated to preserving watchmaking culture and fostering education. As Ahmed Seddiqi celebrates its 75th anniversary, it has unveiled a refreshed identity that honors this rich heritage while looking firmly to the future.



The LM Perpetual EVO 75th Anniversary Seddiqi edition, limited to 7 pieces in titanium, and the LM Perpetual Baguette Diamonds 75th Anniversary Seddiqi edition, limited to 5 pieces in stainless steel, are fitting tributes to this 75-year milestone. As is common for timepieces of this rarity and significance, the prices for both models are available only upon request.





LM Perpetual EVO 75th Anniversary Seddiqi Limited Edition



Case: Grade 5 titanium, 44 mm x 17.5 mm, 70 components. 75th Seddiqi anniversary engraving on case-back. Screw-down crown. Water resistance 8ATM / 80m / 270 feet. Sapphire crystals on top and display back with anti-reflective coating.

Movement: Fully integrated perpetual calendar developed by Stephen McDonnell. Manual winding, double mainspring barrels, 72-hour power reserve. Frequency 18,000bph / 2.5Hz. 581 components, 41 jewels. Bespoke 14mm balance wheel. FlexRing annular dampener.

Dial: Anthracite dial plate with signature blue sub-dials. Indications for hours, minutes, day, date, month, retrograde leap year, and power reserve.

Strap: Integrated white rubber strap with titanium folding buckle.

Price: Prices Upon Request

Reference Number: Notes: Limited to 7 pieces. Features MB&F's patented FlexRing, an annular dampener providing shock protection along the vertical and lateral axes.





LM Perpetual Baguette Diamonds 75th Anniversary Seddiqi Limited Edition



Case: Stainless steel, 44 mm x 17.5 mm, 69 components. Bezel set with 48 baguette-cut 1.5-carat diamonds. 75th Seddiqi anniversary engraving on case-back. Water resistance 30 m / 90' / 3 ATM. Sapphire crystals on top and display back with anti-reflective coating.

Movement: Fully integrated perpetual calendar developed by Stephen McDonnell. Manual winding, double mainspring barrels, 72-hour power reserve. Frequency 18,000bph / 2.5Hz. 581 components, 41 jewels. Bespoke 14mm balance wheel.

Dial: Signature blue dial plate with contrasting black sub-dials. Indications for hours, minutes, day, date, month, retrograde leap year, and power reserve.

Strap: White hand-stitched alligator strap with stainless steel folding buckle.

Price: Prices Upon Request

Reference Number: Notes: Limited to 5 pieces. This is the first LM Perpetual to feature a bezel set with baguette-cut diamonds.