In 2005, under the aegis of Max Büsser as CEO, Harry Winston Timepieces and Urwerk presented one of the most exciting, cutting edge and innovative watches of the beginning of the 21st Century: The Opus V. A watch that would reach cult status in the following years (see lot 296).

To have the team reunite again in 2012 but this time with Max Büsser at the helm of his own brand MB&F was an event collectors of contemporary independent watchmaking could only dream of.
First the name of the brand under which the watch was created was brilliant in the fact that it was almost impossible to memorize: C3H5N309 - which is the chemical symbol for nitroglycerin!

The result – the present Experiment ZR012, limited to 12 pieces in zirconium and 12 pieces in black zirconium - was nothing short of astounding in its overt brazen design and implementation.
The elongated, somewhat oblong multi-level case features a mobile lug on top of the case for ease of wear.

The movement is based on a Wankel engine, a type of internal combustion engine using an eccentric rotary design to convert pressure into rotating motion. The time display uses twin discs with the minutes triangle on top and the hours disc below. Deceptively the time appears to be indicated by centrally rotating triangular rotors; however, the triangles are actually Reuleaux polygons; they rotate eccentrically rather than centrally and track complex epitrochroid curves rather than circles. A power reserve indication is placed on the back.

The construction of these elements is superbly architectural and three dimensional with a somewhat steam punk post industrial feel to it.

The brainchild of two of the most creative minds of their generation, the Experiment ZR012 is a spellbinding timepiece that is a must have for any collector of independent contemporary horology.