IntroducingM.A.D.Editions x Yinka Ilori M.A.D.1S 'Grow Your Dreams' Limited Edition

As shown above, the new M.A.D.1S "Grow Your Dreams" takes inspiration from Ilori's signature bright color palette and explores three themes, with each watch to match: Sun, Nature, and Water. These comprise three limited editions of 400 pieces each, and according to the brand is "a call to nurture our ambitions like seeds, to believe in their potential, and to remember: no dream is beyond us, it is only waiting for its time to bloom." 

Each watch features a mashup of colors (including a mismatch of straps) while playing off last year's slimmer release of the M.A.D.1S, which removed the minute barrel for a simplified display on the caseband. "Sun" features a purple display, a yellow rotor, and a yellow and green rubber strap with deployant. "Nature" has a red display, green rotor, and a purple and red rubber strap with deployant. Finally, "Water" uses a light blue barrel, a blue rotor, and a dark and light blue rubber strap with deployant.

The watches also feature a color inside the bezel itself, a first for M.A.D.Editions, and instead of relying on conventional PVD coatings, a precision-machined groove is filled with HyCeram, a type of liquid ceramic that is heat-hardened before being hand-polished. The aluminum baseplate has stamped textural waves to create a 3D effect. Then there's the rotor. Each titanium blade has a milled tree motif, anodized to transform its color, for the three vivid hues: yellow, green, and blue. The plate of the barrel also features Yinka Ilori's name, and the numbers on the time display are designed by Ilori himself.

As with the M.A.D.1S launched last year, the new release is powered by the slim Swiss-Made manufacture LaJoux-Perret G101 movement with 68 hours of power reserve. The entire watch measures a total of 42mm by 15mm thick and is delivered on both the colored rubber straps listed above and a white rubber strap if you feel the need to tone back the color. As an owner of a M.A.D.1S, I will say it wears remarkably well despite the listed thickness.

The new M.A.D.1S "Grow Your Dreams" will be released via raffle, limited to 400 pieces each, with the raffle entries open starting Tuesday, September 2nd, and closing Monday, September 8th. Registration is free, and the link to enter is here. The price is CHF 3,200 plus VAT.

I may not be the best judge of the collaboration's potential success, as I've never been accused of having a colorful wardrobe. But watches are often far too serious things, and this could be a fun antidote to anyone who has found collecting (and traditional timekeeping) to be a bit "heavy" lately. It's worth noting that this is also the first time that M.A.D.Editions have had to creep up over the CHF 3,000 price point—a sign of the times with exchange rates and tariffs adding uncertainty to the market, but also likely due to the extra effort put into finishing, heat treatment, and anodization that leads to the remarkable colors here. But at only CHF 300 (about $370) more than the last M.A.D.1S and M.A.D.2, it still seems like a good value for fans of Max Büsser or Yinka Ilori's designs.

Brand: M.A.D.Editions x Yinka Ilori
Model: M.A.D.1S "Grow Your Dreams"

Diameter: 42mm
Thickness: 15mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Dial Color: 'Sun' with purple display, yellow rotor, yellow and green rubber strap with deployant; 'Nature' with red display, green rotor, purple and red strap rubber strap with deployant; 'Water' with light blue display, blue rotor, dark and light blue strap rubber strap with deployant
Indexes: Rotating hours cylinder with Super-LumiNova numerals
Lume: Super-LumiNova accents and Super-LumiNova on the rotor
Water Resistance: 30m

Caliber: Manufacture LaJoux-Perret G101 movement
Functions: Time on a rotating caseband display
Diameter: 11 ½''' Ligne
Thickness: 4.45mm
Power Reserve: 68 hours
Winding: Automatic, with unidirectional rotor on the top
Frequency: 4Hz
Jewels: 24
Chronometer Certified: No
Additional Details: Mineral glass and sapphire crystal treated with anti-reflective coating on both faces; Each watch delivered with an interchangeable, mismatched coloured strap and a white strap; Stainless steel folding buckle

Price: CHF 3,200 + VAT
Availability: You can enter the raffle for a chance to purchase, opening Tuesday, September 2nd, and closing Monday, September 8th. Registration is free. Link to enter is here.
Limited Edition: Yes, 400 pieces of each color.

For more, click here.