We’ve been following Albishorn since the brand launched just shy of a year ago, and have enjoyed the themes the brand has chosen to explore with its ‘imaginary vintage’ concept. After applying this formula to aviation and mountaineering, the Marinagraph returns to the brand’s patented regatta countdown function for another take on the yachting chronograph.

Available in classic black or sunray brushed teal dial finishes, the Marinagraph adds an aluminium bezel insert to provide at-a-glance reading of the current state of the local tides. Each version is limited to 99 pieces, which will be produced in small batches over the next three years.

Initial thoughts

Albishorn made its debut with a regatta timer, and it’s nice to see another foray into this genre to mark the brand’s first anniversary. Though regatta timers are surely among the least useful complications, the Marinagraph adds a tide bezel that adds a simple way for coastal buyers to monitor their local tides. As a seaside resident myself, I find this feature quite charming and it seems on-brand for Albishorn.

Two dial colours are on offer, each limited to 99 (non-numbered) pieces. I prefer the classic black dial, which feels more in line with the imaginary vintage theme, but the sunburst teal dial, dubbed Paraíba Racing, is arguably more on trend with the prevailing tastes of the moment.

The Marinagraph retains the best elements of Albishorn’s previous chronographs, namely its distinctive bowl-shaped bezel and red anodised chronograph pusher at nine o’clock. Together with a ten o’clock crown, these features give the watch an instant visual identity; something not to be taken for granted in this crowded segment of the market. The case itself is a mere 39 mm at the case, but the bezel opens up to about 41 mm.

The brand is still trying to figure out a consistent strategy for embellishing its solid case backs, and each one has been a little different in concept. The back of the Marinagraph is engraved with a sailboat, which feels a bit obvious; a plain case back would be more historically correct, but an emphasis on a particular detail, like the Thundergraph’s appealing rope motif, would be welcome.

The Marinagraph is powered by the ALB01 A, an automatic chronograph movement first seen in the Maxigraph. The movement is a proprietary design from brand founder Sébastien Chaulmontet, and displays hours and minutes and a running indicator, plus a patented 10-minute regatta timer that stops when the countdown reaches zero. Though based in principle on the Valjoux cal. 7750, the ALB01 A was redesigned to be more compact, and at 6.6 mm thick is about 16% thinner than than an off-the-shelf equivalent.

Priced in line with prior models, the Marinagraph retails for CHF3,950 before taxes. Given its proprietary movement and thoughtful details, the Marinagraph is a lot of watch for the money. At a time when prices seem to only go up, it’s refreshing to see small independent brands like Albishorn, Louis Erard, Anoma, and others stick closely to a targeted price point.

Skipper’s delight

Functionally, the key difference between the new Marinagraph and its predecessor is its aluminium bezel insert calibrated for the tides. Unlike a traditional dive bezel that is meant to be read from the minute hand, the tide bezel is read off the the hour hand. To improve legibility, Albishorn fills the white markings with Super-LumiNova, which will give the watch a dynamic look in low light.

By referencing published tide tables, the user can rotate the bezel until the white triangle corresponds to the next high tide. Once high tide arrives, the white markings indicate the receding tide, while the red markers denote the subsequent rising tide, giving the user a rough picture of the current state of the local tide. This functionality is similar to other tide bezels like that of the Sinn 240 St GZ.

Beyond the bezel functionality, the Marinagraph introduces a new logo, ditching the badge-style Albishorn wordmark in favour of a cursive font that reminds me of brands like Riva. I expect this wordmark will be used selectively where it makes sense, and isn’t fully replacing the earlier version that, to my eye, is more charming and reminiscent of mid-century petrol branding.

Continuity is retained thanks to the hour markers, which look like snow-capped peaks and mirror the brand’s logo on the crown. This motif is repeated on the tips of the hour and minute hands.

The engine room

Inside the Marinagraph, you’ll find the ALB01 A, an automatic chronograph designed by Dr Chaulmontet. It’s not an in-house movement per se, but it’s made to his own design by manufacturing partners in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Dr Chaulmontet happens to be the head of marketing and innovation at Sellita, and has both the technical ability and commercial relationships to see his own designs brought to life in a cost-effective way. His presence at the helm, pun intended, is a significant competitive advantage for Albishorn.

Like the Maxigraph, the Marinagraph eschews the traditional 30-minute totaliser for a 10-minute countdown timer that stops at zero. Operated by an aluminium monopusher ergonomically positioned at the nine o’clock position, the ALB01 A is nearly as slim as the Rolex cal. 4130, and manages to run for up to 64 hours when fully wound.

Key facts and price

Albishorn Marinagraph
Paraíba Racing (green)
Classic Racing (black)

Diameter: 41 mm
Height: 13 mm
Material: Steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 100 m

Movement: ALB01 A
Features: Hours, minutes, running indicator, and chronograph with 10-minute retrograde countdown function
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Winding: Automatic
Power reserve: 64 hours

Strap: Rubber strap with pin buckle

Limited edition: 99 pieces in each colour
Availability: Available directly from Albishorn starting August 27, 2025
Price: CHF3,950 before taxes

For more, visit Albishorn-watches.ch.

The accessibly priced, MB&F-adjacent wristwatch returns as the M.A.D.1S ‘Grow Your Dreams’, a collaboration with Yinka Ilori, a British designer known for applying bright colors to furniture, architecture, and interiors. With three kaleidoscopic colourways – Sun, Nature, and Water – the new M.A.D.1S leans into the maximalist trends of the day, which suits the M.A.D.Editions sub-brand, and MB&F in general, like a glove.

Initial Thoughts

I’m reminded of the H. Moser & Cie. Elements of Time we covered just last week. Like with those, the M.A.D.1S ‘Grow Your Dreams’ is a series of thematic, limited edition collaborations sold via online raffle. And of the flavours on offer here, my favourite is again the Water variant.

Collaborations like this can often feel like a one-way street, but that doesn’t feel like the case here. It’s good to know Yinka Ilori was an active participant in the watch’s design, personally designing the stylised numerals on the hour cylinder. I’ll also point out Mr Ilori is the model in all of these wrist shots. As for my thoughts on his work, I own some tableware he designed a few years back – which sits in my cupboard, seldom used but often admired.

“Water”

The M.A.D.1 series in general are dubious as a value proposition; though they are very affordable for an MB&F-ish watch, they are pricey for the segment. But that misses the point – few are cross shopping these with similarly priced offerings from Tudor or Longines, or even other micro brands, thanks to the strength of the MB&F name.

I imagine most buyers of the M.A.D.1S already have a sizable accumulation of “better” watches – and probably a bona fide MB&F – and in that case the M.A.D.1S  is one of the best executed novelty watches on the market right now, at least from Switzerland.

“Water”

Water, Sun, Nature

This tree bore three fruit: Water in cobalt, sky blue and green, Sun with yellow, lilac and dark purple, and red-yellow-green for Nature.

All cased in a combination of stainless steel, sapphire and tempered glass, and none of the palettes would be out of place in Yinka Ilori’s other projects. Each model is delivered with two straps, one white, and the other bicolour, and one stainless steel butterfly clap.

From left to right: Water, Nature, Sun.

While there are many aftermarket options for intentionally mismatched straps – and you can always buy two different straps – it remains rare from the factory, and the two-tone look suits these watches well.

The straps must be cut to size, like Patek Philippe’s Aquanaut strap, which improves the wearing experience and is easy to size down with a pair of scissors. But once cut the strap cannot be extended, making it somewhat wasteful.

Case and Calibre

While the case and calibre remain mostly unchanged from the last M.A.D. 1S, the team redesigned the rotor for this iteration, which is now slimmer and more stylised. The rotor is titanium, and anodised in vibrant colors which differ between the three flavours, the anodisation was likely done by Positive Coating, one of MB&F’s “friends”. Each spoke of the axe-shaped rotor includes a tree motif and carried the phrase “grow your dreams”.

You will spot another novelty on the bezel, a coloured band is a groove filled with HyCeram, a ceramic-polymer composite from an Austrian vendor that is processed as a liquid and cured to form a solid block. The last pop of colour comes from an anodised aluminium ring surrounding the movement, stamped with a ripple texture.

“Nature”

Under the hood is the La Joux-Perret G101, a drop-in ETA 2824 replacement derived from Citizen’s Miyota 9000 series but Swiss made. A different Citizen calibre, the Miyota cal. 812A, powered early M.A.D.1 models that were thicker and less sophisticated – and not Swiss made.

Like the original, this movement only winds in one direction, and spins free and wild in the other. The G101 is slimmer, has a longer power reserve of almost three days, higher beat rate, and is more presentable than the cal. 812A.

“Sun”

The movements sits upside down in the case, and is set and wound as normal from the crown at 12 0’clock.

Reading the time is less typical, as a large 12-hour cylinder replaces the hour hand, and the minutes is omitted. The hours cylinder  is marked to the quarter hours and read through the tempered glass case band, it’s also fully lumped for low light legibility.

Key Facts and Price

MB&F M.A.D.1S Grow Your Dreams 

Diameter: 42 mm
Height: 15 mm
Material: Stainless steel
Crystal: Sapphire on the front and mineral glass on the flanks
Water resistance: 30 m

Movement: La Joux-Perret G101
Functions: Hours and minutes on single cylinder
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Winding: Automatic
Power reserve: 68 hours

Strap: White and mis-matched rubber straps with folding clasp

Limited edition: 400 pieces each 
Availability: Only from M.A.D. Editions raffle open from September 2-8, 2025
Price: CHF3,200 excluding taxes

For more, visit the M.A.D. 1 raffle page.