This is the Montblanc Villeret 1858 Vintage Tachydate.

Of course, Montblanc are one of the best known luxury brand names worldwide – it’s  difficult to believe that they have only been producing watches since 1997.  Marketing know-how and brand familiarity have perhaps been responsible in part for the brand’s ascendency into the upper echelons of horology, but the purchase of the historical Minerva movement manufacture has ensured success.  Montblanc continue to pay tribute to the year Minerva was founded, 1858, with the strongly vintage-styled Villeret 1858 collection with a limited edition release of 1, 8 or 58 pieces each year.

The Montblanc Villeret 1858 Vintage Tachydate is presented in a classically rounded case, which at 43.5mm is perhaps a little on the large side for vintage.  Mono-pusher operation of the chronograph via the crown keeps the polished case side unfussy and tidy.  On the pristine dial are counters for 30 mins at 3 o’clock and for small seconds at 9.  A Pointer Date indicator, always an eye-pleasing feature is at 6 o’clock.

The Montblanc Villeret 1858 Tachydate will be officially unveiled at SIHH 2012 and will be a limited release of 58 pieces with white gold case and 58 with rose gold case.

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The Montblanc Collection Villeret Vintage 1858 Chronographe

The Montblanc Ricolas Rieussec Chronograph Anniversary Edition

Popularity: 2% [?]

Montblanc add to their collection a celebratory piece, the Montblanc Ricolas Rieussec Chronograph Anniversary Edition watch.  Writing or indeed reading a watch review often involves a “free” history lesson.  No other industry commemorates important historical events quite so ardently and beautifully as the watchmaking business does.

Nicolas Rieussec was not only a talented young watchmaker, but also a man of vision.  His inquisitive mind led him to wonder how much more accurately a sporting event such as horseracing could be recorded, if only there were a device capable of registering the time of each horse as they completed an event.  In 1822 at Champ de Mars, a Parisian event, M. Rieussec tested his creation, a device  consisting of a box inside which a movement powered two dials which turned while the minute and seconds hands remained still.  At the push of a button when each horse crossed the finish line, an ink-tipped hand would leave a mark on a dial leaving it possible to time each one more or less accurately.  The French Patent Office granted the invention a patent that same year, an invention which we have since  become more than  familiar with, and one which the young man aptly named “chronograph”, because it was quite literally a time-writing device.

The revolving dials of Rieussec’s Chronograph are replicated in the Montblanc tribute piece – both the 60-seconds and the 30-minute counters are secured wiith a substantial bridge, they rotate while the counter hands remain fixed.  The hours and minutes dial is off-centred and around the edge of its skeletonised centre is a date indicator.  Fine guilloche decoration and blued screws complete the superb dial finishing.  Further fine details….. a mother-of-pearl Montblanc emblem appears in miniature on the crown and on the case side the chrono pushpiece is located in a tamper-free location, at 8 o’clock.

The MB R110 movement features an authentic column-wheel chronograph with a modern twist, its vertical coupling ensures friction free running even over long periods, and innovative design of the teeth of the going train components reduce wear and ensure that the power is transmitted efficiently.  Twin barrels power this hand-wound calibre producing 72 hours of reserve, and a traveller-friendly function allows quick-set of the hour hand and date indication in either direction without damaging the mechanism.

The Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph Anniversary Editon is available in 18-carat gold – 190 pieces, 18-carat white gold with black dial and white numerals – 90 pieces and platinum – 25 pieces all presented on alligator leather strap.

Popularity: 3% [?]

From Montblanc comes a new release, the Montblanc Collection Villeret Vintage 1858 Chronographe.

The first Montblanc watch collection was unveiled in 1997 and this has evolved into an elegant and appealing portfolio of mens and ladies models.  Ambitions to be respected within the industry as a serious watch brand gained momentum when Montblanc’s parent company the Richemount Luxury Group also acquired Minerva, a manufacture acclaimed for its chronograph movements.  The combination of the uncompromising quality synonymous with the Montblanc brand together with the ingenious Minerva movements resulted in the birth of the Montblanc Villeret 1858 Collection, named in honour of the founding date of Minerva.

The Montblanc Collection Villeret Vintage 1858 Chronographe

The latest piece, the Villeret Vintage 1858 Chronographe is evocative of earlier chronographs with true retro styling. The beautifully clean grand feu enamel dial with blued steel hands features two timing devices: a telemetre scale for measuring distances based on the speed of sound located on the outer dial edge (perhaps familiar to enthusiasts of military pieces when this was once used as a crude type of range finder) and a tachymetre scale which due to lack of space is seductively curled in the centre of the dial in an intriguing snail-like spiral.

The technical yet refined piece features the Minerva 16-29 Calibre manual wind column wheel chronograph movement which has a crown operated monopusher for the chronograph allowing the 43.5mm wide case to maintain an uncluttered classically rounded shape.

Previous pieces in this collection have been limited releases of 1, 8 or 58 pieces – a further tribute to the year Minerva was founded and the Vintage 1858 Chronographe is no exception – 58 pieces will be released in 18ct red gold with white enamel dial presented on  a brown alligator straps with a further 58 released in 18ct white gold with black enamel dial presented on a black alligator strap.

Popularity: 3% [?]