A VINTAGE TOUCH
Like a virtuoso musician practising scales, Montblanc shows off its skills in the Heritage collection, with models inspired by the rich past of Minerva, such as this chronograph.
We can set our smartphones today at the press of a finger, but watchmakers have long since been looking for solutions to make it easier to manage short-time intervals on chronographs. The Minerva manufacture, which was taken over by the Richemont group and incorporated into Montblanc in 2006, excells in creating monopusher chronographs that are both practical and refined. How do they work? Just one monopusher interrupts the curved outline of the watch case. Even better, some recent models fit the monopusher into the crown to provide the ultimate pure and simple design. To launch the timer, to stop or reset it, you just need to press down once or more. This system is to be found in the Heritage Monopusher Chronograph, unveiled at the 2019 SIHH. On the dial, simplicity is also the watchword. A 30-minute totaliser at 3 o’clock displays the time measured with a central second hand. A running seconds sub-dial at 9 o’clock brings symmetry to the layout of the time elements. Curved, dauphine-style hands move around the figures and indices in a vintage setting.
The 42mm-wide steel case contains the calibre MB 25.12. This automatic movement supplies the watch with an autonomy of 48 hours. The performances are certified by a battery of tests grouped together as the Montblanc Laboratory Test 500.
The elegance of the model is enhanced by a Sfumato alligator leather strap. Montblanc has also made a Milanese mesh strap for the new watch.
Price: 4,700 EUR
By Dan Diaconu