Montblanc’s Minerva Red Arrow takes centre stage in new creations
By 1927, Minerva was a leader in the field of pilots’ watches with the introduction of a stopwatch with an internal rotating bezel for countdown timing. This was followed, in 1939, by a chronograph wristwatch featuring an external rotating bezel. Both these models are part of Montblanc’s treasured museum collection and are the inspiration behind the 1858 Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Red Arrow, and The Unveiled Secret Minerva Monopusher Chronograph
1858 Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Red Arrow LE88
Key elements evocative of the past in this timepiece include an 18K white gold fluted bezel and the maison’s signature red arrow that allows a quick and easy reading of elapsed time. It is possible to track elapsed time by aligning the red arrow with the seconds, minute, or hour hand. A countdown timer can also be set by rotating the bezel so that the red arrow is positioned at a specific time in the future. The time has elapsed when the minute hand reaches the red arrow marker.
A jet-black dial enhanced with beige Super-LumiNova hands and Arabic numerals glowing green in low light ensure legibility. A telemeter scale runs outside of the dial while a tachymeter is in the centre of the dial. A 30-minute chronograph counter is at three o’clock, a small second counter at nine o’clock, and the chronograph seconds are indicated by a central hand. The watch is powered by the Calibre MB M13.21 split second chronograph with a column wheel mechanism that allows the user to measure intermediate times without interrupting the ongoing measurement of a longer elapsed time. Designed on the MB M19.09, it features the same V bridge as the original. The hairspring is created in-house; other noteworthy details include handmade snail finishing, hand chamfering and decoration on the Minerva arrow. This limited-edition timepiece comes in a 42mm stainless steel case with a special engraving on the case back and is completed by a black alligator leather strap with beige stitching.
1858 The Unveiled Secret Minerva Monopusher Chronograph LE
These new limited editions not only feature the iconic hand-wound hand-finished MB 16.29 movement, but the movement has been flipped over to show on the dial side. Turning a movement over sounds simple, but it is a technical feat as the direction of the hands also has to be reversed. Reversing the time required the addition of 21 components to the MB 16.29 calibre. The maison has turned the last digit of the reference number upside down to represent this change, so MB 16.29 becomes MB 16.26. The iconic Minerva arrow and the maison’s “V”-shaped bridge are also on display, carefully not distracting from the movement that features an open-worked 30-minute chronograph counter, an open-worked small seconds display, and Super-LumiNova enhanced elegant hands and indexes.
The timepiece, housed in a 43mm case with an engraved case back, also features a fluted bezel inspired from a 1927 Minerva design. There are two limited editions of 18 and 58 pieces, in Lime Gold and stainless steel respectively. The Lime Gold version displays green hands and numerals and comes on a green alligator leather strap with grey stitching. The stainless-steel edition features a white gold fluted bezel, and comes with a blue alligator leather strap with blue stitching.
