Turning to Bronze

For the very first time in its watch collection, Montblanc unveils new vintage-inspired timepieces using bronze.

Montblanc’s watchmaking expertise goes back to 1858, the year Minerva was founded in Villeret, Switzerland. Since its inception, the Manufacture has been renowned as one of Switzerland’s most revered specialists in chronometric functions for precise time measuring. And since 2007, Montblanc has been exploring Minerva's heritage, finding inspiration in historical functions, mechanics and design codes.

The resulting timepieces capture all the spirit of the past in a modern way. The Montblanc 1858 Collection continues this journey by reinterpreting the famous Minerva chronographs from the 1930s, with distinct designs and exceptional mechanics that traverse time.

The vintage style of the Montblanc 1858 Collection has been further enhanced by the introduction of bronze—a first for the Maison. Through this choice of metal, Montblanc combines traditional Swiss artisanal watchmaking with a genuine material from watchmaking history. Bronze complements both the colours of the dials and the antiquestyle straps with its warm sheen, unifying all the elements for a true vintage design. For the first time in the watchmaking industry, bronze is coupled with steel for two new models, and it results in a bi-colour, bi-material combination that brings out the best of vintage design.

Special attention has been paid to researching the perfect alloy of bronze that will evolve with its owner by developing its own unique, uniform and attractive patina over the years. The subtle changing colour of the case further enriches the vintage appeal of each timepiece. Three new bronze versions within the Montblanc 1858 Collection—a Montblanc 1858
Chronometer Tachymeter Limited Edition 100, a Montblanc 1858 Automatic Dual Time and a Montblanc 1858 Automatic timepiece.

The historical design codes taken from the original 1930s Minerva chronograph include large cathedral hands, with their cloisonné design filled with beige Super-LumiNova®, luminescent Arabic numerals, vintage shaped crowns and classic minute railway tracks that encircle the dials. Other vintage codes include the original Montblanc logo from the 1930s era with its historical font and emblem of the Mont Blanc Mountain in the centre, along with new cognac-coloured calfskin and alligator straps that have been given an aged look by the artisans at the Montblanc Pelletteria in Florence.

M

Montblanc 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter Limited Edition

Minerva Calibre MB M16.29

The 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter Limited Edition showcases a vintage style—from the design of the case, to the movement, strap and details on the dial. The timepiece comes with a champagne dial that has a sunray finishing to match the bronze colour of the case. This combination of colours and finishing gives a monochrome and mono-material aspect to the timepiece, accentuating the volume of the timepiece and drawing attention to the details, such as the historic cathedral-shaped hands and beige Super-LumiNova® markings that accentuate the vintage style while also providing excellent readability at night.

This limited edition is housed in a 44mm full satinated bronze case with a bronze coloured titanium case back (to avoid allergies) and polished bezel for increased depth. Other noteworthy features include cognac alligator leather straps that, like all the straps in the 1858 Collection, have been crafted at the Montblanc Pelletteria in Florence, and feature satinated bronze plated buckles that complement the overall design.

At the heart of the timepiece lies a traditional manual monopusher chronograph movement, the Minerva Calibre MB M16.29, with a column wheel mechanism, horizontal coupling, chronograph bridge in a "V" shape, a large screwed balance wheel vibrating at a frequency of 18,000 semi oscillations per hour and a power reserve of 50 hours.
This in-house chronograph has been entirely handcrafted at the Montblanc Manufacture in Villeret and is characterized by its exceptional finishing. Designed in a large "pocket watch" style, the Calibre MB M16.29 has been inspired by the original Calibre 17.29 designed for pocket watches and wristwatches in the 1930s. This new version uses almost the same shape of components as the Calibre 17.29 Calibre, but features different finishings, such as inside angles, Côtes de Genève stripes and circular graining. For the first time, the Calibre MB M16.29 bears red gold-coloured components that offer a totally new look and that
perfectly match the bronze material and vintage appeal of the timepiece, while also reinforcing its monochrome aspect. As with all the Minerva calibres, one of the movement’s components is shaped into the form of the Minerva arrow to pay tribute to the Manufacture's heritage.

The chronograph indications are displayed via a central chronograph seconds hand and a chronograph minute counter at three o'clock. Other indications on the dial include a tachymeter scale that runs around the dial and a small seconds’ counter at nine o'clock. The MB M16.29 is a chronograph that adheres to the true spirit of fine watchmaking.

Montblanc 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter Limited Edition 100
Movement Montblanc Manufacture Calibre MB M16.29
Number of components 252
Number of rubies 22
Plate Red gold-plated (4N) German silver with circular graining on
both sides
Bridges Red gold-plated (4N) German silver with “Côtes de Genève”
Going-train Gold-plated, faceted arms, diamond polished surfaces
Case Bronze case
Crystal Scratch-resistant, domed sapphire and antireflective crystal
Back Screwed titanium bronze colour-plated back case with inset
pane of sapphire crystal
Crown Bronze with Montblanc emblem in raised relief
Push-piece Chronograph monopusher integrated in the crown
Dial Champagne colour dial with Super-LumiNova®-coated beige Arabic numerals, 18K red gold-plated luminescent hour-hand and minute-hand, historical Montblanc emblem at 12 o’clock, tachymeter scale on the external part of the dial
Wristband Cognac alligator-skin strap with beige stitching and satinated bronze-plated buckle

The vintage Montblanc 1858 Automatic Dual Time, with its highly recognizable styling, recalls the emblematic Minerva timepieces from the 1930s. Traditional black dials, cathedral-shaped hands and beige Super-LumiNova® Arabic numerals come together in this highly legible, vintage-inspired timepiece. The Montblanc 1858 Automatic Dual Time comes in a 44mm satinated stainless steel case with a bronze bezel and crown.

Powered by the Calibre MB 29.19, this automatic movement features a dual time complication entirely developed and assembled in-house with a home time indication and a day/night display. A skeletonised home time hand is positioned in the centre with a touch of Super-LumiNova® on its tip to distinguish it from the hour hand, which is completely filled with Super-LumiNova®. The dual time function comes into play while travelling as the user can set the local time hour hand to the new destination time zone without affecting the home time hour hand. The minute hand and the second hand also both continue to run
uninterruptedly during this setting process, thus preserving the exact time. A day/night indicator, which is connected to the central home time hand, is visible in a small aperture at
12 o’clock. At six o’clock, a subdial indicates the small seconds and the date, which is linked to the local time.

The timepiece is completed with the authentic Montblanc logo from the 1930s on the dial and a brand new cognac-coloured calfskin strap from Montblanc Pelletteria in Florence. The strap features traditional beige stitches just below the lugs and has been treated to give it an aged appearance—all in perfect keeping with the vintage theme.

For watch aficionados who love a pure, clean vintage look, the Montblanc 1858 Automatic combines all the essential elements from the vintage 1858 Collection in an attractive and striking design that harks back to Minerva’s wristwatches and pocket watches from the 1930s. A deep black dial provides the perfect canvas for the cathedral-shaped hands and Arabic numerals that have been enhanced with beige Super-LumiNova® for great readability at night. The 44mm case is in satinated stainless steel, while the bezel and crown have been produced in bronze. The case back reveals an engraving of the Minerva
Manufacture in Villeret, with the Jura Mountains in the background. There is also the Roberts Frères Villeret logo, the historic Minerva logo, the Montblanc name and the arrow from the Goddess Minerva’s spear.

The timepiece is powered by the Calibre MB 24.17, a precise automatic movement for the young and modern watch aficionado who appreciates both the vintage look and horological functionality. The timepiece is completed with a brand new aged, cognac-coloured calfskin strap with beige stitching that has been crafted by Montblanc Pelletteria in Florence.

Montblanc 1858 Automatic Dual Time

Montblanc 1858 Automatic