MB&F x Emmanuel Tarpin: LM FlyingT “Ice” & “Blizzard”

MB&F just presented a new collaboration with one of the most talented upcoming jewellery designers: Emmanuel Tarpin. The result is two limited editions the new Legacy Machine FlyingT ‘Ice’ & ‘Blizzard’.

I think it is fair to say that one of the most talked about ‘women timepiece’ of the last years is MB&F’s first watch dedicated to ladies from 2019 – the Legacy Machine FlyingT. The already praised timepiece (it also won the Ladies’ Complication Watch Prize at the GPHG 2019) received a famous collaborator, Bulgari, last year and the result was launched during the Dubai Watch Week. Bulgari’s Product Creation Executive Director, Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, and MB&F’s Founder & Creative Director, Maximilian Büsser presented the MB&F x Bulgari – Legacy Machine FlyingT Allegra, which beautifully combined the signature colourful abundant extravagance of Bulgari with the emblematic MB&F design. 

Now MB&F celebrates the upcoming winter with a new collaboration – Max Büsser and his team worked together with French jewellery designer Emmanuel Tarpin, best known for his unique pieces that combine his love for nature, sculpture, innovative materials and gemstones. He studied at HEAD (Haute Ecole d’Art et Design), Geneva’s distinguished school of art and design, before beginning an internship in the high jewelry atelier of Van Cleef & Arpels. He launched his brand in 2017, his own pieces are inspired by nature and the shapes found in the flora and fauna of different countries – shells, jellyfish, geranium leaves, arum lilies or wild orchids. 

He first met Max Büsser while studying at HEAD, when Max made a presentation to the students about MB&F. Fast forward a few years and Emmanuel Tarpin’s name popped up as an up-and-coming jewellery designer to watch. Max reached out to him and now we can enjoy the results of their creative cooperation. 

‘I do very few collaborations; I much prefer to focus on my own creations,” explains Emmanuel Tarpin. “But we had a chat and then met in person and we got on really well. I found the project to be extremely interesting and working with Max was just spontaneous and easy, even if this was my first time working on a watch!’

Legacy Machine FlyingT ‘Ice’ & ‘Blizzard’

The Legacy Machine FlyingT gave a great ‘playground’ to Tarpin thanks to its volume and domed shape. 

The first model, called Ice, features asymmetrical diamond-set stalagmites that encroach on the sapphire crystal dome and the movement. Each icy stalagmite is different, replicating the randomness of nature. Tarpin took his inspiration from a trip to Lake Baikal in Southern Siberia. It is the deepest and oldest lake in the world, and the largest freshwater lake by volume. Famous for its crystal clear waters, where in winter the lake freezes from the edge inwards until it is totally frozen – the ice on the lake is very transparent and diverse. The diamond set icicles – reminiscent of the ice formations of the lake – create an astonishing contrast with the matt lapis lazuli dial.

For the second model, named Blizzard, Tarpin has interpreted memories of being caught in blizzards of snow in the Alps into the LM FlyingT with brilliant-cut diamonds set under the sapphire crystal dome and closed-set diamonds set into the matt lapis lazuli dial, depicting snowflakes on the ground.

The MB&F FlyingT novelties have white gold fully diamond-set cases and blue matte lapis lazuli dial plates. The movement features a three-dimensional vertical architecture, automatic winding, conceived and developed in-house with a blue balance wheel. The co-axially built machine elevates from the lapis lazuli base with a flying tourbillon at the top with nothing to cast shadow on it. Even the dial stands aside inclined at 50 degrees facing the wearer.

Both winter wonders are limited editions – each of 8 pieces. 

Photo credits: Loupiosity.com
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