M.A.D.2 R&B and REDemption: M.A.D.Editions Goes Stereo
M.A.D.Editions drops another coin into the jukebox with two new versions of the M.A.D.2, both built around a particularly effective red-and-black duo: the M.A.D.2 R&B and the M.A.D.2 REDemption. On paper, the move could pass for a simple color refresh. In reality, it says something more interesting about how MB&F continues to animate this horological UFO that has, almost in spite of itself, become a true sub-galaxy of its own.
Because that’s where it starts: M.A.D.Editions was never meant to become what it is today. The original idea came from the frustration of wanting to offer an object that was creative enough, unmistakably MB&F in spirit, yet at a far more accessible price than the Horological Machines or Legacy Machines. The answer took the form of an “edition,” almost a spur-of-the-moment concept, before turning into a phenomenon in its own right. And, as is often the case at MB&F, the project ended up escaping its starting point.
The M.A.D.1 RED, the first M.A.D. model truly offered to the public, marked a decisive turning point in that story, to the extent of becoming a cult watch for many enthusiasts—myself included, as I own one. For those who want to revisit that defining moment, I covered it here: M.A.D. 1 RED, the accessible MB&F.
With the M.A.D.2, launched in 2025 under Eric Giroud’s signature, M.A.D.Editions changed direction without losing its DNA. Where the M.A.D.1 played the card of a completely offbeat lateral display, the M.A.D.2 embraced a different obsession: 1990s club culture, vinyl, turntables, Lausanne nights, sound, movement, rotation. In 2026, the new R&B and REDemption don’t change the formula. They tighten it, deepen it, and inject additional character.
Two new M.A.D.2 models, two reds, two logics
The first of the two releases is called M.A.D.2 R&B. The name works on two levels: Red & Black, of course, but also a deliberate nod to rhythm and blues and, more broadly, the musical universe the watch pays tribute to. Here, the platter-dial adopts a deep, almost stealthy black, while the jumping hour and trailing minute discs are rendered in red. The result promises stronger contrast, more tension, and a more nocturnal feel than the earlier Green and Orange versions.
The second, M.A.D.2 REDemption, is arguably the more intriguing of the two—not so much for its color, but for what it represents. Visually, it flips the R&B’s logic with a vivid red platter-dial and black discs. Symbolically, it targets a very specific group of enthusiasts: the unlucky loyalists. Those who have entered at least four M.A.D.Editions raffles without ever being selected will finally be able to purchase this version without going through the lottery again. The name is spot on. It carries ideas of redemption, revenge, and that distinctly MB&F irony, fully aware that frustration is part of the M.A.D.Editions myth.
This is likely the smartest idea of the launch—not just because it rewards persistence, but because it explicitly acknowledges a real issue: for years, access to M.A.D.Editions has been more of an initiation rite than a straightforward purchase. MB&F knows it and even stages it. With REDemption, it finally provides an answer that goes beyond mere cosmetics.
A lottery that has become part of the object itself
For the M.A.D.2 R&B, the now-familiar lottery system remains in place, overseen by a bailiff. Registration is open for one week, and enthusiasts must try their luck via the dedicated page: enter the M.A.D.Editions lottery.
This mechanism is now an integral part of the M.A.D.Editions identity. One can see it as a more democratic way of distributing a highly desirable watch without imposing absurd waiting lists or restricting access to a handful of selected clients. It can also be seen as the formalization of perfectly orchestrated scarcity. Both interpretations hold. Either way, the system has created a unique dynamic in contemporary watchmaking: a watch that is “accessible” in relative price terms, yet deeply difficult to obtain in practice.
That is the M.A.D.Editions paradox. It is far removed from MB&F watches in the traditional sense, and equally far from the sky-high price levels seen elsewhere in high-end independents. Yet the object remains surrounded by tension, desire, and an almost more tangible rarity. It is no coincidence that each new release triggers this mix of curiosity, excitement, and frustration among enthusiasts.
Eric Giroud, club culture and the art of working against the grain
The real success of the M.A.D.2 from the outset was precisely not to be a simple M.A.D.1 sequel. Eric Giroud approached the project from the opposite angle. After twenty years of creative collaboration with Maximilian Büsser at MB&F, he did not try to mimic Max’s universe—he injected his own. And that changes everything.
His terrain here is not mechanical science fiction or the watch as technical sculpture. His terrain is nocturnal memory, DJ culture, the club scene of the 1990s, with its blend of sensuality, rhythm, and industrial design turned emotional touchstone. The M.A.D.2 draws from that material with refreshing freedom.
The raised sub-dials for hours and minutes evoke the platters of a DJ console. The main dial recalls a vinyl record with its grooves. Around the periphery, the dial-side visible rotor references the strobe dots of a Technics SL-1200. This is not superficial styling—it is a genuine transposition of a world. In a watch landscape saturated with tired references to cars, aviation, or diving, the choice genuinely brings something different.
Most interestingly, the watch does more than illustrate its theme—it sets it in motion. The peripheral rotor visible on both the front and back literally animates the watch on the wrist. This is not a static metaphor. It is a watch that moves, spins, lives, and reminds you with every gesture what it aims to be.
A fun watch, yes—but not empty mechanically
This is always the risk with such a visually strong concept: being reduced to it. The M.A.D.2 avoids that trap fairly well. It does not claim to reinvent mechanical watchmaking, but neither is it just a cool design placed over any random movement.
Inside is a Swiss La Joux-Perret G101 calibre, automatic, running at 4 Hz with a 64-hour power reserve, paired with a bidirectional jumping-hour module developed by MB&F, with trailing minutes. This is key. MB&F did not simply buy a base calibre and wrap it in a cool case. The brand added a genuine horological layer, faithful to its taste for off-center, unusual, playful yet technically sound displays.
The 42 mm stainless steel (316L) case, with sapphire crystals front and back, retains that smooth, pebble-like form—tactile and soft—that contrasts with the sharp aggressiveness of many contemporary watches. At 12.3 mm thick, the M.A.D.2 remains wearable. With 30 meters of water resistance, it also reminds you it is not a utilitarian sports watch, but an object of expression, style, and emotion.
The leather strap and stainless steel folding clasp complete an ensemble that remains surprisingly well balanced. That, ultimately, is the strength of M.A.D.Editions: the ability to stay radical without becoming ridiculous, to stay fun without tipping into gimmickry.
R&B and REDemption: color as a catalyst for personality
Red is no accident in the M.A.D.Editions universe. We’ve already seen it play a crucial role in the collection’s history, notably with the M.A.D.1 RED, which marked a turning point toward a broader audience. Returning to red on the M.A.D.2 today is therefore far from trivial.
On the R&B, red acts like a visual pulse within a black environment. The watch should feel sharper, more mysterious, more club-oriented—almost more grown-up. On the REDemption, by contrast, red takes over. It becomes bold, joyful, demonstrative, almost cheeky. It is perhaps the more expressive of the two, and also the more narrative, with its rotor engraved with the phrase: They say I’m stubborn, I’d say persistent. That says it all—or almost.
What works is that neither model feels like a lazy variation. They extend the collection’s logic while creating two clearly distinct atmospheres. The R&B feels more nocturnal, more subdued, more musical in the literal sense. The REDemption is more direct, more ironic, almost more emotional because it speaks to the relationship between the brand and those who have been chasing it for years.
What MB&F understands better than most
Most brands try to build a community. With M.A.D.Editions, MB&F has instead created a shared narrative in which enthusiasts feel they play a role. That’s very different.
The M.A.D.1 Blue reserved for Friends and Tribe, the M.A.D.1 RED as the first public release, collaborations, raffles, frustration, small victories, repeated losses, screenshots of emails received—or not received—all of this has built a contemporary mythology. A light, playful mythology, certainly, but remarkably effective.
The M.A.D.2 REDemption pushes this logic further by turning repeated failure into an access criterion. Put that way, it sounds absurd. In practice, it is brilliantly judged. It gives collectors who have struck out four times or more the feeling of existing as something more than just a lottery statistic.
Few brands understand so well that today, the object alone is no longer enough. You also have to design the journey, the frustration, the narrative, the sense of belonging. On that front, MB&F remains one of the strongest.
My take on these two new M.A.D.2 models
I find these two new editions far more interesting than a simple color tweak. The M.A.D.2 R&B reinforces the model’s most natural aesthetic: that of the club—black, red light, music, pulse. The M.A.D.2 REDemption, meanwhile, adds a layer of narrative and self-aware humor that immediately gives it a distinct depth.
If I had to choose purely on visual grounds, I’d probably lean toward the R&B, which feels tighter and more aligned with the M.A.D.2’s original inspiration. But factoring in symbolic weight, the REDemption is arguably the more compelling of the two. It tells a very contemporary story about watch desire: we are no longer just celebrating those who bought—we are beginning to reward those who waited.
In any case, these two models confirm that M.A.D.Editions is no longer a playful side project. It is now a territory of its own within the MB&F universe—more accessible, yes, but not secondary. Above all, it is a space where you still find what so many watch launches lack: ideas, tone, pleasure, and genuine personality.
Technical specifications of the M.A.D.2 R&B and REDemption
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Models | M.A.D.2 R&B / M.A.D.2 REDemption |
| Designer | Eric Giroud |
| Collection | M.A.D.Editions |
| Base movement | La Joux-Perret G101 |
| Movement type | Automatic |
| Additional module | Bidirectional jumping hours and trailing minutes developed by MB&F |
| Frequency | 4 Hz / 28,800 vibrations per hour |
| Power reserve | 64 hours |
| Jewels | 24 |
| Case | 316L stainless steel |
| Diameter | 42 mm |
| Thickness | 12.3 mm |
| Upper crystal | Sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides |
| Lower crystal | Sapphire with anti-reflective coating on the inner side |
| Water resistance | 30 m / 3 ATM |
| Strap | Leather |
| Buckle | Stainless steel folding clasp |
| R&B specific feature | Black platter-dial, red hour and minute discs, lottery-based sale |
| REDemption specific feature | Red platter-dial, black hour and minute discs, reserved for individuals who entered at least 4 lotteries without ever winning |
SEO FAQ
What are the new M.A.D.Editions releases for 2026?
The 2026 releases are the M.A.D.2 R&B and M.A.D.2 REDemption, two new red-and-black versions of the M.A.D.2 designed by Eric Giroud.
How can I buy the M.A.D.2 R&B?
The M.A.D.2 R&B is offered through the M.A.D.Editions lottery system. You must register via the official raffle page.
Who can buy the M.A.D.2 REDemption?
The M.A.D.2 REDemption is reserved for enthusiasts who have participated in at least four previous M.A.D.Editions raffles without ever being selected.
What movement powers the M.A.D.2?
The watch is powered by an automatic La Joux-Perret G101, complemented by a bidirectional jumping-hour and trailing-minute module developed by MB&F.
What is the diameter of the M.A.D.2?
The case measures 42 mm in diameter and 12.3 mm in thickness.
Is the M.A.D.2 water-resistant?
Yes, the watch is rated for 30 meters of water resistance.
