Pre-SIHH 2014: Montblanc - Star Twin Moonphase

Montblanc will present several novelties at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) 2014 including a brand new collection called Heritage and the new Star Twin Moonphase whose name comes from a pretty rare complication featured in this new model: a moon-phase display at 6 o'clock that shows the changing faces of the Moon both as they appear to observers in the Northern Hemisphere and in the Southern Hemisphere.

Montblanc will present several novelties at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) 2014 that will be held in Geneva in few days (Jan 20-24, 2014) including a brand new collection called Heritage and the new Star Twin Moonphase that we are here presenting.

The Twin Moonphase name comes from a pretty rare complication featured in this new Star model: a moon-phase display at 6 o'clock that shows the changing faces of the Moon both as they appear to observers in the Northern Hemisphere and as they look from the perspective of the Southern Hemisphere.  

Most timepieces with moon-phase displays depict the lunar phases as they appear to observers in the North but the moon’s phases appear differently depending  upon whether they’re observed from the Northern or the Southern Hemisphere.

The Montblanc Star Twin Moonphase combines the classical moon-phase display and its characteristically shaped window with a pointer for the moon’s age in days. This slim hand is positioned diametrically opposite the conventional moon-phase display in the lower half of the lunar subdial, where it points to symbols that show the appearance which the moon’s phases present to viewers in the Southern Hemisphere. 

The silvery dial is adorned with a fine guilloche décor developing the contours of the Montblanc emblem and includes a pointer date between 1 and 2 o'clock with a red crescent-shaped tip in line with the Moon theme.

The date and moon-phase displays can be adjusted in single-day increments via two buttons inset into the flank of the case. 

The rounded steel case has a diameter of 42 mm and an overall height of 12.17 mm with a slightly dome crystal to protect the dial. The sapphire crystal on the back lets the owner observe Calibre MB 4810/913, a self-winding movement beating at 28,800 vph and equipped with a special module purposely developed to indicate the twin moon phase. Power reserve, when fully wound, is approximately 42 hours.

The Montblanc Star Twin Moonphase (ref. 110642) will be available in the autumn of 2014.