For a brand that shares half of the name with their friends, you have to expect MB&F to celebrate them! This year, they’ve decided to ring in Dubai Watch Week early for the 75th Anniversary of the Emirati Authorised Dealer Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons.
2025 has been a year of anniversaries, and it seems the celebrations are far from over. While most watch brands choose to celebrate themselves — rightfully so, I might add — MB&F has decided to go the extra mile.
If you’re familiar with their approach to watchmaking, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. For twenty years, the team of friends surrounding visionary founder Maximilian Büsser has unveiled some of the most remarkable haute horlogerie creations of the modern era. From a BVLGARI collaboration resembling the head of a snake to a rotatable triple-dial watch inspired by a Jetsons-esque house, the independent brand shows no signs of slowing its delightful madness.
This success has earned MB&F critical acclaim from around the world, with many brands praising its remarkable short-term achievements. One of these brands was Chanel, which purchased a 25 per cent stake in MB&F last year. Another key player is Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, a highly respected authorised dealer in the United Arab Emirates. This year, the MB&F commemorates their role in uplifting Middle Eastern horological enthusiasm with two new timepieces: The Legacy Machine Perpetual EVO, and another sporting baguette-cut diamonds.
For 75 years, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons has been a cornerstone of the region’s watch culture, known for acquiring and showcasing fine timepieces such as those from MB&F. Maximilian himself has maintained a friendly relationship with the dealer for 27 of those 75 years; With this combined legacy also leading to the founding of Dubai Watch Week. Continuing to elevate the platform of haute horlogerie in the Emirates, this new collaboration celebrates both their enduring partnership and the Seddiqi family’s lasting influence on the Emirati watch industry.
Both the LM Perpetual EVO and LM Perpetual Diamonds Seddiqi 75th Anniversary Editions share similar case dimensions: 44mm wide, 50.1mm long, and a substantial 17.5mm thick. It’s worth noting, however, that much of this thickness comes from the domed crystal, meaning the watch doesn’t feel as blocky on the wrist as the numbers might suggest. That said, the similarities in their silhouettes end there.
Starting with the dressier of the two, the LM Perpetual Diamonds is the first of its kind in MB&F’s history, adorned with 48 baguette-cut diamonds that give the model its name. Crafted in stainless steel and offering 30 metres of water resistance, its vibrant blue dial provides a beautifully contrasting backdrop to the four black subdials and visible movement. A white alligator leather strap completes the look, adding another layer of refined contrast.
In contrast, the LM Perpetual EVO was purpose-built to handle the rigours of everyday wear. Reflecting this, it’s housed in lightweight titanium and features MB&F’s proprietary FlexRing shock absorbers, along with a higher water resistance rating of 80 metres. Its colour scheme is inverted from the Diamonds model, with a black backdrop accented by the same striking blue on the subdials. Instead of white alligator leather, the EVO comes fitted with a durable rubber strap and a matching titanium buckle, enhancing comfort and practicality for daily wear.
While turning the watch over reveals a beautifully finished display case back, as with most MB&Fs, the real marvel lies on the front. The movement doesn’t yet have an official name, but it’s an in-house calibre developed by independent watchmaker and long-time Friend, Stephen McDonnell. With a 72-hour power reserve and a 2.5Hz (18,000VpH) beat rate, these specifications serve a truly mind-blowing perpetual calendar mechanism.
McDonnell reinvented the QP complication from the ground up, turning the traditional system inside out with a default 28-day month counter and a ‘mechanical processor’ that adds the necessary days for each month. It’s also equipped with a series of built-in safety mechanisms designed to make the movement, for lack of a better term, idiot-proof. Which means an overenthusiastic nerd like me should have no trouble handling it… right?
My Thoughts
While the new MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual Ahmed Seddiqi 75th Anniversary Limited Editions may appear to be inventive colour variations, they mark a series of important milestones for both brands. The most obvious, of course, is the 75th anniversary of Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons.
Reaching such longevity is a remarkable feat for any business, but in an industry that moves as deliberately as watchmaking, it’s a particularly impressive achievement. This release also marks the first time MB&F has used a diamond-set bezel in the Legacy Machine Perpetual collection.
The most meaningful commemoration, however, is the celebration of the upcoming Dubai Watch Week. A major event on any enthusiast’s calendar — and one founded by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons — it plays a vital role in cultivating horology in the Middle East.
While it might seem like just another watch fair, especially in a city as opulent as Dubai, it serves as an important platform for independent brands like MB&F to shine. And where better to do so than in a place where collectors might well buy ten on the spot?
Alas, this dynamic duo is limited to just seven LM Perpetual EVOs and five LM Perpetual Diamonds, but no doubt there’s a chic sheikh ready to seize the opportunity. Either way, these new MB&F timepieces are inextricably tied to the spectacular event on the horizon, helping to reinforce the future of fine watchmaking in the Middle East.
References: N/A (Legacy Machine Perpetual EVO Seddiqi 75th Anniversary / Legacy Machine Perpetual Baguette Diamonds Seddiqi 75th Anniversary)
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 44mm case diameter x 50.1mm lug-to-lug x 17.5mm thickness
- Case Material: Titanium / Stainless steel with 48 (1.5ct) baguette-cut diamonds
- Dial: Sunray brushed blue with black backdrop / sunray brushed black with blue backdrop
- Movement: Manual wind custom MB&F calibre by Stephen McDonnell with perpetual calendar (day, date, month, retrograde leap year) and power reserve indication complications
- Power Reserve: 72h
- Beat Rate: 2.5Hz (18,000VpH)
- Water Resistance: 80m (8bar, LMP EVO) / 30m (3bar, LMP Diamonds)
- Strap: White rubber strap with titanium folding buckle / White leather strap with steel folding buckle