This year, MB&F is celebrating its first decade and to commemorate its 10th unniversary Swiss watch manufacturer unveiled a horological robot, dubbed Melchior. This kinetic robot which tells the time was one of the more fun debuts at BaselWorld 2015. Presented under the theme:”A creative adult is a child who survived,” Melchior is created with L’Epée 1839, Switzerland’s only specialised high-end clock manufacture. It is not just impressive kinetic robot, but also an impeccably finished, 480-component mechanical table clock.
A 1-foot-tall robot with articulated arms features jumping hours, sweeping minutes, double retrograde seconds eyes and an impressive 40-day power reserve; a tribute to the most refined classic clock and watchmaking.
MB&F founder Max Busser says he’s wanted a robotic friend ever since he was a Star Wars-obsessed child, so he jumped on the opportunity to finally create one for his brand’s 10th anniversary. And, Melchior makes his childhood fantasy a reality. Büsser developed the concept with designer Xin Wang, selecting a high-end L’Epée clock movement and reimagining it as the mechanical head and torso of a robot. And of course a true robot companion is one you can play with: Melchior’s steel upper arms rotate and his lower arms pivot up or down – excellent manoeuvrability for aiming his rocket launcher and Gatling gun. In a neat design touch, his left arm detaches and doubles as the winding/setting key for the movement.
Melchior is a limited edition of 99 pieces (plus one special piece that will be donated to a charity auction later this year) priced at 35,000 Swiss francs ($35,750) before taxes. It is available in a monochromatic ‘light’ edition or a two-tone ‘dark and light’ edition featuring black PVD-treated components.
