Montblanc 4810 ExoTourbillon Slim Dual Time

KMII · 2017-06-23T12:30:16Z

KMII reviews Montblanc's 2017 4810 ExoTourbillon Slim and Dual Time models. Explore their complications, design, and traveler-friendly features.

KMII

WPS member · Montblanc forum

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KMII provides a comprehensive overview of Montblanc's 2017 additions to its 4810 line, focusing on the new ExoTourbillon Slim and Dual Time models. His article details the design codes, practical complications, and aesthetic choices that define these pieces, offering collectors a valuable insight into Montblanc's evolving collection.

Montblanc has had quite an active year so far, with the relaunch of the TimeWalker line (more here: www.watchprosite.com), the new TimeWalker Chronograph Rally Timer Counter (more here: www.watchprosite.com), the Montblanc Summit Smartwatch (more here: www.watchprosite.com), and the more recently released Unicef co-operation watches from the Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum range (more here: www.watchprosite.com). In May, three new additions to the 4810 line followed, namely the 4810 ExoTourbillon Slim in a white gold and rose gold variety and the 4810 Dual Time in stainless steel. All three pieces are of a more formal variety and should address the practical needs of the frequent travellers (4810 Dual Time) or the more romantic sensibilities of its customers (4810 ExoTourbillon Slim).

Starting with the practical, here is a brief overview of the 4810 Dual Time.

Montblanc 4810 Dual Time

The 4810 Dual Time is the first Montblanc dual time watch in the 4810 line, featuring its in-house dual time complication. The home time indication is done through a skeletonised, heat blued regatta hand, and is so well differentiated from the rose gold plated and superluminova filled hour and minute hands. While dressier pieces do not regualrly feature lume, I find it to be a useful addition, if applied tastefully, like here.

Futhermore the watch comes with a 24h subdial at 12, which shows the home time in a 24h format, as well as featuring a day / night indication and is linked to the main home time hand, a small seconds subdial at 6 o'clock and the date at 3 o'clock.

From: Montblanc

The watch carries over the 4810 design codes, such as the form of the stainless steel case (42mm in this application), the silvery / white guilloche dial with the exploding Montblanc logo design or the red gold plated roman numerals for the even hours and hour indices for the odd ones. The odd hour indeces also come with lume dots at their outer ends for better legibility in low light conditions. Outside of this is a minute ring, featuring 10 minute markers, the full hour one being done in red, as a highlight.

From: Montblanc

Montbanc 4810 Dual Time Verdict

The dual time is a very useful addition to the 4810 line. It carries over the relatively classic design codes of the collection - these can be said to be typically Montblanc in the meantime - and adds a very useful complication for the frequent traveller in the form of the dual time. Once the home time is set, the second time zone - as expected - is easy and convenient in that it does not stop the movement but only advances the local time hour hand.

The combination of a stainless steel case with the red gold indices is likely a feature for those who try to fit a watch with as many outfits as possible (not a typical PuristS trait, I guess) and the overall design is likely to work with most outfits, too - even if it is on the more formal side. The 50m water resistance will ensure a reasonable level of robustness, even if I cannot see anyone actually taking a croc strap watch swimming. Still, with the very broad strap choice offered by the Montblanc and the easy change mechanism they use, the watch would at least offer the option (you will at least not suffer any heart-in-mouth moments if caught in a rain shower, or if travelling to humid environments).

The lug design is also helpful in masking the size somewhat and I could easily imagine that quite some of the wearers will not be the original owners but their better halves.

All in all, a very useful and practical addition to the line.

Montblanc 4810 Dual Time - Specifications Ref. 114857

Movement Calibre MB 29.19 with Manufacture complication

Type of movement Mechanical movement with automatic winding mechanism, second timezone and day & night display

Number of rubies 34

Power reserve Approx. 42 hours

Balance Flat hoop

Frequency 28,800 A/h (4 Hz)

Hairspring Flat

Displays Hours and minutes from the center

Small seconds at 6 o’clock

Second timezone from the center, as well as at 12 o’clock with a 24 hour time display and a day & night display

Date at 3 o’clock

Habillage

Case Stainless steel case

Crystal Scratch-resistant, domed sapphire crystal with antireflective coating

Back Stainless steel with inset pane of sapphire crystal

Dimensions Diameter=42 mm; height=12.04 mm

Watertightness 5 bar

Crown Stainless steel with inlaid Montblanc emblem

Dial Silvery-white dial, with a guilloche exploding Montblanc logo, red gold roman numerals and hour indices, red gold regatta hour and minute hands with superluminova, skeletonized heat blued steel regatta hand for the second timezone,

Wristband Black alligator-skin strap with stainless steel triple folding clasp

From: Montblanc

Montblanc 4810 ExoTourbillon Slim

Making the transition from the practical, everyday watch to something more romantic - the 4810 ExoTourbillon Slim. An earlier version of the watch has already been covered by amanico (here: www.watchprosite.com ) and the current two models are additional variations.

These now come in a white gold version with an aventurine dial and a red gold version with a guilloche dial and a diamond set bezel.

Common to both is the MB29.24 (and MB29.21) movement - an in-house one minute tourbillon with a micro-rotor automatic winding mechanism. The Exo - i.e. outside - simply means that the balance is mounted outside of the tourbillon cage. The advantages of this arrangement are twofold - first of all the weight of the tourbillon cage is not burdening the balance wheel and secondly the light weight of the cage helps with isochronism. And the 18 screws of the balance wheel - 4 adjustable and 14 fixed - also give the movement a classical appearance.

At 48h the power reserve is reasonable, even if not fully 'weekend off the wrist' proof. Overall one has to say that Montblanc managed to design a well balanced, fairly thin tourbillon movement (4,5mm). The only potential downside being the quite large mainplate hiding most of the movement from the wearer / observer.

The movement also features a second stop, for precise time setting. The 29.21 version in the red gold model additionally displays the crown position (winding / setting) on the dial side.

From: Montblanc

Red gold model

As reported recently, many watch manfuacturers (re-)introduced diamonds as a visible feature of male watches. Montblanc is no exception here, offering the red gold model of the 4810 ExoTourbillon Slim with a diamond set bezel (68 diamonds with a total weight of 1,326 carat). In addition, the roman XII hour marker is also set with 18 diamonds.

The red gold case comes with a satinated finish and features straight lugs on the top - they are gently rounded on the bottom for a better fit on the wrist. Like on the 4810 Dual Time, the upper part o the dial is a silvery white guilloche with an exploding Montblanc logo design, while the lower part is finished with vertical Geneva Stripes, surrounding the tourbillon.

The watch also comes with rose gold plated and lume filled regatta hour and minute hands and a minute ring with the 60 being red.

White gold model

While diamonds are still not a universal choice, it will be much harder to argue (for most of us) against the white gold, aventurine dial version. The dial is definitely one of the highlights, giving a perfect impression of a star studded sky, and as a result imbuing the watch with something inherently romantic - in my humble opinion at least. The lower part of the dial is similar to the red gold version, in that it is formed by vertical Geneva stripes surrounding the tourbillon.

Unlike the red gold version, the roman numeral XII, the regatta hands and the tourbillon bridge are rhodium plated and the hands are skeletonised and lume free in this variant. The case is satin finished and the lug design the same.

From: Montblanc

Montblanc 4810 ExoTourbillon Slim Verdict

The two new, additional versions of the 4810 ExoTourbillon Slim definitely expand the range, even if they will by far lack the spread and volume of the Dual Time. The red gold model has the more classical, Montblanc specific dial but will probably still remain an acquired taste in some areas, where men remain cagey about displaying diamonds on their watches. At the same time the slim case - at just over 10mm height - and the lug design may appeal to female wearers, in spite of its relatively large 42mm diameter. Even if you are bold enough to pull it off, it is likely to remain the less common choice.

The white gold model with the aventurine dial I can see having the broader appeal. The slim design and wearable case, combined with the more subdued material and the mesmerising blue aventurine dial are likely to draw in quite a few. The model successfully bridges the gap between the lower range regular Montblanc offerings and the top of the range Villeret collection and is a good stepping stone from the one to the other. The only question that remains for me is if Montblanc is likely to offer an aventurine dial in other models of its collection, too...

Montblanc 4810 ExoTourbillon Slim - Specs (for the white gold model) Ref. 116525

Movement Montblanc Manufacture Calibre MB 29.24

Type of movement Mechanical movement with automatic winding mechanism, 1 minute ExoTourbillon with a seconds stop and a micro-rotor

Dimensions Diameter=30,6 mm; Height=4,5 mm

Number of parts 202

Number of rubies 29

Power reserve Approx. 48 hours

Balance Flat hoop

Frequency 21,600 A/h (3 Hz)

Hairspring Flat

Mainplate Rhodium plated with Geneva Stripes

Bridges Rhodium plated with Geneva Stripes

Displays Hours and minutes from the center

Patented 1 Minute Tourbillon at 6 o’clock, with a rhodium plated tourbillon bridge

Habillage

Case 18k white gold case, with a satin brushed middle section

Crystal Scratch-resistant, domed sapphire crystal with antireflective coating

Back 18k white gold with inset pane of sapphire crystal

Dimensions Diameter=42 mm; height=10.14 mm

Watertightness 5 bar

Crown 18k white gold with inlaid mother of pearl Montblanc emblem

Dial Upper part from blue aventurine, lower part with vertical Geneva Stripes, rhodium-plated roman XII and rhodium-plated hour and minute regatta hands

Wristband Black alligator-skin strap with 18k white gold pin clasp

Key Points from the Discussion

The Montblanc 4810 Dual Time is the first dual time watch in the 4810 line, featuring an in-house complication with a skeletonized, heat-blued regatta hand for home time, distinct from the local time hands.
The 4810 Dual Time incorporates a 24-hour subdial at 12 o'clock with a day/night indication, a small seconds subdial at 6 o'clock, and a date window at 3 o'clock.
The combination of a stainless steel case with red gold indices in the 4810 Dual Time is designed for versatility, appealing to those who want a watch that pairs with multiple outfits.
The Montblanc 4810 ExoTourbillon Slim, particularly with an aventurine dial, is highly regarded for its romantic aesthetic, evoking a 'part of the night sky' on the wrist.
While some prefer the tourbillon to be visible on the dial side for its animation and demonstration of skill, others, like Nicolas, are not as keen on its prominent placement.
The author notes that a 100% aventurine dial with the tourbillon on the caseback would be a 'cooler' solution, though such designs are rare.

The Discussion

amanico

Jun 23, 2017

The only thing is that I am not too keen on the presence of the tourbillon on the dial side.... Best, Nicolas

MTF

Jun 23, 2017

KMII Thanks for the update. It's funny how my tastes have changed with time and location. 17 years ago, the silver dial and red gold numerals of the Montblanc 4810 Dual Time would have been 'Da Bomb' but now, it's just not right for me. On the other hand, the white gold and aventurine dial of the Montblanc 4810 ExoTourbillon Slim would be chosen anytime from 2000 until now. Regards, MTF

KMII

Jun 23, 2017

If the dial was 100% aventurine and the tourbillon at the back, that would be so much cooler. Sadly, such solutions are quite rare nowadays...

KMII

Jun 23, 2017

So the Aventurine may yet draw you into the Montblanc fold? 😉 Interestingly, when i tried to help some female friends look for a watch the steel case / gold numerals got mentioned as a good choice frequently - goes with more outfits or something to that effect...

Alkiro1

Jun 24, 2017

Regarding the ExoTourbillon, I particularly love its dial. So nice. It's like owning on his wrist a part of the night sky. Thanks for the review my friend. Best wishes Alkiro

KMII

Jun 24, 2017

So cool! As for the Vasco da Gama, I see your point but suppose the two were designed for different customers in mind.

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