Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie

Montblanc

• History
• Philosophy
• Emblematic Models
• New products

Emblematic models

• Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858 Grand Chronographe Authentique Calibre MB M16.29

Monopusher chronograph which takes reference to the old Minerva movements of the 1920s. His calibre has the classical columns wheel construction with horizontal clutch and a diameter of 38.4 mm (16 ¾’’’). With a precious metal case of that has a prominent diameter of 47 mm, it lets the owner feel the richness of haute horlogerie.

• Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858 Chronographe Email Grand Feu Calibre MB M13.21

Special attention is devoted to the two chronographs of the Montblanc ”Collection Villeret 1858”. One reason is that the tradition-rich name Minerva is strongly associated with short-time measurement. The other is that “Mise en Fonction” – a collective term for all the operations involved in making a chronograph work – is an extremely time-consuming task.

The MB M16.29 and MB M13.21 calibre movements of the Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858 are manufactured in accordance with all the tenets of traditional watchmaking; the unusually high proportion of finishing work carried out by hand is particularly noteworthy. The plates and bridges are made of rhodium-plated German silver, the bottom plate is circular-grained on both sides, while the bridges are chamfered by hand and decorated with circular-graining and Côtes de Genève on the top surface.

In keeping with traditional watchmaking practice, the chronograph is controlled with a column wheel, which the chronograph lever moves into position for each function and locks. A horizontal wheel train mechanism with a large chronograph wheel serves as the clutch. The chronograph‘s “Mise en Fonction” is carried out meticulously by hand, every single part of each movement being aligned with the others to tolerances of a hundredth of a millimetre.

• Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858 Grande Seconde au Centre Retour-à-Zéro Calibre MB M16.18

As an interesting innovation, the Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858 includes two, specially developed movements with a “Retour-à-Zéro” function that makes it easier to set the time exactly to the second. It is probably the first automatic zero-resetting mechanism with a large, solid central seconds hand. When the winding crown is pulled out, the seconds hand is automatically returned to zero and locked in this position while the hour and minute hands are set to the correct time. If the crown is pushed back into the case on the last tone of a time signal, the watch restarts exactly to the second. The automatic resetting mechanism requires subassemblies that are similar to those found in a chronograph.

As with the chronographs, the “Mise en Fonction” for the zero-resetting mechanism is carried out meticulously by hand, every single part of each movement being aligned with the others to tolerances of a hundredth of a millimetre.

• Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec

Dedicated to Nicolas Rieussec, the inventor of the first “time writer”, the Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec is the first Montblanc in-house movement manufactured at Montblanc Montre in Le Locle . The Calibre MB R100 is a manually wound chronograph controlled by a classical column wheel with a vertical clutch. The design comprises two rotating discs integrated into the main dial and a counter bridge on which the two are bearing-mounted. As collector’s item, the various models of this timepiece are strictly limited: 25 pieces in 950 platinum, 75 pieces in 18 carat white or yellow gold and 125 pieces in 18 carat red gold.

The Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec is also available with an automatic Montblanc movement, the MB R200.

• Montblanc TimeWalker Chronograph Automatic

The clear-cut contours of Montblanc TimeWalker Chronograph Automatic combine traditional values with the aesthetics of the 21st century. They bear the unmistakable influence of Bauhaus-inspired form and functionality as clearly as the boldly contoured, airy lines of architectural forms that have only been made possible thanks to state-of-the-art materials and methods.

The 43 mm Montblanc TimeWalker Collection Chronograph Automatic of solid red gold, on which the modern shaped numerals and luminescent hands gleam red gold on the silver or black matt face. All functions of the watch are clearly and immediately recognisable under the convex anti-reflex sapphire glass. The Montblanc automatic movement – officially certified by the renowned Swiss chronometer-testing organisation (COSC) – ensures perfect accuracy of the stop-second, 30-minute and 12-hour totalisator.

• Montblanc Star Chronograph GMT

The Montblanc Star is the classical Montblanc watch line with which the brand made its first appearance ten years ago in the world of handcrafted watches. It subtly combines the traditional Montblanc values with the highest Swiss watch precision: classical, but extremely refined, uncompromisingly committed to perfection and with a sophisticated appearance characterised by Roman numerals, blued hands, domed crown and guillocheed dial.

The Montblanc Star Chronograph GMT Automatic in 18 K white gold is undoubtedly a true masterpiece and a stylish understatement of exclusiveness. As a creator of precious items with the highest manual and technical demands, Montblanc has fitted this 42 mm watch with a GMT display in addition to the usual chronographic functions, enabling the wearer to see both the local time and another time zone.