Introducing: The M.A.D.1S “Grow Your Dreams” Water, Nature, And Sun — A Collaboration With Artist Yinka Ilori
Block September 2nd if you want to have a chance to wear a relatively affordable MB&F collaboration watch on your wrist. On that day, at 2:00 PM CEST, the raffle for the M.A.D.1S “Grow Your Dreams” in three colorways will start. These M.A.D.Editions are the result of a collaboration with British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori. Each version is limited to 400 pieces, and all vibrate with Ilori’s colorful and joyful energy and dream-inspired philosophy.
You probably don’t need an introduction to Maximilian Büsser, the founder and driving force behind MB&F and a string of other “crazy” projects, such as M.A.D.Editions. However, you may not be familiar with British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori. One thing is for sure: he loves color. But there’s more. He’s a storyteller who fuses his cultural heritage, social commentary, and striking aesthetics across various mediums, from London’s most overlooked spaces to bespoke McLarens. Every creation is a vibrant celebration of joy. His practice spans architecture, large-scale installations, print, fashion, textiles, home wares, and now three watches.
Sun
The M.A.D.1S “Grow Your Dreams,” a collaboration watch in three lively colorways
At the heart of Ilori’s philosophy is a belief in nurturing dreams. It’s a value instilled by his parents and often symbolized by the motif of trees, representing the patience, resilience, and hope required for ideas to grow and flourish over time. The three versions of the M.A.D.1S “Grow Your Dreams” are clear expressions of Ilori’s way of thinking.
Water
The three limited-edition versions of the M.A.D.1S “Grow Your Dreams” are called Sun, Nature, and Water. Each of these watches features a steel 42 × 15mm case. Those who remember the original M.A.D.1 might notice that these new watches are slimmer. That’s due to the switch to a single time-telling cylinder for hours instead of two for hours and minutes. The shape of the lugs and case back remained the same, though. The watches are water resistant to 3 ATM and feature a mineral crystal on the back and a sapphire one on the front. The latter crystal also has an antireflective coating on both sides.
Nature
More specs and details
Of course, the most eye-catching feature is the rotor. The rotors of the different M.A.D.1S “Grow Your Dreams” models are executed in anodized titanium, with yellow for Sun, green for Nature, and blue for Water. The shape underwent an evolution, resulting in a slimmer, more detailed appearance. The milled blades show a tree motif, symbolizing hope and growth.
Encircling the sapphire crystal is a bezel with vibrant colors, but what you see is not a traditional PVD coating. Instead, it’s a precision-machined groove filled with HyCeram, a high-tech liquid ceramic that is heat-hardened and hand-polished to a flawless finish. Complementing the bezel, the aluminum baseplate showcases stamped wave-like textures that ripple beneath the movement, creating a 3D visual effect.
The power source of choice is the Swiss-made La Joux-Perret G101. It replaces the Japanese Miyota movement used in previous M.A.D.1 models and boasts a 68-hour power reserve. In addition, this movement displays more refined decoration and is slimmer than its Miyota predecessor. What remains the same is the super-fast-spinning rotor that makes wearing the M.A.D.1 watches so much fun.
Yinka Ilori and Max Büsser
Bicolor straps
Fittingly, in the Sun version, the rotor is the color of the Sun, and the watch comes with a half-green, half-yellow strap. The other two watches follow that principle. Nature shows a green rotor and a half-purple, half-red strap.
The all-blue Water has a blue rotor and a half-dark blue, half-light blue strap. Yes, these watches have bold colorways, and even the brand itself mentions “mismatched” colors, but they do look fun, vibrant, and original. Every strap shows detailed stamped leaf patterns, echoing Ilori’s dreamscape and philosophy. For those who find the color combinations overwhelming, each watch also comes with an interchangeable white strap.
The M.A.D.Editions Raffles
Like earlier M.A.D.1 models, the M.A.D.1S “Grow Your Dreams” will likely cause a bit of hysteria among watch fans. To keep things in check, there will be a raffle. After endless hours of internal debate at MB&F, it was decided that raffles were the fairest way to allocate the trio of limited-edition watches. The raffle opens Tuesday, September 2nd, and closes Monday, September 8th. Registration is free, and the watches cost CHF 3,200 before taxes. So, if you want to have a chance to wear a lively M.A.D.1S “Grow Your Dreams” on the wrist, click here to sign up for the raffle. Best of luck!
