Quick summary
- MB&F has introduced three LM Perpetual Chromatic Editions with gemstone-set bezels in blue, purple and red themes.
- Each watch uses the manual-wound LM Perpetual calibre with a suspended balance wheel, openworked calendar display and 72-hour power reserve.
- Production is limited to eight pieces per colour, with pricing set at CHF 228,000 excluding tax.
The MB&F LM Perpetual Chromatic Editions bring baguette-cut gemstones and matching colour accents to the brand’s technically ambitious perpetual calendar.
There are three versions in the series, each housed in a 44mm case measuring 17.5mm thick, with two models in 18k white gold and one in 18k red gold.
A more vivid take on the LM Perpetual
The LM Perpetual has never been a quiet watch, but the Chromatic Editions give its mechanical theatre a brighter frame.
Each bezel is set with 48 baguette-cut stones, using blue sapphires or purple sapphires for the white gold editions and rubies for the red gold version.
Rather than treating the gems as a separate flourish, MB&F carries the colour into the indications with matching PVD-coated hands across the calendar and time displays.
The Stephen McDonnell movement remains the star
The watch is still defined by the LM Perpetual calibre developed with Stephen McDonnell, a manual-wound movement built around an open display and a balance wheel suspended above the dial.
Its layout places the hours and minutes at 12 o’clock, the day at 3 o’clock, the power reserve at 5 o’clock, the month at 6 o’clock, the leap year at 7 o’clock and the date at 9 o’clock.
The calibre runs at 18,000 vibrations per hour, or 2.5 Hz, and offers a 72-hour power reserve.
That sculptural construction helped the LM Perpetual win the calendar prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2016, and the new Chromatic Editions arrive as the model’s reputation continues to mature a decade later.
Gemstones without losing the machine
Gem-setting on a complicated watch can easily overwhelm the mechanics, but these editions work because the colour follows the logic of the dial.
The blue and purple sapphire versions lean cooler and more futuristic, while the ruby-set red gold edition feels warmer and more dramatic.
At 44mm, this is still a large piece, though the size is tied to the depth and architecture of the movement rather than simple wrist presence.
MB&F LM Perpetual Chromatic specifications
| Model | MB&F LM Perpetual Chromatic |
|---|---|
| Case | 44mm diameter and 17.5mm thick, 18k white gold or 18k red gold |
| Bezel | 48 baguette-cut blue sapphires, purple sapphires or rubies |
| Dial | Openworked display with skeletonised subdials and suspended balance wheel |
| Water resistance | 30 metres |
| Movement | MB&F LM Perpetual calibre, manual winding |
| Frequency | 18,000 vph, 2.5 Hz |
| Power reserve | 72 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, day, date, month, leap year and power reserve |
| Strap | Hand-stitched alligator strap with folding buckle in matching case material |
| Price | CHF 228,000 excluding tax |
| Production | Eight pieces per colour |
Who this chromatic perpetual calendar is for
This isn’t the kind of colourful watch meant to be carefree in the usual summer-watch sense.
It’s for the collector who already understands the LM Perpetual as one of MB&F’s defining machines and wants a rarer, more expressive version of it.
The strict run of eight pieces per colour also makes the Chromatic Editions among the more elusive modern MB&F releases, even before considering the complexity of the movement and the gem-set execution.
FAQ
What is the MB&F LM Perpetual Chromatic?
It is a new gem-set version of MB&F’s LM Perpetual, offered in three colour treatments with sapphire or ruby bezels and matching indication hands.
How many LM Perpetual Chromatic watches will be made?
MB&F is limiting each colour to eight pieces.
What gemstones are used on the bezel?
The white gold editions use either blue sapphires or purple sapphires, while the red gold edition uses rubies.
How much does the MB&F LM Perpetual Chromatic cost?
The price is CHF 228,000 excluding tax.
What movement is inside the watch?
It uses the manual-wound MB&F LM Perpetual calibre developed with Stephen McDonnell, with a suspended balance wheel, perpetual calendar display and 72-hour power reserve.
