MB&F's HM8 mark 2 timepiece takes its luxurious hypercar style from porsche 918 spyder

For HM8 mark 2, MB&F dives into the hypercar realm

Timepiece brand MB&F has introduced HM8 Mark 2, a luxury watch that takes its design cues from Porsche 918 Spyder with its hypercar flair. The style and look are the culmination of MB&F’s predecessors: its supercar bodywork follows in the footsteps of HM5; its compact and ergonomic size from HMX; and its almost-exposed mechanics and kinetic nature, with its dial-side winding roto, from HM8. Enclosed in an aerodynamic CarbonMacrolon, grade 5 titanium, and hyper-complex sapphire crystal, HM8 Mark 2 springs as an elaborate, highly detailed, and hyper-vehicle-inspired timepiece luring in sports car enthusiasts.

The HM8 Mark 2, like its predecessors, is powered by a combination of mechanical and optical engineering. The hour and minute discs of the automatic movement, which lie horizontally, are optically magnified and projected 90 degrees to the vertical display thanks to high-precision sapphire crystal prisms. The HM8 Mark 2 is comprised of a separate water-resistant chassis to which the body panels of the watch are mounted. To borrow an automobile term, a brand-new type of crown with a ‘double de-clutch’ mechanism is present: press the crown in and turn it three-quarters of a turn to release it.

images courtesy of MB&F

Design codes from the automobile world

MB&F’s HM8 Mark 2 finds inspiration in different sources, such as the iconic Porsche 918 Spyder for the shape of the body, and the Zagato double bubble for the sapphire crystal. Even the construction of the watch comes from the design codes of the automobile realm too. The HM8 Mark 2 coachwork comes in a choice of white or British racing green CarbonMacrolon that has a matte finish on the top and a high polish on the sides.

The white version is paired with a green CVD rotor and light green minute markers, while the British racing green version comes with a red gold rotor and balance wheel and turquoise minute markers and is limited to 33 pieces. The HM8 Mark 2, like a high-performance car with advanced technology, has some of its features hidden in plain sight like its titanium chassis, which is difficult to manufacture due to its complexity.

HM8 Mark 2, a luxury watch that takes its design cues from Porsche 918 Spyder with its hypercar flair

Incredibly thin rotor blades

The body panels are made of a material called CarbonMacrolon, which had to be milled from a block due to limited production quantities, adding more complexity to the timepiece’s design. The production of the sapphire crystal used in the watch has been a challenge for MB&F too. The double-curved sapphire used in HM8 Mark 2 is time-consuming and has a high risk of breakage. However, once completed and installed in the watch, it is as durable as the sapphire crystals found in sports watches.

The movement of the watch is powered by a rotor called the battle-axe rotor, which is made of 22-carat gold. The blades of the rotor are incredibly thin, measuring only two-tenths of a millimeter. Machining the rotor was not possible, so it had to be stamped, with the engraving already included in the stamping process. For HM8 Mark 2, MB&F incorporates advanced technology and intricate manufacturing processes to achieve its high-performance and visually stunning design.

the watch flashes time like a speedometer