Pre SIHH 2018: Montblanc Star Legacy Collection

Inspired by the extraordinary Minerva heritage, Montblanc is reinterpreting its iconic Star product line, unveiling two exclusive chronograph complication: the Montblanc Star Legacy Automatic Chronograph and the Montblanc Star Legacy Rieussec Chronograph.

The new timepieces feature round cases with a curved finish on the sides with horns that have steps on the sides. The crowns stand out with their recognisable and easy-grip onion-shape, adorned on the side with the recognisable Montblanc emblem.

In these new versions, the dials of the Star timepieces are highlighted by prominent Arabic numerals. Other important aesthetic details include a unique railway minute track which is of particular note as it features dots instead of lines and a beautiful filet sauté guilloché running around the dial and outlining it.

Completing the overall design, the dial features the elegant blued leaf shaped hands, contributing to a contemporary, yet classic aesthetic.

Montblanc Star Legacy Automatic Chronograph

The silvery-white dial containsbalanced proportions between the aesthetic elements and the timekeeping functions. It features 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, with 43 hours of power reserve, the Montblanc Star Legacy Automatic Chronograph indicates the hours, minutes, seconds and date in a window at 4:30 as well as the chronograph’s indications with central hand and counters.

The timepiece comes in a rounded 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.

The Montblanc Star Legacy Automatic Chronograph is completed with a blue Sfumato alligator leather strap and is also available with slate grey dial and grey Sfumato alligator leather strap. (Price €.3.990)

Montblanc Star Legacy Rieussec Chronograph

Montblanc reinterprets its Rieussec monopusher chronograph that was launched in 2008. The case and the dial of the timepiece have been redesigned with the chronograph’s turning discs and off-centred dial. The Montblanc Star Legacy Chronograph Rieussec pays tribute to the French watchmaker Nicolas Rieussec who invented the first inking chronograph in 1821.

The watchmaker to the French royal court, Rieussec developed this construction to more precisely measure the running times of individual horses at a horserace. In 1822, the Académie des Sciences in Paris granted a patent to 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. 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 Montblanc Star Legacy Rieussec Chronograph 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.

The Montblanc Star Legacy Chronograph Rieussec is powered by the Manufacture movement with automatic winding MB R200 equipped with a column-wheel mechanism that controls the monopusher chronograph.

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.

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 Chronograph Rieussec is water resistant to 30 metres and is certified by the Montblanc Laboratory Test 500. It is fitted with a matching blue Sfumato alligator leather strap and equipped with a triple folding clasp. (Price €.7.540)