Introducing the Slimmer and Sleaker M.A.D. Editions M.A.D. 1S
Every since the original release of the M.A.D. 1 by Max Büsser and the team behind MB&F, I have been a big fan. Allowing fans of MB&F to get a taste of the brand and its avant-garde nature, at just a mere fraction of the price, was something that other haute horology brands just weren’t doing. I liked the M.A.D. 1 so much that I finally managed to get one after losing out on multiple raffles. The M.A.D. 1 Red remains a staple in my collection today.
It was exciting to see the announcement today of the new M.A.D. 1S, which represents an evolution of the design of the original version. As a proud owner of the M.A.D. 1, I don’t want to say that the M.A.D. 1S is a better version of the watch, but it really is. Don’t get me wrong, the M.A.D. 1 is a great watch. But the M.A.D. 1S takes into account some of the minor critiques of the original and the outcome is a sleaker, improved version.
THE BASICS:
Brand: M.A.D. Editions
Model: M.A.D. 1S
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Size: 42mm (diameter) by 15mm (height)
Water Resistance: 3 bar (30 Meters)
Movement: La Joux-Perret G101
Movement Specs: Swiss Automatic
Strap Options: Leather Strap
THE Juice:
So let’s get into the biggest change from the M.A.D. 1 to the M.A.D. 1S. While the diameter remains at 42mm, the case thickness has been shaved down almost 4mm, from 18.8mm to 15mm. So while you might not be slipping the M.A.D.1S under the cuff, it is a lot sleeker and more wearable. The M.A.D. Editions team accomplished this by changing out the Japanese Miyota movement for a bidirectional winding Swiss La Joux-Perret G101 movement. Why wasn’t this movement used in the original M.A.D.1? Well, it didn’t exist at the time. And the change was made without even increasing the price! Pretty impressive.
The one downside to slimming down the case has to do with the time telling functionality. As on the M.A.D. 1 you tell the time on the 1S by the cylinder display on front side of the watch (facing the wearer). While the M.A.D. 1 has two cylinders, one for the hours and another for the minutes, the 1S only has a single cylinder. This has the benefit of allowing the watch to be thinner, but at the detriment of accuracy in time-telling. You can make a pretty good estimate of the time, but it won’t be exact. I don’t think it really bothers me though, as the watch is somewhat of a novelty to begin with.
The M.A.D. 1S will be initially released in two colorways, a blue for those that put their name in a raffle, and a purple for “friends of the brand” (really, those who have purchased MB&Fs in the past). In order to prevent bots and flippers, when you fill out the raffle, you will be asked for your credit card to be fully charged if you win the raffle. I know that there have been issues with flippers in the past, so I appreciate the attempt to get this watch into as many collectors’ hands as possible.
Look, I am a big fan of MB&F in general. I have reviewed the HM9 Flow and the HM7 Aquapod. But beyond reviewing these pieces for a couple of weeks, they are beyond my price-range when purchasing a watch. As such, I have been a keen follower of what Büsser has been doing with the M.A.D. Editions watches.
I am excited to see that the M.A.D. 1 was not just a one off design that would just be relaunched in different color variations every so often. The release of the M.A.D. 1S shows that Büsser and his team are dedicated to expanding and innovating their more accessible lineup for collectors like me, us mere mortals. I am excited to see what M.A.D. Editions comes up with in the future.
So how much is the M.A.D. Editions M.A.D. 1S?
The M.A.D. Editions M.A.D. 1S retails for CHF 2,900 (around $3,440 USD). While it is not limited, the first batch will have around 1,500 pieces. You can sign up for the raffle here.
