MB&F · LM101 Gabriel Colliard
The model in detail
Meet the watch
The animals in these LM101s have to share their dial with an enormous balance wheel. Red macaws, a blue monkey and a green crocodile occupy the spaces between bridges and indicators. For artist Gabriel Colliard, this was a challenging surface: the mechanics establish the composition before its first colour appears.
Cloisonné enamel begins with fine gold wires outlining portions of an image. Enamel is placed between them and fired in successive stages. That produces a different visual effect from flat printing: colour interacts with the material’s transparency and the visible outlines of the partitions.
Each edition is built around one dominant colour while retaining multiple shades within it. There are three series of eight watches each. The interesting details are the colour transitions and the way the scene navigates the bridges, beyond simply choosing a red, blue or green dial.
EnlargeThe enamelled ratchet wheel on the back of the green LM101 Gabriel Colliard.
© MB&F · SourceDetails and limitations
Hours and minutes sit at two o’clock, with the reserve indicator at six. The central 14 mm balance runs at 2.5 Hz and has a Straumann double hairspring. The manual movement was upgraded for these editions: its reserve increases from the earlier 45 to 60 hours, with 222 components.
Enamel also appears on the movement side, where the ratchet wheel continues the dial’s colour theme. This small component makes an especially effective connection between the artistic and technical parts of the watch. The transparent back lets you examine it separately from the busier composition at the front.
The platinum case is 40 mm in diameter, but 16.55 mm high, with a 30-metre rating. Diameter alone should not lead you to expect a conventional thin dress watch. This is primarily a portable mechanical composition: the exposed balance and handmade enamel invite attention, while the case calls for a considered fitting.
