MB&F HM3 FrogX celebrates the 10th anniversary of the brand’s first mascot watch.
Five years into the ground-breaking horological machine building that MB&F started in 2005, the brand steered from outer space right down to Earth. in 2010, it unveiled the HM3 Frog – which became its first beloved mascot. I remember that first Frog so well, with globe-like eyes (that showcased the hours and minutes) and a big mouth (with the brand’s signature battle-axe rotor). The Frog almost seemed to jump to life on the wrist. Now, for the 10thanniversary of that amphibious symbol, MB&F releases the Horological Machine No. 3 Frog X.
Being a fan of frogs since my youth, when I was adventurous enough to catch them and enjoy watching them leap about, I loved the first Frog from MB&F, but this Frog X stretches the pondlife figure into a more unique creature, inspired by the transparent-skinned frogs of Central American forests. Somehow the look is more modern, and less animal like with the transparent sapphire crystal with colored gaskets and rotors. The Frog X is being made available in three versions – 10 pieces of each – in blue, purple or turquoise for the rotors, Super-LumiNova and gaskets.
The MB&F HM3 FrogX comes in three color ways, each in a limited edition of 10 pieces.
Differences Between MB&F Frog and FrogX
For the HM3 FrogX 10thanniversary watch, the HM3 engine showcases the MegaWind expanded rotor in the center on the dial side, edged with two perfect domes milled of aluminium to indicate the hours and minutes. Like the first Frog, the domes rotate beneath sapphire crystal orbs and recall the frog’s eyes. Super-LumiNova accents showcase the rotor and the time domes in the dark.
For the MB&F HM3 FrogX, MB&F worked with Rayform for a laser inscribed, barely perceptible to the human eye, battle-axe logo on the crown.
The difference between Frog and FrogX when it comes to the sapphire domes is that in FrogX, the sapphire crystal domes are fused to the upper case body—a significant technical challenge. Just the machining and polishing of each HM3 FrogX case takes weeks of meticulous machining and finishing. This watch boasts a secret, too. Its crown is specially sculpted using light techniques created by Swiss Rayform for use in design and anti-counterfeit etching. The micro-formed metal surface showcases the brand’s battle-axe signal (barely perceptible to the human eye) when a light beam shines on it.
What’s inside the MB&F HM3 FrogX
The MB&F HM3 FrogX is powered by the brand’s Megawind movement based on a Girard-Perregaux base with module by the famed Jean-Marc Wiederrecht
The HM3 Frog X is powered by the Megawind Final Edition movement, which consists of nearly 300 individual components. Built by award-winning master watchmaker Jean-Marc Wiederrecht, Megawind is “based on a Girard-Perregaux caliber that has been turned upside down to allow for an uninterrupted view of the enlarged 22k gold and titanium winding rotor and the oscillations of the balance wheel. The two 22K gold blades of the MB&F battle-axe rotor form a “mystery” rotor because, in appearing to be symmetrically balanced instead of having a visibly off-centred mass, they seem to defy the laws of physics. This is achieved by machining the underside of one of the gold blades to a razor-thin edge, reducing its mass.”
The MB&F HM3 Frog X retails for $152,00 in any color.
Impressions of the MB&F HM3 FrogX
MB&F HM3 FrogX
Do I love the new HM3 FrogX like I loved the original frog? No. That would be impossible. It’s like getting your first pet and being incredibly in love with it. Once it’s gone and you get a new one, you love it in a different way. I find this HM3 FrogX to be a modern celebration of a beloved icon – and that is as it should be.
