Short, stout, and absolutely adorable, the Minimillians are a new family made by horology’s favourite Friends. But why are they here?
An MB&F symbolises many things: An amalgamation of Friends, making dreams come to life in a mechanical setting, or perhaps the ultimate timepiece, representative of the highest levels of horological achievement. Above all, however, it signifies that the new owner, be they fresh from the shop or part of the secondary market, has officially entered into the MB&F Tribe. This consists of about 1100 members of a tight-knit community, which now includes WatchAdvice’s own Chamath Gamage!
But being part of the Tribe doesn’t just end at purchasing a watch from MB&F. This year, they’re making it very clear with the release of the new Minimillians! These chubby, alien-like creatures have been made by the Friends over at MB&F, with heads that replicate the timepieces owned by each individual member of the Tribe.
Working alongside Maximillian Maertens (not to be confused with Maximillian Büsser, founder of MB&F), these quirky characters drew inspiration from the 1984 film Ghostbusters, taking after the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in stature. As every Tribe member owned a different watch, Maertens had to study every single MB&F model to ensure that each Minimillian’s head was as accurately personalised as possible for the 3D printing process.
AB Concept and sister company AB Product assisted Maertens in the manufacturing of each Minimillian. Run by longtime friend Aurélien Bouchet, their 3D printing machines can create objects measuring from as little as 2mm to 38cm, making them the ideal candidates to bring Maerten’s designs to life. Though a quirky and fun figurine, the Minimillians are still made of polyamide – a type of nylon that is extremely durable and shock resistant – and finished with a white, ceramic-like texture that reflected the challenging production of each Minimillian.
Finally, the Minimillians are passed on to Olivier Berthon, yet another Friend, who packages them in the same foam used to protect MB&F timepieces, ensuring they remain safe for the trip to come.
A new family made by Friends, the Minimillians represent not only a token of gratitude from MB&F but a badge of honour. According to them, Minimillians may be in your mailbox as of July 2024, so check to see if one is lurking in there! If not, don’t worry – all you have to do is register your MB&F watch at https://www.mbandf.com/en/the-tribe and get ready for a new Friend to join you and your incredible piece on your many adventures!
