To pay tribute to the history of the Minerva manufacture, Montblanc created the new 1858 collection, just unveiled at the SIAR 2015 exhibition. The top reference is the Montblanc 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter (ref. 112637), a limited edition of just 100 pieces with a price of Euro 30,300 / US$ 32,900. The Montblanc 1858 Small Second Special Edition (ref. 113860) is a limited edition of 858 pieces with a price of Euro 3,220 / US$ 3,180.
Founded in 1858 in Villeret, Minerva was a Swiss watch manufacture famous for producing chronograph watches and movements. In 2006 the Swiss luxury goods group Richemont bought the Fabrique d'Horlogerie Minerva SA so securing the existing manufacture know-how.
Today Minerva is a department of Montblanc and is led under the name Institut Minerva de Recherche en Haute Horlogerie (Minerva Institute for top watchmaking art research).
To pay tribute to the history of the Minerva manufacture, Montblanc created the new 1858 collection, just unveiled at the SIAR 2015 exhibition (Mexico City, 20-22 October).
The design of the new watches is inspired to a chronograph launched by the Minerva manufacture in the 1930s with a large winding crown, typical of timepieces worn by pilots in that period. To maintain the vintage feel, the dial's construction, design and colour are very similar to those used for the chronographs made for these pilots.
The top reference is the Montblanc 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter, a timepiece which demonstrates the value of 157 years of rich heritage.
Its 44 mm x 13.5 mm case is made from 18-karat red gold and features a design with rounded forms and curved lugs, making it very comfortable on the wrist.
The bevelled winding crown includes the single push-piece of the chronograph, a solution which makes it possible to have a fine bezel, hence a larger and easily readable dial.
The compax dial has large Arabic numerals and "cathedral" hands coated with Super-LumiNova. The entire display is laid out around two counters, the first of which continually displays the seconds (at 9 o'clock) with the second showing the minutes that have elapsed once the chronograph complication has been started.
The dial background painted in deep black, on which the historic Montblanc emblem has been drawn, also shows a traced rail track, to which has been added a tachymetric scale for measuring speed in terms of a timed kilometre.
The MB M16.29 hand-wound calibre is the same size as that of a pocket-watch and was inspired by the original chronograph movement, the 17.29 calibre, designed by Minerva in 1929.
Through the transparent case back, it is possible to see the column-wheel activated by the single push-piece and the iconic engraved “V” chronograph bridge, which has been protected by Minerva since 1912.
All the components, including the cock of the large screw-regulated balance wheel for fine adjustment referred to as the "swan's neck", have a Geneva ribbing finish and edges with a large number of re-entrant angles hand-bevelled.
The horizontal coupling in this classic construction is combined with a lever that holds the chronograph's hammers, and is finished off with a little arrow, the visual signature of Minerva. Comprising 252 components, the movement beats at 18,000 vibrations per hour with an autonomy of 50 hours.
The Montblanc 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter (ref. 112637) is a limited edition of just 100 pieces and has a price of Euro 30,300 / US$ 32,900.
The new 1858 collection also features a stainless steel model indicating hours and minutes with direct-drive small seconds at 6 o'clock.
The large Arabic numerals and "cathedral" hands are coated with beige-painted Super-LumiNova offering great visibility against the black dial.
The 44 mm x 10.95 mm case houses the MB 23.03 manually wound calibre visible through the transparent case back and oscillating at 21,600 vibrations per hour with a power reserve of 46 hours.
The Montblanc 1858 Small Second Special Edition (ref. 113860) is a limited edition of 858 pieces with a price of Euro 3,220 / US$ 3,180. montblanc.com
Today Minerva is a department of Montblanc and is led under the name Institut Minerva de Recherche en Haute Horlogerie (Minerva Institute for top watchmaking art research).
To pay tribute to the history of the Minerva manufacture, Montblanc created the new 1858 collection, just unveiled at the SIAR 2015 exhibition (Mexico City, 20-22 October).
The design of the new watches is inspired to a chronograph launched by the Minerva manufacture in the 1930s with a large winding crown, typical of timepieces worn by pilots in that period. To maintain the vintage feel, the dial's construction, design and colour are very similar to those used for the chronographs made for these pilots.
The top reference is the Montblanc 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter, a timepiece which demonstrates the value of 157 years of rich heritage.
Its 44 mm x 13.5 mm case is made from 18-karat red gold and features a design with rounded forms and curved lugs, making it very comfortable on the wrist.
The bevelled winding crown includes the single push-piece of the chronograph, a solution which makes it possible to have a fine bezel, hence a larger and easily readable dial.
The compax dial has large Arabic numerals and "cathedral" hands coated with Super-LumiNova. The entire display is laid out around two counters, the first of which continually displays the seconds (at 9 o'clock) with the second showing the minutes that have elapsed once the chronograph complication has been started.
The dial background painted in deep black, on which the historic Montblanc emblem has been drawn, also shows a traced rail track, to which has been added a tachymetric scale for measuring speed in terms of a timed kilometre.
The MB M16.29 hand-wound calibre is the same size as that of a pocket-watch and was inspired by the original chronograph movement, the 17.29 calibre, designed by Minerva in 1929.
Through the transparent case back, it is possible to see the column-wheel activated by the single push-piece and the iconic engraved “V” chronograph bridge, which has been protected by Minerva since 1912.
All the components, including the cock of the large screw-regulated balance wheel for fine adjustment referred to as the "swan's neck", have a Geneva ribbing finish and edges with a large number of re-entrant angles hand-bevelled.
The horizontal coupling in this classic construction is combined with a lever that holds the chronograph's hammers, and is finished off with a little arrow, the visual signature of Minerva. Comprising 252 components, the movement beats at 18,000 vibrations per hour with an autonomy of 50 hours.
The Montblanc 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter (ref. 112637) is a limited edition of just 100 pieces and has a price of Euro 30,300 / US$ 32,900.
The new 1858 collection also features a stainless steel model indicating hours and minutes with direct-drive small seconds at 6 o'clock.
The large Arabic numerals and "cathedral" hands are coated with beige-painted Super-LumiNova offering great visibility against the black dial.
The 44 mm x 10.95 mm case houses the MB 23.03 manually wound calibre visible through the transparent case back and oscillating at 21,600 vibrations per hour with a power reserve of 46 hours.
The Montblanc 1858 Small Second Special Edition (ref. 113860) is a limited edition of 858 pieces with a price of Euro 3,220 / US$ 3,180. montblanc.com
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