The combination of haute horlogerie and complications has always been the interest of the Montblanc Manufacture in Villeret. Ever since its early days, the Maison – established under the name “Minerva” – produced beautiful calibres with exciting complications to match. This had led Montblanc to produce a special limited-edition timepiece in this year’s SIHH, which combines both the monopusher split-second chronograph and the Exotourbillon together in a single watch.
The watch, in full frontal. Note that despite the complications, the dial is rather legible and well-defined.
The watch, which got its inspiration from the Minerva Pythagore, offers a contemporary rendition of the horological classic. Despite the plethora of complications, the timepiece is kept as clean and legible as possible. The dial, notably, is divided into two portions. The upper portion, which houses the Exotourbillon, features a vertical satin finish. The lower portion, with the three sub-dials, comes with a grey grené finish.
The three sub-dials – one for the running seconds counter, another for the chronograph, and finally the second time zone indicator – makes the watch much more legible and gives it some symmetry. Interestingly, each of them features different finishing as well. For instance, the sub-dial at the six o’clock position has a sunray pattern, while the other two feature the azuré motif in the centre and an opaline decoration on the external rings. This adds a nice touch to the aesthetics of the timepiece.
The Calibre MB M16.62 – a rather beautiful and complication movement. Notably, it had also undergone Montblanc’s Laboratory Test 500, which requires the watch to be tested in various real-life scenarios for over 500 hours.
Powered by the in-house Calibre MB M16.62, the manual-winding movement boasts a variety of complications. The main ones are the monopusher split-second chronograph and the Exotourbillon. In addition, the watch also features a second time-zone display (which can be adjusted by the pusher at the 8 o’clock position), as well as a day/night indicator. Interestingly, the watch has a power reserve of approximately 50 hours. This is achieved due to the Exotourbillon’s slower rotational speed (a revolution once every 4 minutes), which saves the watch a fair bit of energy. It is truly an incredible timepiece mechanically.
The finishing of the watch is exceptional as well. The attention to detail is nothing short of amazing, and the results are telling. One example is the double infinity tourbillon bridge, which according to Montblanc, requires one week to be hand-bevelled and polished completely. The movement is done up rather nicely as well. It features decorations such as bevelling, mirror polishing, Côtes de Genève bridges, and gold plated wheels. The end result is spectacular, as seen in the above picture.
The 47mm timepiece is limited to a production of 8 pieces. They are cased in 18-karat red gold, and each of them will be paired with an alligator leather strap that is crafted by Montblanc Pelletteria.
Technical Specifications
Montblanc Heritage Chronométrie ExoTourbillon Rattrapante (Reference 115993)
Movement: Montblanc Manufacture Calibre MB M16.62
Type of movement: Manually wound monopusher split-second chronograph
Chronograph: Monopusher with column-wheel and horizontal coupling
Dimensions: Diameter = 38.4 mm; height = 12.27 mm
Number of components: 432
Number of rubies: 36
Power reserve: Approx. 50 hours
Balance: Screw balance, diameter = 14.5 mm; moment of inertia = 59 mgcm2
Frequency: 18,000 A/h (2.5 Hz)
Hairspring: With Phillips terminal curve
Plate: Rhodium-plated German silver with circular graining on both sides
Bridges: Rhodium-plated German silver with “Côtes de Genève”
Going-train: Gold-plated, faceted arms, diamond polished surfaces
Displays: Local time: hours and minutes from the center; Home time: hour hand at “6 o’clock”; Small seconds at “9 o’clock”; Day/night indication between “4 and 5 o’clock”; Chronograph’s elapsed-seconds hand and split-second hand from the center; Counter for 30 elapsed minutes at “3 o’clock”
Case: 18K red gold case
Crystal: Scratch-resistant, cambered sapphire and antireflective crystal
Back: Screwed 18K red gold back case with inset pane of sapphire crystal
Dimensions: Diameter = 47 mm; height = 18.58 mm
Watertightness: 3 bar
Crown: 18K red gold with Montblanc emblem in raised relief
Push-piece: Chronograph monopusher integrated in the crown and splitsecond pusher at “2 o’clock”
Dial: 18K gold with grey grené decoration on the lower part of the dial and vertical satinated finishing on the upper part. Small seconds subdial and 30-minute counter with an azuré motif in the centre and an opaline decoration on the external ring, second time zone and day/night subdials with a sunray pattern. 18K red gold Arabic numerals, red gold-plated and steel blued sword-shaped hands, red gold-plated baton chronograph second hand and steel blued baton split-second hand.
Wristband: Black alligator-skin strap with 18K red gold pin buckle
Limited Edition: 8
Certified by the Montblanc Performance Test 500
