MB&F HM8 Mark 2 Purple with speedometer-style display is an instant reminder of its inspiration

The inspiration behind the MB&F HM8 Mark 2 is pretty evident if you are a car lover. I mean the speedometer-style display on the side of the case, which instantly reminds me of the futuristic car designs of the 1970s, is something that you don’t need to look back at to know where this one is coming from. MB&F has had a deep-rooted connection with cars that spans well beyond the love for horological machines. The amalgamation of the two worlds dear to the designer and his team was seen in 2012 when the HM5 was launched. HM8, which appeared in 2016, took on the baton. The HM8 Mark 2, released in 2023, is a nice blend that is now available in a limited-edition colorway, evoking a retro-futuristic aesthetic.

MB&F HM8 Mark 2 is, by virtue, a driver’s watch and an interesting hybrid of its two car-inspired predecessors. The watch has the bodywork of the HM5 and the size and the visible mechanics of the HMX, which ensure that the driver can read the time from the HM8 Mark 2 without having to lift the hand off the steering wheel. It’s not only the design that is car-inspired, in fact, the body is influenced as well. The HM8 Mark 2 is built from an independent water-resistant chassis on which the body panels are added, unlike the predecessors that stuck to monobloc construction.

Designer: MB&F

Beyond the inspiration

According to MB&F, “HM8 Mark 2 is the most technologically evolved supercar-inspired model to date.” The purple colorway is the fourth variant of the timepiece, which has an oddly shaped titanium chassis, while panels are painted with a mineral-based purple metallic pigment, similar to that you will find on high-end metallic car paint. Since it is a continuation of the same watch rolled out in 2023, it has identical specifications. The MB&F HM8 Mark 2 Purple has a long, 47mm case, which is 41.5 mm in width, and has a distinguishable crown at 12 o’clock. Measuring 19mm thick, this is not an ordinary timepiece; to actually adorn it in style, you might need a slightly bigger wrist and a pumped body.

Jokes apart, this is a horological marvel, as you’d expect from MB&F, every time it has a new iteration to roll out. The double bubble sapphire crystals on the goggle-like speedometer display, and all sapphire crystals on the back, top, and bottom are treated with anti-reflective coating. When viewed from the top, the watch gives a nice view of the moving 22k gold battle axe rotor on the dial, on the front 3-dimensional horological engine display time in two discs featuring jumping hours on the left and the trailing minutes in the right window. It is powered by an in-house Girard-Perregaux movement with a 42-hour power reserve.

The HM8 Mark 2 Purple featuring grade 5 titanium and CarbonMacrolon casing is now available and comes paired with a white rubber strap for a timeless look. The watch is limited to 33 pieces only. If you’re a serious collector, you should be looking at upward of $88,000 (CHF 68,000) to get one of these exclusive timepieces.