Full Breakdown
M.A.D.3 Vincent Calabrese: MB&F Reimagines the Baladin Jumping-Hour Complication
9/1/2026, 8:22:55 PM
Core Release Details
MB&F’s sub-brand M.A.D.Editions launched the third edition of its collaborative line, the M.A.D.3 Vincent Calabrese. The watch is priced at CHF 2,900 (excluding taxes) and was offered exclusively through an online raffle that opened on September 1 2026 and ran for a week. No limited-edition numbering is applied; the model is positioned as an “affordable” entry within the M.A.D. portfolio.
Background & Context
Vincent Calabrese, an 82-year-old independent watchmaker, co-founded the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI) in 1985. He created the Baladin—a jumping-hour complication with a wandering hour display—to make the hour transition smoother than traditional jumping-hour watches. The Baladin has been produced in limited numbers and commands strong secondary-market prices.
Design and Mechanical Development
M.A.D.Editions partnered with Calabrese’s longtime friend Maximilian Büsser and designer Eric Giroud to translate the Baladin’s philosophy into the M.A.D.3. The team redeveloped the wandering-hour module from the ground up, integrating it with an optimised La Joux-Perret G111 base calibre used in earlier M.A.D. models. The movement was refined with tighter tolerances, improved amplitude control, and a reworked power-train to meet the energy demands of the slower, progressive hour transition.
The case, also by Giroud, retains hallmark M.A.D. features such as floating lugs and a double-step bezel, while adopting a 40 mm stainless-steel diameter and a lug-to-lug length of 43 mm. At 12.7 mm thick, the watch houses dual domed sapphire crystals and a teardrop-shaped crown logo referencing the hour aperture. The dial presents a circular jumping-hour window that travels fully around the face in one hour, accompanied by a central seconds hand. Luminous Super-LumiNova coating covers the minute track, hour numerals, and the seconds hand.
Data & Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 40 mm |
| Thickness | 12.7 mm |
| Case material | Stainless steel |
| Crystal | Double-sided sapphire |
| Water resistance | 30 m |
| Movement | La Joux-Perret G111 with in-house wandering-hour module |
| Functions | Wandering jump hour, minutes, seconds |
| Frequency | 28,800 bph (4 Hz) |
| Winding | Automatic (rotor concealed) |
| Power reserve | 55 hours |
| Strap | Leather with folding buckle |
| Price | CHF 2,900 (excluding taxes) – source: watchesbysjx |
Official Statements & Responses
The brand highlighted that the new module was built to handle the energy demands of the complication more efficiently, ensuring a stable power reserve and improved amplitude control.
Market Position and Accessibility
The CHF 2,900 price aligns the M.A.D.3 with the secondary-market values of original Baladin pieces, offering a more contemporary size (40 mm vs. the Baladin’s 34 mm) and easier maintenance. Allocation is managed via a raffle system, with a blue variant open to the public and a pink edition reserved for MB&F’s “Tribe and Friends” community.
What’s Next
Following the raffle launch on September 1 2026, interested buyers must await the draw results before the watch becomes available for purchase. No further release dates or additional editions have been announced.
