Horological Meandering

SJX
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Montblanc Star Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph - first Montblanc in-house movement

This is an interesting bit of news. Montblanc is obviously serious about becoming an upmarket watch brand (and so are many other brands of the Richemont Group), though I suspect Montblanc got outside assistance with the development of this movement.

It is also interesting that Minerva (part of Montblanc), now provides the chronograph movement to Panerai. JLC has long been the technical development centre of Richemont, perhaps the balance will shift over the longer term as other group brands like Montblanc progress. 

- SJX

 Press release: Montblanc unveils its first watch movement manufactured entirely in-house at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva

The Montblanc Star Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph.

This Montblanc watch is the first one ever to feature a movement that has been developed, produced and assembled in Montblanc’s own workshops. The watch is dedicated to Nicolas Rieussec, who invented the chronograph in 1821: his was a wooden case containing a clock movement that drove two rotating dials on the lid. Above them was a fixed index that left a drop of ink on the rotating dials whenever a button was pushed. For the first time ever, the device made it possible to record the exact times put up by individual horses at racing events. The principle used gave the chronograph its name and comes from the Greek: chronos for ‘time’ and graphein for ‘write’. It seems only logical that the first watch movement to be developed by Montblanc, which has established itself as the world's leading manufacturer of top quality writing instruments, should be one that 'writes time'. The principle of the rotating dials was the inspiration for the design of the new Montblanc chronograph and gives the watch its unmistakable appearance.

For Montblanc, the Montblanc Star Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph with its two chronograph movements (the MB R100 handwound calibre and the MB R200 automatic) are yet another highlight in a success story going back more than ten years for Montblanc watches: 'We're very proud of the fact that this first movement of our own further justifies our claim to be a provider of traditional European craftsmanship in the mechanical watch sector. And it means we've set up a further milestone in the success story of Montblanc watch manufacture,' explains Lutz Bethge, CEO Montblanc International. It also means that the Montblanc brand not only joins an exclusive circle of classical watch manufacturers by demonstrating its expertise and professionalism in this market segment, but also underpins something the brand embodies in all its products lines: the practice and cultivation of European craftsmanship and an authentic tradition of manufacturing by hand.

The Montblanc Star Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph is a watch for connoisseurs that will be available only in limited numbers: 25 chronographs in 950 platinum, 75 chronographs in 18 K white or yellow gold and 125 chronographs in 18 K red gold. Without a doubt, this watch from Montblanc has all the makings of a much sought-after collector's item.

Movement                    Montblanc-manufactured MB R100-calibre movement

Movement type            Hand-wound, chronograph, twin barrels and stop balance wheel

Dimensions                  13''' 3/4 (31 mm), height 7.60 mm

Number of parts           286

Number of jewels         33

Power reserve             72 hours with two barrels

Balance wheel                         Screw balance, Ø 9.7 mm, inertia 12 mgcm2

Frequency                   28 800 semi-oscillations per hour (4 Hz)

Spring                          Flat (volute)

Plates                          Rhodium-plated and circular-grained

Bridges                        Rhodium-plated, Geneva stripes

Going train                   Special toothing for more efficient power transmission

Displays                       - Hours and minutes on off-centre dial

- Date hand

- Chronograph featuring new type of display on 60-second and 30-minute counters using rotating discs and fixed hands

- Power reserve display on case back

Chronograph               - Monopusher operation at 8 o'clock

- Column wheel control

- Vertical disc clutch

Features

Case                            - 18 K red gold (5N)

- Water-resistant to 3 bar / 30m

- Convex sapphire glass, antireflective on both sides

- See-through sapphire glass back

Dimensions                  - Diameter 43 mm

- Height 14.8 mm

- Lug width 22 mm

Winding crown                         18 K red gold (5N) with inlaid Montblanc insignia in mother-of-pearl

Dial                              Beige dial with black numerals on appliquéd hour circle

Geneva stripes between 4 and 8 o'clock

Strap                            Brown alligator leather strap with double folding clasp in 18 K red gold

Red gold model in limited edition of 125 watches

Other models:

Platinum version in limited edition of 25 watches

White gold version in limited edition of 75 watches

Yellow gold version in limited edition of 75 watches