MB&F HM8 can-am watch revives the spirit of high-octane racing series

marking what would have been the 50th anniversary of the can-am car racing series, the 2016 MB&F ‘HM8 can-am’ watch celebrates its spirit with an automotive influenced design. the timepiece fuses the brand’s signature angular form, optical prism displays and ‘battle-axe’ winding rotor with a high-octane fantasy. no more is this the case than with the solid titanium roll bars, which are milled and precisely hand-polished, and the engine that sits in full view under a nearly invisible sapphire crystal cover.

the hand-stitched alligator strap is available in marine blue and dark brown

MB&F founder maximilian büsser describes the ‘horological machine N°8 (HM8): ‘I feel that this is one of the coolest pieces I’ve ever created.’

as well as sourcing the design influences from the 1960s and 70s racing program, it is its rebellious essence that truly inspired the timepiece. the ‘HM8 can-am’ works outside of the conventional, much like the driving program, and showcases this through its technical innovation.

the roll bars are made from milled and hand-polished grade 5 titanium

the design of the MB&F ‘HM8 can-am’ features a curvaceous yet angular case that holds dual optical prisms, made from sapphire crystal. these vertically and unrestrictedly display bi-directional jumping hours and trailing minutes, and provides even better legibility through the material’s back-lighting and super-LumiNova numerals. as well, the timepiece’s blued-gold ‘battle-axe’ rotor, which is open and visible on top, creates a distinctive user appreciation of the circular wave finish on the movement.

the lightweight yet strong roll bars follow down the sides of the watch

available as an 18K white gold/titanium or 18K red gold/titanium version, the MB&F ‘HM8 can-am’ has been crafted as a sculptured and high-speed design. it tributes a racing series that never held back and continuously pushed the boundaries of engine technology. in doing so, the watch’s dramatic design adds another unique edition to the brand’s extensive collection of special timepieces.

like most car engines, the HM8 has dual oil sumps under its own engine

the top of the case is one piece of sapphire crystal

the crystal’s back-lighting properties and the super-LumiNova numerals improve legibility