Complications
jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) continues his comprehensive series on the Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie collection, focusing on its calendar complications. This installment delves into the Full Calendar and Annual Calendar models, highlighting Montblanc's in-house complication development and design philosophy. His detailed analysis offers valuable insights into the collection's technical aspects and aesthetic considerations.
On the first two parts of my series introducing the new Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie collection, I touched on the inspiration of the new collection, which is derived from the heritage of chronometric precision from Minerva as well as the design cues from the iconic Minerva Pythagore. I also covered the performance (500 hour tests) and craftsmanship of the new line, which includes their manufacture leather straps.
Today I will share the 2 calendar complications in this new collection as well as some details on Montblanc’s in-house complications, developed for watches in this collection. The first reference to introduce is a Full Calendar watch in the Heritage Chronometrie collection. Full Calendar, aka Complete Calendar is also called Quantième Complet in French. Such a complication displays complete calendar information, including the Day, Month, Date, Moonphase and of course, the hours and minutes. However, as most of us already know, it requires manual intervention as it doesn’t have the ability to differentiate if a month has 28, 29, 30 or 31 days so it will always assume a month has 31 days. The wearer will have to set the date manually to correct for this.
The second reference is the Heritage Chronometrie Annual Calendar. An Annual Calendar is also known as Quantième Annuel and it has the mechanical parts and function to automatically adjust for the length of each month from March to January, i.e. it knows whether a month has 30 or 31 days. The wearer only needs to manual adjust on the last day of Feb, for either 29 Feb or 1 March. This is the limitation of an Annual Calendar and if we go one level up in calendar complication, a Perpetual Calendar has the additional function of also adjusting for Feb to Mar. Montblanc doesn’t have a Perpetual Calendar in the Heritage Chronometrie line for now but it does have a Perpetual Calendar in the Heritage Spirit collection (formerly known as Meisterstuck Heritage collection), launched in 2014.
Next, I will share an in-house movement and an in-house complication in this new collection. Montblanc has ambitions to bring as much developmental competence in-house, leveraging on their manufacture capabilities from Le Locle and Villeret. However, Montblanc also wants to roll out new complications (at competitive prices) quickly and hence the introduction of in-house complications, which uses an external movement base but having the complication fully conceived and developed in-house. The now famous Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum with the in-house worldtime module is an excellent example.
The Worldtime module is an in-house complication completely integrated into a Selita base movement.The in-house complication I want to share here in the Heritage Chronometrie series is the Dual Time. I had this watch for a wrist review and you can read my post here:
The illustration below, provided by Montblanc HQ, summarizes this Dual Time function and its convenience in setting local time when traveling. I have also explained this in my review of this watch in the post above, from a user standpoint.
The next complication is a fully in-house manufactured movement, and a very interesting one in my view for Montblanc. That is the movement for the ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph. This new movement combines two prides of Montblanc, from both Le Locle and Villeret, namely the Monopusher Chronograph with double barrels (from the Nicolas Rieussec) as well as the ExoTourbillon (from the Villeret grand complications series). This to me, highlights a true integration of the 2 manufactures, beyond having a Villeret movement encased in a Le Locle produced watch.
I am very tempted to write on about this brand new
complication, i.e. the ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph but I feel this deserves
a part on its own. So I will dedicate Part 4 of the Heritage Chronometrie
series of posts just for this complication.
Stay tuned for my last part of this new series!
Cheers
robin
The Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph, powered by the caliber MB R230, represents a significant fusion of Montblanc's horological capabilities. It combines the monopusher chronograph, a hallmark of the Nicolas Rieussec collection from the Le Locle manufacture, with the patented ExoTourbillon developed at the Villeret manufacture. This integration showcases Montblanc's strategy to leverage innovations across its distinct production sites, creating a flagship complication for the Heritage Chronometrie line.
The MB R230 movement features a monopusher chronograph with a double barrel, providing a substantial power reserve. The ExoTourbillon, characterized by its balance wheel positioned outside the rotating cage, includes a stop-seconds function for precise time setting. The watch is presented in a round case, often in precious metals, with a dial layout designed to highlight both the chronograph functions and the visible ExoTourbillon.
For collectors, this reference is notable for its technical ambition and the combination of two complex in-house complications. It reflects Montblanc's commitment to haute horlogerie and its unique approach to tourbillon design. The watch offers a blend of traditional chronograph functionality with a distinctive tourbillon mechanism, positioning it as a key piece within Montblanc's high-complication offerings.
The Worldtimer is a winner this year! I understand why you can't wait for it! Fx
Once I get it, I am going to share alot of thoughts and pictures here! :)) Thanks Fx! Cheers robin
I must say I don't have a clear idea of all the famillies in the Montblanc's catalogue and this helps to see a little better how it is organized. I have a soft spot for this complete calendar watch, it has a nice style and looks very well balanced (on the contrary to the AC reference which case looks a little big vs movement). The World timer is really worth having a look at too and I imagine you're looking forward to yours. Thanks a lot for this very nice thread Robin :) Cheers, Mark
Robin, Thanks for part 3 of the Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie Collection. It explains the Collection positioning in the Montblanc watch portfolio. Is the MeisterstĂĽck watch line cancelled? I like this watch you showed..... It seems the most useful in the Collection for different time zones.. Regards, MTF
On the complete calendar vs annual calendar. I agree the annual calendar's movement is a tad small for the case and wished the case could be made smaller as mentioned. Another factor is date and day aperture vs sundials. I personally prefer subdials to aperture for some reason although many told me when I grow older and need reading glasses, reading details on sub-dials will be a challenge Cheers Robin
Is still in production just that the line has been renamed to Heritage Spirit collection. Last year some PuristS here actually commented that having a watch line with the word Meisterstuck may not be good for Montblanc as Montblanc seeks to establish itself as a watch manufacture and not just a writing instrument manufacture (Meisterstuck as we know is the name for their pens). Maybe Montblanc HQ read our comments :) So the famous perpetual calendar launched last year for eg (see pic) is now cal
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