The horological marvels from MB&F are way beyond most of us. Thankfully, now M.A.D.Editions is making the complications and watchmaking superiority of an MB&F readily available for the mid-segment takers. Hovering around the $3,000 mark was the previously announced – and only the second edition – M.A.D.2, which now stands pale in the vibrant glory of the M.A.D.1S.
I personally am not a big fan of colorful watches. But if you are into color, then the three new versions of the M.A.D.1S ‘Grow Your Dreams’ from M.A.D.Editions are definitely where your eyes should be. The trio here is starkly different from any watches from the Swiss precision house. This is essentially because of the watches being made in collaboration with British-Nigerian artist Yinka Ilori, whose influence is vividly visible from the dial to the strap and beyond.
Designer: M.A.D.Editions x Yinka Ilori
The colorful art on time
M.A.D.Editions x Yinka Ilori’s three-piece collaboration is infused with “joy and meaning.” This is made possible by Ilori, whose works are essentially reckoned for their bold, playful, and bright colorways. And if you even choose not to see, the imbued essence of his signature style is identifiable on the M.A.D.1S watches: the Sun, Water, and Nature.
Each of these variants has its own distinct colorway for the strap and the watch’s dial-facing rotor. The colors used are yellow for the Sun, blue for Water, and you guessed it – green for Nature. Really interesting aspect about all three watches is their own mismatched two-piece rubber straps. Each side of the stamps is of a different color. For instance, the yellow of the Sun is paired to a half yellow, half green strap; Water is worn on a light and dark blue colored strap, while Nature has a slightly peculiar combination of a purple and red colored strap. The butterfly clasp of the watches has dual M.A.D. and Yinka Ilori branding on either side.
It’s not only colors
The M.A.D.1S ‘Grow Your Dreams’ watches are not just about color. The watches also come paired to an all-white rubber strap with the same texture as the colored straps. Since all straps are quick-release, paired with a white strap, either of the M.A.D.1S should go well even with formal attire. The 42 x 15mm stainless steel case watches feature a rotating hour cylinder to tell time and are slightly reworked from the original M.A.D.1 with Super-LumiNova highlights. The M.A.D.1S ‘Grow Your Dreams’ watch bezels are machined, grooved, and filled with polished HyCeram liquid ceramic. The watches are powered by Swiss-made LaJoux-Perret G101 single-cylinder movement and are highlighted by the milled titanium rotor engraved with Ilori’s signature tree motif wrapping up the finish.
As is customary with M.A.D.Editions, the three versions of the M.A.D.1S ‘Grow Your Dreams’ are strictly limited. Only 400 pieces have been created, which will be available only through a raffle on the M.A.D.Editions website. This raffle system is specially designed by the company to sell its watches, since it “gives everyone a fair shot, keeps it transparent, and makes it fun.” The raffle for the colorful watch trio will take place from September 2 through September 8. The watches are tagged at a starting price of CHF 3,200 (roughly $4,000).
The post MB&F collaborates with artist Yinka Ilori for colourful trio of M.A.D.1S ‘Grow Your Dreams’ watches first appeared on Yanko Design.