The 2023 MB&F HM11 Architect turns a house-like layout into a working mechanical watch: four functional rooms encircle a central flying tourbillon, while rotating the case winds the movement and reorients its displays. Conceived by Maximilian Büsser with designer Eric Giroud, it draws on the organic, neo-futuristic architecture of the 1960s and ’70s.
How the HM11 Architect works
MB&F describes the design as a central atrium opening onto four peripheral rooms. In the watch, the metaphor has a mechanical purpose: the four rooms hold the displays and controls, arranged around the central flying tourbillon. The result is a three-dimensional movement rather than a conventional flat dial.
The case rotates around its base. Turn it clockwise and the movement is wound; as the case turns, the orientation of the displays changes too. The movement is manually wound, and its power reserve is 96 hours. MB&F’s description captures the contrast behind the design: “A watch and a house are different machines.”
What each room contains
- Time: Hours and minutes appear in one room.
- Power reserve: A separate display indicates the remaining power.
- Temperature: The thermometer covers −20 to 60 °C (0 to 140 °F).
- Time-setting crown: The fourth room contains a see-through sapphire crown.
The room arrangement is more than a visual theme: it distributes useful functions around the tourbillon, and rotating the case brings those displays into a different orientation.
The Tool Desk
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Original Architect editions and the later Art Deco models
The original HM11 Architect launched in 2023 in two Grade 5 titanium versions. Both have the same core construction and specifications; the differences are aesthetic, not a stated performance distinction.
| Edition | Dial plate | Strap | Limited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| HM11 Architect, 2023 | Blue | White rubber | 25 pieces |
| HM11 Architect, 2023 | Rose gold | Khaki green | 25 pieces |
MB&F’s current collection page also includes HM11 Art Deco, introduced in 2025. It retains the 42 mm by 23 mm titanium case and broad four-room architecture, but uses different bridge and dial treatments, markers, and straps. Each of its two versions is limited to 10 pieces. These are later variants, not the original 2023 Architect editions.
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HM11 Architect specifications
| Specification | HM11 Architect |
|---|---|
| Case | Grade 5 titanium |
| Diameter × height | 42 mm × 23 mm |
| Water resistance | 20 m / 2 ATM |
| Winding | Manual; turn the case clockwise to wind |
| Power reserve | 96 hours |
| Frequency | 18,000 beats per hour (2.5 Hz) |
| Movement components | 364 |
| Jewels | 29 |
| Complications and functions | Flying tourbillon, hours and minutes, power reserve, temperature indication |
Price and availability
Fratello’s November 15, 2023 launch coverage reported original Architect pricing of CHF 198,000, €207,000, or US$230,000, before taxes. When checked on October 7, 2026, MB&F’s shop displayed CHF 198,000 excluding VAT or taxes for HM11. That collection-level listing does not establish current stock of either original Architect colorway. Check with MB&F’s retailer locator or the brand for variant-level availability.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who the design is for
The Architect is for someone drawn to mechanical watchmaking presented as spatial design: the tourbillon is the center, the indicators occupy separate rooms, and the case itself is part of the winding interaction. Choose between the original blue and rose-gold dial plates by appearance and strap preference; the available specifications do not indicate a functional difference. The later Art Deco editions offer a different design vocabulary, but should not be confused with the 2023 Architect.
Quick Recap
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