A Closer Look at the MB&F HM3 Frog X Purple Watch

MB&F HM3 Frog X Purple Watch

At the onset of 2020, the Geneva-based watch manufacturing brand MB&F debuted its tenth anniversary with the launch of the Horological Machine No.3 Frog X purple watch. This new Limited HM3 Frog watch comes in various styles and is one of the first MB&F high-end luxury watches that perfectly blends traditional and modern-themed styles. The original MB&F HM3 Frog watch was initially released back in 2010, a year that proved to be successful for MB&F watches. The MB&F HM3 Frog X Purple Watch features a transparent sapphire crystal case with purple, turquoise, or blue rotors, lume, and case gaskets. Unlike the original edition, this timepiece has a larger rotor and weightless rotating aluminum domes that display the hours and minutes. Additionally, the watch’s crown is illuminated with purple Super-LumiNova accents. Here, we will discuss more about the MB&F HM3 Frog X Purple Watch.

Overview

When it was originally launched in 2010, the Horological Machine No.3 (or simply NH3) watch by MB&F captured the eye of various watch enthusiasts for its unique watch design. With prominently two dome-shaped rotating “eyes” on its dial, the watch bears a clear resemblance to the frog’s eyes as well as the huge “mouth” that exposes the oscillating MB&F battle-axe rotor. Moreover, by taking a closer look at the watch’s transparent sapphire for the case, you can be able to see the entire movement and the powered Girard-Perregaux base. Ten years later, the Swiss MB&F watch manufacturing brand celebrated its 10th birthday while marking its various iconic timepieces such as the new Horological Machine No.3 Frog X Purple Watch.

The following are some of the notable features included in the MB&F HM3 Frog X Purple Watch:

  • Limited Edition: 30 pieces
  • Size: 52.7 x 48.3mm
  • Function: has a “secret message” in its crown that reflects light rays to project the MB&F battle-axe icon.
  • Dial: two separate rotating domes that display the hours and minutes
  • Case: a see-through sapphire crystal with a purple gasket
  • Movement: designed by Jean-Marc Wiederrecht/ Agenhor, and powered by a Girard-Perregaux base
  • Water Resistance: 30 meters
  • Bracelet/ Strap: hand-stitched alligator leather
  • Caseback: sapphire crystal
  • Factory Warranty: two years

Dial and Bezel

The MB&F HM3 Frog X Purple Watch features a blue, turquoise, and purple dial with a matching colored lume and battle-axe rotor. The “secret message” microscopic-polished on the watch’s crown uses light-sculpting techniques initiated by Rayform technology to project the MB&F battle-axe icon. The concept behind this “secret message” is simple and fun and requires visual representation for one to fully understand. In its efforts to mimic the frog-theme, the watch comes with two transparent domes made out of aluminum (to reduce overall weight), which display the hours and minutes. The rotating black markers under the markers are strategically designed to look like the lateral pupils of a frog’s eyes. Furthermore, the two see-through sapphire domes are not only designed to be uniform in size, but they have a uniform and consistent curve and thickness so as to eliminate any final optical distortions when reading the time on the watch.

Case and Straps

Regardless of its weird dimensions and shape, the HM3 Frog X purple watch is rather comfortable on the wrist. This is made possible by the mostly sapphire crystal case that measures 18mm-thick, 47mm-wide, and 50mm lug-to-lug. In addition to the almost weightless two rotating aluminum domes that indicate the hours and minutes, the watch is fitted with titanium screws along with purple-accentuated gaskets that provide for the 30m water resistance. To complete the aesthetic element, the MB&F HM3 Frog X Purple Watch comes fitted with a very eye-catching purple-colored custom alligator strap. The watch also has Super-LumiNova segments under the battle axe icon and on the hour and minute marks to provide a pleasant spectacle and enhance time readability even in poor light environments. During the 10th anniversary of the HM3 Frog X timepiece, three limited editions of 10 pieces, each with purple, turquoise, and blue rotors and matching colors of gaskets and Super-LumiNova, were released.

Movement

The HM3 Frog X watch is fitted with the Three-dimensional horological engine designed by award-winning master watchmaker Jean-Marc Wiederrecht / Agenhor and is powered by a Girard-Perregaux base. This Girard-Perregaux caliber operates at a frequency of 4Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) with about 48 hours of power reserve. Unlike the previous versions, whose movements displayed hours and minutes, the MB&F HM3 Frog X Purple watch features a “battle axe-style” 22k-gold automatic rotor that provides a large time display. Additionally, the Girard-Perregaux caliber has been literally fixed upside down to allow for better time viewing and reduce its overall mass. Since the caliber is placed upside down, power in this watch is usually transmitted from the bottom of the movement to the dome-shaped sapphire crystal that displays hours and minutes. Instead of the common gearing and pinions, the HM3 timepiece comes with two huge high-tech ceramic hearing systems of 15mm diameter. They help lower the risk of friction and facilitate a thinner movement as they only require support at one end.

Price and Availability

In the past decade, the average price of the HM3 watch has significantly changed. Even though the initial M&F HM3 Frog X watch was sold at an average price of $80,000, the new 2020 MB&F Frog X purple-colored watch costs almost twice as much due to the inclusion of two huge dome-shaped sapphire crystal case and increasing inflation rates. Despite its high price, the HM3 watch offers an exceptional and fun-wearing experience, with barely any of its kind available in the market. The average price for each of the 30 limited editions of the 2020 MB&F Horological Machine No.3 is about 152,000 USD.

Bottom Line

10 years after its original debut, the HM3 timepiece makes its comeback with the release of the “Frog X” limited-editions, revealing a glistening “lure” of red gold, exotic zirconium, or titanium. The MB&F Frog X purple-colored watch stands out from the other luxury watches due to the inclusion of a widely grinning “mouth” exposing the occasionally bright flicker of the battle-axe MB&F rotor and two enormous “eyes” that rotate to display the hours and minutes. Get started today and enjoy these amazing features by getting yourself the MB&F HM3 Frog X purple-colored watch.

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