Why It Belongs

The M.A.D.2 feels like a proper second chapter rather than simply another variation of the M.A.D.1. Designed by Eric Giroud, it takes inspiration from something very personal to him: the club scene of Lausanne in the 1990s. Turntables, vinyl records and late nights on the dance floor somehow found their way into a mechanical watch — and once you know the story, the whole design suddenly makes sense.

The Story

Look closely and the M.A.D.2 starts to resemble a miniature DJ setup. The raised hour and minute displays take inspiration from turntables, the centre carries grooves reminiscent of vinyl, and the large rotating platter surrounding them is actually the automatic winding rotor. Even the small Super-LumiNova details around its edge reference the stroboscopic markings found on the legendary Technics SL-1200 turntable. It’s playful, but there is a surprising amount of thought behind it.

What I find more interesting is how personal the watch is to Eric Giroud. He spent much of the 1990s around Lausanne’s club scene, including MAD and Dolce Vita, long before becoming known for designing watches for MB&F. After roughly 20 years working alongside Max Büsser, M.A.D.2 became his opportunity to tell his own story. Even the smooth, almost almond-shaped case traces back to an unrealised watch design Giroud had imagined in the 1990s.

Collector’s Insight

I think M.A.D.2 makes much more sense once you stop comparing it with M.A.D.1. The first watch was very mechanical and almost industrial; this one feels smoother, more colourful and more playful. And there’s a nice little surprise underneath all that fun — a bi-directional jumping-hour mechanism. You don’t immediately notice it, which is probably exactly the point.