Like a concept car unveiled at a glitzy auto show, MB&F’s HM8 Mark 2 watch turns heads with its sleek, automotive-inspired design. The timepiece follows a lineage of horological hot rods crafted by MB&F over the past decade, fueled by founder Maximilian Büsser’s lifelong passion for cars. Initially revealed in green and white last year, this time around it wears blue.

Büsser’s affinity for automobiles began as a young boy endlessly sketching sleek vehicles, dreaming of becoming a car designer. Though his career veered onto the watchmaking track, Büsser’s creative compass remained fixed on his first love. The HM5, unveiled in 2012, ignited MB&F’s quest to merge horology and automobiles, its louvers and speedometer-style time display recalling supercars of the ’60s and ’70s.

The HM8 Mark 2 continues this metaphorical road trip, its “double bubble” sapphire crystal and roll bars evoking the audacious designs of legendary vehicles. The watch’s chassis-style construction mirrors an engineering blueprint, with bodywork panels affixed to an inner framework. Its metallic-flecked sapphire blue bodywork channels an automotive paint job, while a world-premiere crown system provides enhanced security.

Under the hood, the HM8 Mark 2 packs a powerful engine: a three-dimensional horological movement with jumping hours and trailing minutes. This high-performance calibre necessitated innovation, such as stamping one of the 22K gold rotor blades a mere 0.2mm thick.

With each new model, MB&F has pushed boundaries to merge watchmaking artistry with automotive aesthetics. The HM8 Mark 2 represents the apex of this creative journey, its nuanced construction proving more complex than any concept car. For Büsser, this mechanical masterpiece realizes a childhood dream deferred but never abandoned. Like a time-traveling DeLorean, the HM8 Mark 2 transports the inner child in all drivers and watch connoisseurs.