MB&F Showcases its Technical Prowess with the New HM8 Mark 2 Variants

As all watch and car enthusiasts would know, two industries, namely horology and automobiles, are intimately connected. Watch geeks and petrolheads share a lifelong passion for complicated engineering and fine aesthetics. MB&F understands this bond and has thus released two new HM8 Mark 2 variants. One of the releases is a 33-piece limited-edition watch with titanium and green CarbonMacrolon® body panel while the non-limited edition novelty has a titanium and white CarbonMacrolon® body panel. This collection truly honours the legacy of the series that was first launched in 2012 with HM5 and draws inspiration from the Canadian-American Racing Championship for its design.

In 2016, MB&F released the first HM8, a 49 mm timepiece that came either in a white gold titanium case or in a pink gold titanium one. The case of the model was more angular and incorporated two roll bars on the front. The movement of this variant was based on the Girard-Perregaux 3000 series movement, offering a 42-hour power reserve. 

As far as the 2023 edition of the MB&F HM8 Mark 2 is concerned, each timepiece comes in a 47 mm titanium case either in a typical British racing-inspired green or a white colour tone; both versions are crafted from the CarbonMacrolon® material. The construction of the case follows in the footsteps of HM5, where the body panels are attached to the chassis. So, what exactly is CarbonMacrolon®? Developed by the luxury timepiece maker, this is a material made from polymer matrix injected with carbon nanotubes to add more strength and rigidity. These nanotubes offer more stiffness than traditional carbon fibre. The crown, made by Switzerland-based company Boninchi SA, has a double de-clutch system and it works by pushing the crown inside and then turning it to release.

The watch has sapphire crystals on top, back and front and comes with an anti-reflective coating, whose inspiration comes from the Zagato double bubble. The pair of discs projects numerals through prisms; here the hour indicator swiftly jumps on the top of each hour while the minutes progress seamlessly. On top of the sapphire lies a spinning rotor. The white version is paired with a green CVD rotor and light green minute markers while the British racing green version comes with a red gold rotor, a balance wheel and turquoise minute markers.

Powering each watch is a Girard-Perregaux base calibre, a three-dimensional horological engine, with an automatic winding mechanism, offering  42 hours of power reserve. Turning each watch over showcases the titanium caseback with sapphire crystals. Each watch is finished on a calfskin strap — white for the British green model and green for the white model, with a titanium tang buckle.