Review
Jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) revisits the Montblanc Timewalker Extreme Chronograph DLC, a standout from SIHH 2014, to explore its unique aesthetic and technical features. This article delves into what makes this particular Timewalker model a significant milestone for the collection, especially as it marked the line's 10th anniversary. Readers will gain insight into the watch's distinctive 'Black 4' DLC coating and its role in Montblanc's broader Timewalker design philosophy.
Following Mike's sharing on Montblanc's Timewalker collection's design "DNA", here's a quick revisit to the new Timewalker Extreme Chronograph DLC (diamond-like carbon), which was launched in SIHH 2014.
I have personally seen and played with this watch earlier this year, when Montblanc showcased its novelties during the Black and White week in Singapore.
Here was a previous post of my first impressions on this watch:
What impressed me most about this watch is its very black look, with a Black 4 DLC coating. It is the blackest watch I have ever come across and I feel it makes the watch very handsome and seductive.
The other attraction of this watch, which I focused on my previous post, is the new Extreme Leather used on the strap.
The new TimeWalker Extreme Chronograph DLC embodies all the iconic characteristics of the TimeWalker watch line:
Architectonic lines, narrow bezel and the now easily recognizable skeletonised horns, a large, planar dial with Arabic numerals in a distinctive, clearly contoured typographical style and characteristic lance-shaped hands.
Despite the Timewalker line being in its 10th year now, the design DNA of the Timewalker series is still very modern and avant garde in my view. Due to its relatively more accessible price than say the Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec and having more variants from simple time/date only to outsourced chronographs and in-house Twinfly chronograph movement, I actually see more Timewalkers in the wild in Singapore compared to other Montblanc watch series.
The new Timewalker Extreme Chronograph DLC is released this year to celebrate 10 years of success of the Timewalker line and to kick off this collection into its second decade. Quite a huge task for this novelty! It must has sufficient special features to distinguish it from other Timewalkers, yet retain the best of the Timewalker line’s DNA.
Here are some features of this new Timewalker Extreme Chronograph DLC which I appreciate.
Firstly, the dial is finished with more details than the ordinary Timewalkers (closer to the details found on the Twinfly Timewalkers with the in-house LeLocle MB LL 100 movement).
The middle stratum, which covers the centre and the periphery of the dial, is embellished with a fine embossed pattern of circular striations. The chronograph hour, minutes and the seconds sub-dials also have snailed finishing.
See some macro shots I took of the Timewalker Extreme at the Montblanc Singapore boutique.
Secondly, this Timewalker is special with Diamond- Like Carbon (DLC) coating on its steel case and pin buckle (the other being the LE 300 Timewalker Twinfly DLC which I believe is no longer available).
Some information on the DLC process is kindly provided by Montblanc HQ below:
A “DLC” (for the “diamond-like carbon” material) treatment ensures that the toughness of the stainless steel case’s surface has been increased to the utmost.
DLC Process: Miniscule glass spherules are blasted under high pressure to give the steel a microscopic texture to which the DLC coating can almost inseparably adhere, thus producing a fine matte finish on the surface. The same process is used on the other stainless steel components: i.e. the readily grasped crown, the chronograph’s buttons, the midnight-black pronged buckle, and the screwed back with its pane of sapphire crystal.
The colour of the diamond-like carbon coating is described as “Black 4”, which stands for “very black”. As mentioned, I found this Black 4 color very unique (very dark black) and I like the look of it. I did some research on Black 4 DLC and if there were other grading of DLC Black couldn’t find more useful information on this topic. Any PuristS here who know more please chip in. I have also reached out to Montblanc HQ to find out more as I am very curious on this topic.
If I have to nitpick, it will be the water resistance of this watch. It is 30m, like most other Timewalkers. For a Timewalker Extreme, I wish it were at least 100m, if not 200m for water resistance. That is more in line with the “Extreme” label on the name of the watch.
As I have very small wrists, I also wish for a smaller Timewalker. The new 39mm Timewalkers are also launched this year and I hope Montblanc will do more with them in 2015 (eg have the Twinfly movement in a 39mm Timewalker case, I would love that!).
What are your thoughts on this new Timewalker or the Timewalker series in general? Hope to hear from PuristS here. 
Cheers
robin
I like this chronograph because it has a very contemporary design which manages to be, I think, timeless. I also appreciate the combo hands&figures. Thanks a lot Robin for this article! Fx
If I were to get a Montblanc, this would be at the top of the list for similar reasons as you've captured, Robin. The black is really nice, from a distance, it almost looks like resin, which takes it "under the radar". Nitpicking, my two issues would be with the cutting away of the "12" and "6" (I don't like it when the numbers are butchered) and of course the size. 39mm would be perfect, IMO, so maybe Montblanc will be able to come up with something compelling for me :-) Thanks for sharing this
.. and I like it very much. BUT, I, too, with it were a bit smaller..... Don't worry, my friend, the world trend is, I feel, the smaller watches - focusing on Asian market would eventually mean smaller watches for the true connoisseurs, while they keep making bigger version for the bigger wrist folks. Be patient. Perfect Timewalder for us will arrive soon, I hope! Nice review, as always! Ken
Contemporary and yet timeless - not easy to achieve and in my view, a needed ingredient for the making of an icon. Glad you like the sharing. :) cheers robin
I missed that! Probably less obvious to me due to the beauty of the Black 4 DLC. :) Agree Richard I am not a fan of numerals being "cut off" by sub-dials too. If you look at the Timewalker Twinfly, the 12 and 6 are not cut off. See below. I think this design is great! Definitely agree on the smaller sized Timewalkers with chronos and complications - I think they will really be a hit with us in Asia! Cheers robin
Richard and I were exchanging views on the same topic on this thread. We shall patiently wait for our smaller sized Timewalkers with nice complications. The fact that MB launched some 39mm Timewalkers this year is a good sign! Glad you like the sharing Ken and thank you cheers robin
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