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CAN-AM Salute
Horological Machine N°8 Can-Am

The Canadian-American Challenge Cup, Can-Am for short, was a was ground-breaking and rebellious sports car racing series that embraced the spirit of freedom. The series allowed for unlimited engine sizes, turbocharging, supercharging, and unrestricted aerodynamics, and as a result, the Can-Am had an enormous impact on the development of motor racing from 1966 to 1987. These ideas and beliefs have now extend to watch design and mechanics.

The newly released Horological Machine N°8 Can-Am (HM8) produced by Maximilian Büsser & Friends (MB&F) is a revolutionary design that pays homage to the now-defunct Can-Am series, which celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year. The engine of this art piece, which merges the essence of mechanics and auto racing, is built on a Girard-Perregaux base calibre Automatic battle-axe winding rotor in 22k gold, and has a 42-hour power reserve. Two roll cage-like polished bars milled from solid blocks of titanium Ti-6Al-4V link with the blued-gold battle-axe rotor and in turn to the one-piece sapphire crystal engine cover. Completing the Can-Am theme; the HM8 has dual oil sumps, a perfect demonstration of infusing automobile elements into watches.

The hour and minute displays on the HM8 are extraordinary. The time is displayed vertically on the ‘dashboard’ at the front of the case using reflective sapphire crystal prisms (the outcome of working with high-precision optical glass suppliers), and the numerals are magnified by 20 per cent after the light is reflected from the discs at 90 degrees, making reading easier. Because of this forward-facing/vertical display, drivers no longer need to move their wrist away from the steering wheel to check the time.

We are sure that anticipation is high for both HM8 Can-Am editions in 18k white gold/titanium and 18k red gold/titanium.