It’s all about options isn’t it? We live in a world where variety is pretty much the spice of life and it was only a matter of time till luxury watch brands would begin creating timepieces that appeal to different consumers. Redesigned with new dial aesthetics and a slimmer profile, Montblanc unveils three new timepieces in its Heritage Chronométrie Collection: The Heritage Chronométrie Perpetual Calendar Sapphire, Heritage Chronométrie Exo Tourbillon Slim and the Heritage Chronométrie Exo Tourbillon Slim Openworked.
Montblanc Heritage Chronométrie Perpetual Calendar Sapphire
First up is the new Heritage Chronométrie Perpetual Calendar Sapphire presented with transparency and minimalistic finesse. It is a modern interpretation of the perpetual calendar complication with a smoked sapphire dial and a realistic 3-Dimensional, domed view of the moon from earth. The stainless steel case here has been redesigned with slimmer horns for utmost comfort. The case which is now 40mm in diameter and 9.6mm in height adds to the overall ‘Slim’ Profile, making it a great size for both men and women.
The perpetual calendar indications are easily adjusted by individual correctors on the side of the case. They are featured on transparent counters that have been crafted in a dark-blue colour that matches the flange and the alligator strap. Other details include a white minute track, classic refined sword-shaped hands and rhodium-plated indexes and numerals that have been directly applied on the sapphire. As watch lovers, we could gaze at the workings of an open-worked timepiece for hours. Don’t judge us. We’re not crazy, just unimaginably passionate about what we do. Having said that, the highlight for us would have to be the transparency of the sapphire crystal that allows the wearer to view the movement and the functions beneath.
The watch is powered by an automatic calibre MB 29.15, featuring the hours, minutes, day, date, month, leap year and moonphase.
Montblanc Heritage Chronométrie Exo Tourbillon Slim
The new Heritage Chronométrie Exo Tourbillon Slim is presented in a new 18-Karat White Gold, polished 40 mm case that measures 8.9 mm in height with slim horns. Montblanc’s tribute to its fine watchmaking heritage carries through to the design of the timepiece with a sophisticated 3-Dimensional dial crafted in two parts. The main dial comes in a slate grey with a vertically-brushed finish, while the blue flange features a white minute track to match the overall design and increase legibility. The hours and minutes are indicated with classic sword-shaped hands, applied indexes and numerals. Montblanc has used a slim pioneering calibre (Manufacture Calibre MB 29.24) featuring the iconic patented Exo-Tourbillon* unique to the maison, combined with a quick stop-second mechanism. A new modern semi-hexagonal bridge with flat polished finishing is fixed above the tourbillon’s cage and is adorned with blued screws and surrounded by a contrasting blue minute track with white markers.
Instead of using a standard rotor that would probably end up hiding half of the movement, the watch features a micro-rotor which allows an uninterrupted view of the movement through a sapphire crystal caseback. The whole construction measures a mere 4.5 mm in height.
*First introduced in 2010, the one-minute Exo-Tourbillon complication, was developed entirely in-house by the master watchmakers at the Montblanc Manufacture in Villeret. The Exo in the name is derived from the Greek for external or outside and refers to the balance with its 18 screws, which is positioned outside of the tourbillon’s rotating cage. This innovated patented mechanical architecture allows the cage to be smaller in size and free of the weight of the balance, saving more energy than a conventional tourbillon. The fact that the balance is positioned outside of the rotating cage also means that it isn’t affected by the inertia of the cage, therefore improving precision.
Montblanc Heritage Chronométrie Exo Tourbillon Slim Openworked
Bare to the very end, the new Heritage Chronométrie Exo Tourbillon Slim Openworked showcases a new and exclusive way of opening the movement and dial bringing a technical and innovative sophistication to the timepiece. Both sides
of the movement and the dial have been skeletonized using a dazzle-camouflage design that gives a trompe l’oeil effect. Dazzle-camouflage is a popular motif used today in fashion, although it was originally a design technique used in World War I to camouflage the sides of ships.
According to this new design, the wheels have been rhodium coated and satinated, the barrel that has been skeletonized to
reveal the spring, the rhodium-coated micro-rotor has a new finishing and the main plate features a black rhodium coating with micro-blasted and sandblasted finishings adorned with blued screws.
The Exo Tourbillon bridge with its semi-hexagonal shape and balance wheel has been coated with rhodium, completing the look with 18 screws, two of which are in gold for regulation purposes. The bridge has also been both polished and mirror polished.
To reveal the beauty of the movement, the sophisticated and technical dial has also been skeletonised according to the design of the movement. It is made of two parts with a dark blue ring surrounding the Exo Tourbillon which indicates the seconds. The rest of the dial features the dazzle-camouflage decoration that gives this timepiece its unique look.
The Montblanc Heritage Chronométrie Exo Tourbillon Slim Openworked comes with blued sword-shaped hands and the new blue-colour alligator strap, providing utmost elegance.
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For utmost performance and precision, these three new models are certified by the Montblanc Laboratory Test 500.
To know more, contact your nearest Montblanc Boutique or Authorised Retailer:
http://www.montblanc.com/en/find-montblanc.html