No one expected the Thunderbolt to make the splash that it did

MB and F’s horological masterpiece confounds and delights the timepiece market

When it comes to space age gadgets that tech geeks drool over, there is one luxury watch that watch lovers have either universally panned yet secretly desired or have been drooling over since it’s release. That is the MB&F Horological machine No. 4 Thunderbolt watch.

MB&F Thunderbolt Watch

Just look at the amazing design that goes into this timepiece. It’s like a futuristic transporter watch that seems oddly a product of the 50’s. This beuty that was built to resemble the turbines of a classic fighter jet has turned watch design on it’s ear… then pushed it down several flights of stairs. The West talks about the incredible road from development to distribution:

Meticulously made from titanium and a synthetic sapphire that required 185 hours of machining, the piece features micro drilled pin-up girls on the “engines” – each taking a miniaturist two weeks to paint – and a leather strap cut from a World War I Swiss military bag.

Despite spending three years and $3 million on development, Busser wasn’t oozing confidence about the retail potential of his company MB&F’s highly-priced latest creation.

“Six months before I presented it to anybody in the market I thought nobody’s ever going to buy this,” Busser said in Perth yesterday during his first visit to Australia.

In the end, 52 pieces were delivered worldwide and he believes there are three left at retail outlets. Swiss Time Machine in Perth has one with a $205,000 price tag.

In the end, Max Busser (the MB of MB&F) didn’t really care how the watch sold since he has said in the past, “This is not a money-making business, this is a passion-making business.” And the people who ran out to purchase the MB&F Thunderbolt watch all know a little something about passion. Time will tell if they know a little something about incredible investments!