GLOBAL NEWS—Luxury watch brand Montblanc unveils their latest limited edition Montblanc Unveiled Secret Minerva Monopusher Chronograph.
The Montblanc Unveiled Secret Minerva Monopusher Chronograph turns the movement over to reveal all its beauty.
Image courtesy of Montblanc
When it comes to complicated watch movements, the chronograph is without a doubt one of the most mesmerizing with all its intricately linked components that come into play to display elapsed time. And when that movement is based on the historic Minerva MB 16.29 monopusher chronograph calibre, the magic is off the charts!
Reversing the Calibre
But there is more to this story. The new Montblanc Unveiled Secret Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Limited Editions not only feature this iconic hand-wound MB 16.29 movement with all its meticulous hand-finishing, but the movement has been flipped over to display all the incredible mechanical action on the dial side of the watch. At first glance, the viewer may think it is a skeletonized movement, but a closer look reveals that this historic chronograph movement is on full display, in all its glory, on the dial side of the watch.
Image courtesy of Montblanc
In 165 years of Minerva history, this has never been done before. It is surprising when you think of how many watch lovers remove their chronographs to admire the movement through the case back. Well, now they don’t have to!
Turning a movement over sounds simple, but it is a technical feat as the direction of the hands also has to be reversed. The MB 16.29 calibre was one of the only movements in Montblanc’s stable of chronographs where this could be achieved and reversing the time required the addition of 21 components, making this more than an aesthetic feature, but a truly technical one too.
And just for fun, 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.
When the Movement Becomes the Dial
Looking through the sapphire crystal into the depths of the movement, the viewer can immediately perceive the incredible level of finishing on the sanded German silver movement. A keen eye will detect the Maison’s special snailed diamantage coquille motif and polishing, which includes the inner angles of the components, a feat in itself.
Signature Minerva Movement Design
Image courtesy of Montblanc
In keeping with all Montblanc’s highly complicated movements, the iconic Minerva arrow and the Maison’s “V”-shaped bridge are also on display. The Minerva arrow is a tribute to the Roman Goddess who is always depicted with her arrow-tipped staff in hand, and the unusual “V”-shaped bridge comes from the view of the mountains seen from the watchmakers’ window in Villeret, a sight that has been a constant since the founding of the workshop in 1858.
No Distractions
Particular attention has been paid to the indications so that they don’t distract from the movement with an open-worked 30-minute chronograph counter, an open-worked small seconds display, and elegant hands and indexes that have been enhanced with Super-LumiNova® for enhanced legibility.
Double Novelty
In addition to the upside-down chronograph movement, the Montblanc Unveiled Secret Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Limited Editions include a fluted bezel inspired from a Minerva design that dates back to 1927. This strong design element frames the movement and further accentuates all the horological expertise that makes these timepieces so special.
Two Limited Editions
There are two limited editions of 18 and 58 pieces, in Lime Gold and stainless steel respectively. Both come in a case side of 43mm and are fitted with a fluted bezel, the sign of an exceptional Montblanc timepiece.
Images courtesy of Montblanc
The Lime Gold version displays green hands and numerals and comes on a green alligator leather strap with grey stitching that is in total harmony with this warm-coloured gold. The stainless-steel edition features a white gold fluted bezel, adding an extra level of finesse to the model, and comes with a blue alligator leather strap with blue stitching. Both models feature an engraved caseback with an image of the Villeret manufacture and the famous “V”-shaped mountains in the background.
These Montblanc Unveiled Secret Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Limited Editions unveil the secret of watchmaking past in timepieces that are resolutely contemporary for today’s watch lovers.