Ahead of the upcoming SIHH 2018, Montblanc presents two new evocative chronograph models to emphasize its newly reworked Star Legacy Collection; one with a very practical chronograph complication (Star Legacy Automatic Chronograph) and the other being the iconic Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph; all in a new fine watchmaking interpretation. 2017 also marks the 20th anniversary of the iconic Star Legacy Collection.
Montblanc isn’t drifting away too much from its original design elements, but rather enhancing the level of classical finishing and the sophistication of its design.
Montblanc Star Legacy Automatic Chronograph
The new Montblanc Star Legacy Automatic Chronograph comes in a 42mm stainless steel case with curved horns and steps on the side, an onion-shaped crown with the Montblanc emblem, and a curved finish on the side of the case itself, giving a refined pebble effect. On the pure silvery-white dial you have redesigned black Arabic numerals, classic blued leaf-shaped hands, a refined filet sauté guilloché and a unique railway minute track that encircles the dial and counters, completing the design and paying tribute to the elegance of historical Minerva timepieces. Equipped with the automatic movement, Calibre MB 25.02, the Montblanc Star Legacy Automatic Chronograph indicates the hours, minutes, seconds and date as well as the chronograph’s indications with central hand and counters. Finally, the timepiece is completed with a new blue Sfumato alligator leather strap hand- crafted by the Montblanc Pelletteria in Florence, Italy. The Sfumato effect is an additional operation realised on the strap, giving it a compelling finish.
Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph
Montblanc’s Nicolas Rieussec monopusher chronograph (First introduced in 2008) has become a true Montblanc icon. This new interpretation features a case and a dial that has been redesigned for utmost fine watchmaking refinement, while keeping its distinctive face, with the chronograph’s turning discs and off-centred dial.
The Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph pays tribute to the French watchmaker Nicolas Rieussec who invented the first inking chronograph in 1821. The watchmaker to the French royal court, Nicolas Rieussec developed this construction to more precisely measure the running times of individual horses at a horserace. Nicolas Rieussec’s device was literally a “time writer,” so he accordingly named it a “chronograph” from the Greek words “chronos” (time) and “graphein” (to write). In 1822, the Académie des Sciences in Paris granted a patent to Nicolas Rieussec for his device and he became the inventor of the world’s first patented chronograph, marking the history of fine watchmaking.
In this new version, the silvery-white dial has been entirely reworked, with particular attention paid to the proportions of the aesthetic and horological details, allowing better visibility and fine watchmaking aesthetics.
The off-centred hour-circle and the chronograph’s titanium turning discs have been domed, giving a three-dimensional effect. Inspired by the codes of the collection, the black Arabic numerals have been slimmed down and surrounded by a precise railway minute track. Classic blued leaf-shaped hands complete the overall design. The date has been placed at 6 o’clock and enhanced with a sophisticated display applied on the dial with blued screws. Providing fine watchmaking appearance, the dial has been highlighted with an elegant guilloché pattern in places, azuré finishing in the centre of the hour-circle, and a filet sauté guilloché decoration that runs around the dial. Paying tribute to the famous chronograph’s inventor, a ring with the Nicolas Rieussec inscription has been applied on the outer part of the dial.
Reminiscent of Minerva pocket watches, the watch features a newly-designed, round case of 44.8 mm, curved finishing on the sides, and horns that have steps on the sides. A domed sapphire crystal glass surrounds the three-dimensional dial and gives a refined pebble effect. Other details include a recognisable and easy-grip onion-shape crown adorned with the Montblanc emblem.
Powered by the iconic Manufacture monopusher chronograph movement with automatic winding, the Calibre MB R200 is equipped with a column-wheel mechanism that controls the monopusher chronograph. The connection between the gear train and the chronographs wheels is alternately engaged and disengaged by a vertical coupling and functions nearly without any wear and tear and prevents the elapsed time discs from jumping when the chronograph is switched on.
For utmost performance, the movement has two barrels which store enough energy for 72 hours of power reserve. The contemporary-shape of the calibre can be admired through the sapphire crystal case back with its components that are decorated with Geneva stripes and feature bevelled, polished edges. Red jewels, blued screws and golden-coated wheels complete the ensemble.
The timepiece is equipped with two rotating vertically-aligned discs for the monopusher chronograph’s 60-second and 30 minute counters that turn below a blued fixed double index like on the original device. Additionally, a second time zone is displayed via a skeletonized hand on the off-centred dial.
The Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph is water resistant to 30 metres and is certified by the Montblanc Laboratory Test 500. It is fitted with a new matching blue Sfumato alligator leather strap crafted at the Montblanc Pelletteria in Florence, Italy and equipped with a triple folding clasp.
