Truly mad: M.A.D. 1 Time to Love

I had participated in two lotteries to win the right to buy a M.A.D. 1, but didn’t win. I actually did come to own a M.A.D. 1 Green, before the Time to Love was announced, but that is another story. I decided to participate anyway.
The Jean-Charles de Castelbajac design was extremely appealing to me. I love colour – I also own an Alain Silberstein. It was third time lucky and I actually won an allocation. Needless to say, I jumped to the keyboard and bought the watch.

It is a very colourful watch and not to everyone’s taste – to quote my wife: “It makes your Alain Silberstein look like a dress watch”. It comes with two straps, one black and one white, both with colourful embroidery of “Time to Love”. I’ve so far only used the black as I’m the kind of person who would immediately get the white one dirty.

If you have read the reviews of the M.A.D. 1 Red, you already know that the watch is very thick, almost 2 cm, but it is also surprisingly lightweight. The case is mainly glass and that is probably part of the reason.
It makes it fairly comfortable to wear, especially after the strap has been softened a little from wear.

You do get used to reading the time fairly quickly, but I still get distracted by the rotor when I wear it as habit dictates that you look at the dial first when you do not think about which watch you’re wearing. Actually, I sometimes forget to check the time while looking at the rotor doing its fidget spinner thing, and have to look at the time again 30 seconds later to get the time.

It is a conversation piece, even more than the M.A.D. 1 Green. Although I love to wear it is not for everyday wear. One (pleasant) reason is that I spend a lot of time talking to people about what that strange thing on my wrist is. But it is also very thick and does not slip under the cuff that easily.

I’ve drooled over several MB&F watches that I will never be able to afford, but this is close to target and the collaboration with Jean-Charles de Castelbajac and the story behind makes this particular model a little closer to MB&F.

All in all this is a dream watch for me. It is well worth the relatively small price.

Pros
– A joy and distraction to look at

– Affordable

– Very special design

Cons
– Sometimes you get distracted

– Thick

– Very special design

Quality
90

Style
100

Value
100

Wearability
80