MB&F LM101 - References, Prices and Owners' Reviews

MB&F LM101 was launched in 2014 in Geneva as the “essential” Legacy Machine: hours/minutes, power reserve, and above all a 14 mm “flying” balance wheel suspended over the movement. The 40 mm case, highly domed sapphire and the fully in-house hand-wound calibre (aesthetics and finishing specs overseen by Kari Voutilainen) deliver a strikingly legible 3-D stage in a more wearable footprint than the earliest LMs.

Visual signature: flying balance, twin subdials and domed sapphire

LM101 puts the show on the dial side: two milky subdials (time and power reserve) “hover” over a decorated plate while the 14 mm balance, held by polished arches, beats at 18,000 vph and draws the eye with every swing; the domed crystal amplifies the sense of depth and floods the display with light, keeping everyday reading engaging and immediate. This layout showcases mechanics without sacrificing clarity of use.

Case, proportions and on-wrist comfort

At 40 mm across and rising under the pronounced dome, LM101 is surprisingly easy to wear thanks to compact lugs and early strap drop; everyday water resistance (30 m on classic versions) suits office life, and the crown offers a crisp, satisfying hand-wind. Cases have appeared in gold (white, red, occasionally yellow), platinum, palladium, steel and, more recently, titanium for the more “active” EVO edition. You get assertive horological presence with stability that belies the architecture.

LM101 movement: in-house design, finishing and hairsprings

MB&F’s first fully in-house calibre runs a single barrel (~45 h in historical pieces, ~60 h in 2025 EVO), a traditional 2.5 Hz beat and an openworked balance regulated by four screws; the build highlights sculpted bridges, sharp anglage, blued screws and gold chatons in a 19th-century haute-horlogerie idiom. Since 2021, the classic gets a Straumann® double hairspring for improved isochronism. The result blends cinematic motion with disciplined timekeeping in a distinctly MB&F voice.

2025 “EVO” update: active use, FlexRing and 80 m

For MB&F’s 20th anniversary, LM101 adopts the EVO package: titanium, 80 m WR, screw-down crown, integrated rubber strap and a FlexRing shock absorber between movement and case; CVD salmon or peacock-green dial plates join the palette while autonomy moves to ~60 h. If you want to wear a Machine day-in, day-out with fewer worries, this is the most forgiving LM101 yet. LM101 EVO preserves the flying balance icon while adding genuine everyday robustness.

Chronological milestones and main models (2014–2025)

(2014) MB&F LM101 Classic White/Red Gold:

The debut 40 mm series: twin white subdials, sun-brushed top plate, 14 mm flying balance and ~45 h reserve; MB&F’s first entirely in-house calibre debuts here, with Kari Voutilainen defining aesthetic and finishing specs. Despite the dramatic mechanics, reading remains intuitive and the case sets the “wearable LM” template.

(2015) MB&F LM101 “Frost” Red/Yellow Gold:

Limited frosted-finish editions: traditional grained texture, strong contrast with the milky subdials and gilt hues; still 40 mm with the flying balance and ~45 h reserve, this take celebrates 19th-century craft and introduces yellow gold at MB&F. It reads more heritage-leaning without losing the 3-D drama.

(2016) MB&F LM101 Platinum “Blue”:

Execution in 950 platinum paired to shifting blue tones on the plate, with full hand finishing; the noble weight heightens the “art object” feel yet remains comfortable thanks to compact lugs. A scarce, collector-minded iteration.

(2019) MB&F LM101 Palladium:

MB&F’s first in palladium: 40 mm, naturally white tone and a plate that swings from grey to pale green depending on light, made in limited numbers; the airy layout spotlights the suspended balance and mirror-polished arches. Sought after for its unusual metal.

(2020) MB&F LM101 × H. Moser “fumé” (steel):

Four 15-piece, in collaboration with H. Moser & Cie, runs in 316L steel with fumé dials (Funky Blue, Red, Cosmic Green, Aqua Blue) and a stripped-back aesthetic (no logo); 40 mm, ~16 mm under the dome, 30 m WR, ~45 h reserve and the same flying balance. The “less is more” brief amplifies the volumes and light play under the crystal.

(2021) MB&F LM101 Red/White Gold (Royal Blue/Purple):

In the same wave, red gold pairs to deep blue and white gold to a rich purple, still at 40 mm; dial/subdial/balance contrasts dramatize depth while improving legibility. WR remains 30 m, hand-wound with ~45 h reserve.

(2025) MB&F LM101 EVO Titanium “Salmon”:

EVO spec: titanium, 80 m, screw-down crown, FlexRing shock isolation and integrated rubber; the salmon CVD plate brings fresh warmth to the architecture, with autonomy up to ~60 h. Aimed at active, warm-weather, worry-light wear.

(2025) MB&F LM101 EVO Titanium “Peacock Green”:

Second CVD tone: green/blue/purple shifts with angle under the same 40 × 16.5 mm EVO platform; the changing surface further emphasizes the flying balance and under-crystal depth while delivering a genuinely grab-and-go Machine.

Conclusion

LM101 is for enthusiasts who want MB&F distilled into a wearable form: a staged flying balance, lucid subdials and textbook finishing—your choice of Frost/platinum/palladium poetry, the colour-forward 2021s or the robust EVO. To decide, weigh context (office/leisure), material (steel/gold/titanium) and reserve (45 h vs 60 h), then check Dialicious customer reviews against your expectations.

(Updated September 2025)