Pre-SIHH 2016: Montblanc - Timewalker ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph LE 100. For the first time, Montblanc equips a timepiece of the Timewalker collection with the Maison’s exclusive in-house patented ExoTourbillon, introduced last year on a model of the Heritage Chronométrie collection. The result is the Timewalker ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph Limited Edition 100, a sporty timepiece where the distinctive Timewalker aesthetics. All 100 pieces of the TimeWalker ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph Limited Edition (ref. 112587) have been tested by the Montblanc Laboratory Test 500 that simulates real-life situations for 500 hours. The price should be around Euro 40,000 / US$ 40,000
For the first time, Montblanc equips a timepiece of the Timewalker collection with the Maison’s exclusive in-house patented ExoTourbillon, introduced last January on a model of the Heritage Chronométrie collection.
The result is the Timewalker ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph Limited Edition 100, a sporty timepiece where the distinctive Timewalker aesthetics, characterised by minimised bezels, contoured typography, lancet-shaped hands and skeletonized horns is successfully combined with a monopusher chronograph with semicircular counters and a proprietary high-precision regulating organ.
The time is displayed in an-off-centred black dial at 12 o’clock with a mix of red and white Arabic numerals that have been enhanced with a luminescent Super-LumiNova to enhance legibility.
The backdrop of the top part of the dial is embellished with black horizontal stripes, while the lower part is decorated with vertical satin finishing to enhance the patented ExoTourbillon mechanism. Entirely developed in-house at the Montblanc Manufacture, this complication features a screw balance which oscillates at a frequency of 21,600 vph (3 Hz) outside the rotating carriage and on a higher plane. In fact, the Greek prefix “exo” used in ExoTourbillon, means “outside” or “external”.
The patented architecture allows the cage to be smaller in size and free of the weight of the balance, saving 30 per cent more energy than a conventional tourbillon. Moreover, since the balance is positioned outside of the rotating cage, it will not be affected by the inertia of the cage, resulting in improved precision.
Above the ExoTourbillon, the two semicircular chronograph counters - with hands of different lengths to match the appropriate sectorial scales - enable the timepiece to tally elapsed seconds (at 8 o'clock) and minutes (at 4 o'clock).
The movement includes a stop-second mechanism, which directly halts the screw balance by means of a tiny spring, and allows the user to set the seconds precisely. The stop-second mechanism instantly stops the balance from rotating, instead of halting the tourbillon cage, which can cause the balance to continue swinging and upset the precision.
A practical hour setting allows the user to advance the hours in hourly increments in the second position of the crown forwards and backwards. Repositioning the hour-hand has no effect whatsoever on the minute- and second-hand, so the precise time is always preserved.
To make time setting easy while travelling, this function is linked also to the date, indicated by a hand which extends the dial’s centre which points to the current date on a circular scale. Whenever this hand’s tip passes the 24th hour, the hand of the date display either advances or retreats accordingly.
In the third position of the crown, the time can be adjusted and a red arrow hand is displayed on the tourbillon cage for an exact setting of the seconds.
The original Tourbillon construction is integrated in the in-house developed chronograph calibre with column wheel, vertical coupling, automatic winding and two barrels which deliver a power reserve of approximately 50 hours.
The dynamic spirit of the watch is emphasised by the use of high-tech materials such as titanium for the case, carbon fibre for the middle piece and diamond-like carbon (DLC) to cover the titanium bezel. The result is a robust case which is also lightweight. The three-part case has a diameter of 44 mm with a total thickness of 16.27 mm.
The black alligator strap with red stitching nicely completes the look of the watch.
All 100 pieces of the Timewalker ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph Limited Edition (ref. 112587) have been tested by the Montblanc Laboratory Test 500 that simulates real-life situations for 500 hours. The price should be around Euro 40,000 / US$ 40,000. montblanc.com
The result is the Timewalker ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph Limited Edition 100, a sporty timepiece where the distinctive Timewalker aesthetics, characterised by minimised bezels, contoured typography, lancet-shaped hands and skeletonized horns is successfully combined with a monopusher chronograph with semicircular counters and a proprietary high-precision regulating organ.
The time is displayed in an-off-centred black dial at 12 o’clock with a mix of red and white Arabic numerals that have been enhanced with a luminescent Super-LumiNova to enhance legibility.
The backdrop of the top part of the dial is embellished with black horizontal stripes, while the lower part is decorated with vertical satin finishing to enhance the patented ExoTourbillon mechanism. Entirely developed in-house at the Montblanc Manufacture, this complication features a screw balance which oscillates at a frequency of 21,600 vph (3 Hz) outside the rotating carriage and on a higher plane. In fact, the Greek prefix “exo” used in ExoTourbillon, means “outside” or “external”.
The patented architecture allows the cage to be smaller in size and free of the weight of the balance, saving 30 per cent more energy than a conventional tourbillon. Moreover, since the balance is positioned outside of the rotating cage, it will not be affected by the inertia of the cage, resulting in improved precision.
Above the ExoTourbillon, the two semicircular chronograph counters - with hands of different lengths to match the appropriate sectorial scales - enable the timepiece to tally elapsed seconds (at 8 o'clock) and minutes (at 4 o'clock).
The movement includes a stop-second mechanism, which directly halts the screw balance by means of a tiny spring, and allows the user to set the seconds precisely. The stop-second mechanism instantly stops the balance from rotating, instead of halting the tourbillon cage, which can cause the balance to continue swinging and upset the precision.
A practical hour setting allows the user to advance the hours in hourly increments in the second position of the crown forwards and backwards. Repositioning the hour-hand has no effect whatsoever on the minute- and second-hand, so the precise time is always preserved.
To make time setting easy while travelling, this function is linked also to the date, indicated by a hand which extends the dial’s centre which points to the current date on a circular scale. Whenever this hand’s tip passes the 24th hour, the hand of the date display either advances or retreats accordingly.
In the third position of the crown, the time can be adjusted and a red arrow hand is displayed on the tourbillon cage for an exact setting of the seconds.
The original Tourbillon construction is integrated in the in-house developed chronograph calibre with column wheel, vertical coupling, automatic winding and two barrels which deliver a power reserve of approximately 50 hours.
The dynamic spirit of the watch is emphasised by the use of high-tech materials such as titanium for the case, carbon fibre for the middle piece and diamond-like carbon (DLC) to cover the titanium bezel. The result is a robust case which is also lightweight. The three-part case has a diameter of 44 mm with a total thickness of 16.27 mm.
The black alligator strap with red stitching nicely completes the look of the watch.
All 100 pieces of the Timewalker ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph Limited Edition (ref. 112587) have been tested by the Montblanc Laboratory Test 500 that simulates real-life situations for 500 hours. The price should be around Euro 40,000 / US$ 40,000. montblanc.com
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