Max Büsser, the founder of MB&F, initiated a project within the company’s so-called horological lab four years ago to make a timepiece featuring Kari Voutilainen’s dial work and finishing, coupled with an Eric Coudray complication – all on display underneath a magnificent ultra-domed sapphire crystal.

Enter Mad Max’s latest horological creation, the Legacy Machine Thunderdome, jointly signed by Eric Coudray and Kari Voutilainen. Boasting the world’s fastest triple-axis tourbillon regulating mechanism (dubbed the “TriAx”), the escapement, balance wheel, and hairspring are set inside two tourbillon cages, rotating at three different speeds, on three separate axes.

The three axes rotate at different speeds on different planes, with the innermost axis making a complete 360 degree turn every 8 seconds, the central axis turning completely every 12 seconds, and the outermost axis rotating fully every 20 seconds. The result of all this madness is an eye-catching mechanical animation happening on your wrist – at very high rotational speeds – under the Thunderdome (see video below).

Driving the regulating organ, and in turn, the hours and minutes is a manually wound three-barrel movement (engine) with 45 hours of power reserve. The construction includes a Potter escapement (fixed), hemispherical balance wheel with regulating screws (10 mm), and helical (cylindrical) hairspring. The movement has 63 jewels, a total of 413 components, and oscillates at a rate of 3Hz.

Presented in a 44 mm × 22.2 mm platinum case, or tantalum for The Hour Glass editions, the Thunderdome is water-resistant to 30 meters. Hours and minutes are displayed on a 58-degree vertically tilted white lacquer dial. A power reserve indicator on the backside keeps you apprised of the remaining hand-wound power (fuel).

Set atop the guilloché dial, which was crafted by hand in Kari Voutilainen’s workshops, both the front side components, and those on the caseback side, have been finished to Kari Voutilainen’s incredibly high standards. Beveled internal angles, polished bevels, Geneva stripes, and hand engravings are among some of the most demanding decorating techniques utilized.

Even in a dystopian future, such as in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, where traditional fuel is scarce (akin to electricity or a battery in a smart or quartz watch), the Thunderdome, driven by a hand-wound mechanical mainspring, would still function.

The Thunderdome will be available in two limited editions at launch. There will be 33 pieces made in platinum with a light-blue guilloché dial (as shown). Additionally, Singapore-based retail group, The Hour Glass, will receive 10 pieces in tantalum, commemorating their 40th anniversary (5 with a dark-blue guilloché dial and 5 with an inlaid aventurine dial).

The retail price of the Legacy Machine Thunderdome in platinum is $280,000.

Learn more at MB&F.