Maximilian Büsser is the founder and creative director of Maximilian Büsser and Friends, MB&F. It’s a watch brand, a gallery, and a movement to promote independent watchmaking. His brand, MB&F, exists to inspire people to think differently, to inspire people to be more creative, and to inspire people to take risks. MB&F, in a nutshell, exists to create communities around mechanical and kinetic art that happens to tell the time.

He’s the philosopher king of watchmaking. I love speaking to Max, because there is always some deep wisdom to take away from a conversation with him. When I was editing this conversation, there is so much discussion of creativity in this episode, it was a joy to listen to. Max has worked in the watch industry for his entire career, has seen it all, and wanted to do things differently.

He speaks about how most decisions at MB&F have been knee-jerk reactions to ideas, and how this isn’t the best way to run a company, but he has followed his creativity, his passion, and his ideals, and that has allowed him to be completely comfortable with the process. He’s not just a creative, he’s a gallerist who helps give exhibition space to kinetic and mechanical art, and unlike most CEO’s, he actually responds to people on social media, he’s a pure joy and inspiration. You can find Max, MB&F, and of course, the M.A.D. Gallery on Instagram, and you can visit the MB&F website for more info. 

Enjoy the conversation! Please leave a rating or a review - it helps the podcast tremendously, and please share this with your family and friends, or anyone who might learn from or enjoy this conversation. 

• 3:30 - Harry Winston Opus Project

• 27:04 - Opening the M.A.D. Gallery

• 33:00 - Creating what you believe in

• 37:00 Building a community and the importance of “The Tribe”

• 42:12 - Max’s “Why?” behind MB&F

• 46:00 - Older projects and Ideas

• 47:00 - The Creative Process, Horological Machine No. 1

• 50:08 - The Rapid Fire Round

• 56:56 - Where to find Max & MB&F