MB&F celebrates the 15th anniversary of its innovative M.A.D. Gallery

German artist Frank Buchwald unveils the ML15 Helios as part of the anniversary celebrations. He is one of M.A.D. Gallery’s first ever artists. Artworks by other mechanical artists will soon follow.

Kunaal Khemka

March 1, 2026

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MB&F's M.A.D. Gallery in old town Geneva.

What is MB&F’s M.A.D Gallery?

Short for Mechanical Art Devices, the first M.A.D. Gallery was established in Geneva’s Old Town in October 2011. In its early days, MB&F’s retail partners faced a daunting task trying to explain their audacious Horological Machines (HMs) to customers. Maximilian (Max) Büsser, the brand’s eponymous founder approached art galleries to explore whether they would be interested as retail partners, who in turn stated: “But these aren’t art, they’re watches!” Not one to give up, Max and his team at MB&F established their own gallery. Not only for the brand’s horological creations, but for mechanical art from across the world.

Also Read: Kunaal’s top watches from the spectacular Dubai Watch Week 2025

Where are they located?

The interiors of MB&F's M.A.D. Gallery in Old Town Geneva. — Image: This concept from MB&F – an independent watch brand – having its own retail spaces which act as a “boutique” for its own watches AND an art gallery for its collaborations, co-creations, and hand-picked mechanical artworks is unprecedented in the watch world. Its part of what makes MB&F unique and incredibly loved among collectors worldwide.

The two M.A.D. Galleries are in Geneva and Dubai. A more compact version called “MB&F Labs” is in Taipei, Singapore, Paris, Beverly Hills and Silicon Valley (Menlo Park).

“In the beginning, we were more interested in creating a space that made sense and secretly hoped to perhaps sell the art – but had no idea if anyone would actually buy it. We were so unprepared; we didn’t even have a credit card machine. So, when about a week after the opening, someone asked to purchase one of the mechanical art devices, we had to ask them to pay in cash!” – Max Büsser.

Also Read: Kunaal’s top watches from 2025: A phenomenal horological year

Who is Frank Buchwald?

Image: Frank Buchwald in his studio in Berlin, Germany.

Born in Hanover, Germany in 1956, Frank Buchwald established his studio in 1998 in Berlin in an old industrial courtyard building established in 1871. His specialty is the design and manufacture of hand-made furniture and lights.

“I have been fascinated by machines for as long as I can remember. For me, machines have always been an emotional medium rather than purely functional objects. This fascination has accompanied me throughout my life and naturally found its way into my design work. What interests me most is the raw, uncompromising nature of machines. In my work, I aim to give them an almost living presence. These are not lamps in the conventional sense, but light-controlled objects with their own character and internal logic.” – Frank Buchwald

What is the ML15 Helios?

Franck Buchwald's sketch of the ML15 Helios. — Image: Frank Buchwald’s sketches of the ML15 Helios. ML is short for “Machine Light” and 15 is a reference to the M.A.D. Gallery’s 15th anniversary.

With its large spherical lamp and bracket structure positioned on three legs, the ML15 Helios is a “techno-biological object” that evokes “a mechanical sun: powerful, calm and precise.” The luminous ring surrounding the bulb is supposed to resemble a solar corona.

“I value the trust MB&F and the M.A.D. Gallery have placed in me over the past 15 years. Max Büsser and the MB&F team genuinely understand independent creation. They give artists freedom, trust intuition, and value authenticity over trends.” – Frank Buchwald.

What are its features?

Frank Buchwald's ML15 Helios. — Image: Frank Buchwald’s ML15 Helios in all its glory. “The three-legged construction with its electrical lighting elements combines the austerity of a technical device with a sculptural quality. It stands as a hybrid of machine, sculpture, and light.”

Crafted from stainless steel with brass elements, it measures 350 mm (width) * 440 mm (height) and 460 mm (depth). Weight: 9 kg. Globe bulb is 120 mm in diameter and features a dimmable LED ring. Two blue diffuser rings. Blue illuminated switch. The head section is adjustable 45° to the left and 45° to the right. Electrical wiring features flexible stainless steel tubes. Silver textile main cable.

What do we think?

Frank Buchwald's Nixie Machine II for MB&F. — Image: An earlier creation by Frank Buchwald, the Nixie Machine II for the M.A.D. Gallery in Geneva, Dubai, and Taipei. It was a limited edition of 12 pieces.

MB&F is not a “conventional” watch brand; rather it is a cult, a following of sorts. The brand affectionately refers to its customers as The Tribe (also extended to secondary market pieces). Its M.A.D. Gallery and MB&F Labs present the perfect environment to showcase everything MB&F, be it their Horological Machines (HMs), classically inspired Legacy Machines (LMs), collaborations such as those with Reuge and L’Epée 1839 and hand-picked mechanical artworks such as Chicara Nagata’s (from Japan) and Frank Buchwald’s creations. A few years ago I came across a quote (I do not recall the name of the publication and also who said it) that the M.A.D. Gallery is a sort of “orphanage” for these artists. The M.A.D. Gallery and MB&F Labs offer them a home to showcase their creations to watch collectors from across the world, blurring the line between watchmaking and mechanical art.

Also Read: MB&F introduces the phenomenal new LM Sequential Flyback EVO