Montblanc Stars and Pandas Celebration
The Montblanc Star Legacy product line, which is inspired by Minerva’s heritage and the company’s pocket watches that were made during the late 19th century and early 20th century, has four new models: Two versions of the Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph and two new Star Legacy timepieces with Roman numerals – one with an automatic date calibre and the other with a full calendar.
The new additions to the TimeWalker collection trace their inspiration to the 1960s and 70s – the golden age of motor racing.
The chronographs with black and white dials, commonly named “panda” and “reverse panda” dials, became icons, marking the history of watchmaking.
The striking contrast between the colour of the dial’s background and the counters was highly appreciated for both its great readability and unique aesthetic.
Montblanc is now offering two new TimeWalker Chronographs with “reverse panda” aesthetics that come in a size of 41 mm and 43 mm
Montblanc Star Legacy collection
The Montblanc Star Legacy product line takes its inspiration from Minerva’s heritage and the company’s pocket watches that were made during the late 19th century and early 20th century.
The Montblanc Star Legacy timepieces showcase classic design codes such as round, pebble shaped cases; horns with steps on the side; onion-shaped crowns with the recognisable Montblanc emblem, and eye-catching dials featuring the iconic exploding star guilloché pattern.
Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronographs
Following the launch of the Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph in stainless steel last year, Montblanc is presenting two new versions – one is a combination of a red gold and anthracite aesthetic, while the other is in stainless-steel with an anthracite dial.
Both are equipped with matching anthracite Sfumato alligator straps from the Maison’s leather workshop in Florence, Italy.
These timepieces pay tribute to the French watchmaker Nicolas Rieussec who invented the first inking chronograph that was patented in 1821 and has marked the history of fine watchmaking.
The Chronographs incorporate the recognisable two rotating, horizontally aligned discs on the watch’s dial – one for the chronograph’s 60-second counter and the other for the 30-minute counter – which turn below a fixed double index, like on the original device.
Both the counters and the off-centred hours and minutes ring are domed to give an eye-catching three-dimensional effect.
Other design details on the dial include slim Arabic numerals that are surrounded by a precise railway minute track, leaf-shaped hands, azuré finishing in the centre of the dial and a “filet sauté” guilloché decoration that runs around the dial.
A ring with the Nicolas Rieussec inscription has also been applied on the outer part of the dial, further paying tribute to the chronograph’s famous inventor.
The timepieces are powered by the iconic calibre MB R200 Manufacture monopusher chronograph movement with automatic winding and column wheel mechanism that can be admired through the sapphire crystal case back.
The movement has two barrels producing 72 hours of power reserve, with the watch water-resistant to 30 metres and certified by the Montblanc Laboratory Test 500.
Montblanc Star Legacy Automatic Date
In line with the design codes of the product line, the Montblanc Star Legacy Automatic Date features a refined dial with the Montblanc exploding star guilloché pattern, leaf-shaped hands, a “filet sauté” guilloché motif and a unique railway track.
The timepiece is equipped with the automatic calibre MB 24.01 and features the hours, minutes and seconds in the centre, and a date aperture at six o’clock.
It comes in a choice of 39 mm or 42 mm and is fitted with a silvery-white dial.
The new timepiece comes in stainless steel and features trendy coloured Sfumato straps coming from the Richemont Pelletteria in Florence, Italy.
Montblanc Star Legacy Full Calendar
This timepiece features the same design codes as the Automatic Date and comes in a 42 mm stainless-steel case, and is powered by the automatic calibre MB 29.12 which indicates the hours, minutes, seconds, day, date, month and moonphase.
The date is read via a hand that culminates in a little red crescent that sweeps along a wreath of 31 digits around the dial’s periphery.
The day of the week and the month appear in apertures on the upper half of the dial, while the lower half is reserved for the moonphase display.
TimeWalker Chronograph collection
The Montblanc TimeWalker product line symbolises the spirit of motor racing and finds its inspiration in timepieces from Minerva’s outstanding history.
Since 1858, the Manufacture has been known as an exclusive workshop producing high-quality instruments for measuring brief intervals of time with remarkable precision.
Montblanc is presenting two new TimeWalker Chronographs this year with “reverse panda” aesthetics in a size of 41 mm and 43 mm.
The cases feature satin-finished horns with their architectural and carved flanks that have been bevelled on the edges to offer a smooth line for the 41 mm model and are semi-skeletonised like the air inlets of a car’s body for the 43 mm version.
In the spirit of racing, these new models are equipped with a practical tachymeter scale for timing speed that is indicated on the fixed ceramic bezel.
Both timepieces feature “reverse panda” dials with contrasting black backgrounds and silvery-white counters and flanges.
The 41 mm dial displays the counters at 6 and 12 o’clock, while the 43 mm version features them at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock, reminiscent of the traditional 3-6-9 counter chronograph positions.
The timepieces feature Super-LumiNova numerals and indexes, as well as a precise minute track on the flange that has also been enhanced with both Super-LumiNova and red markers for the 15-minute mark for utmost legibility.
The TimeWalker Manufacture Chronograph Automatic in 43 mm is powered by the Montblanc Manufacture chronograph calibre MB 25.10, featuring traditional finishing such as Côtes de Genève, circular graining, blue screws and a new monobloc oscillating weight made of black rhodium-plated tungsten and designed in the shape of a steering wheel.
The movement is equipped with a traditional column wheel, a horizontal coupling as well as a stop-second mechanism, allowing the precise setting of the time.
Like all the TimeWalker timepieces, the new Montblanc TimeWalker Automatic Chronographs have been rigorously tested by the Montblanc Laboratory Test 500.
This test simulates real-life wear for over 500 hours and controls the finished and assembled watch, providing reliability and performance.
