10 years ago I discovered this piece for the first time (it debuted at SIHH 2012) and was taken by the beauty of the dial and the caliber. However, it took me until 2015 to add it to my collection. As many other enthusiasts I was not sure on the brand Montblanc/Minerva and their strategy and fulfillment. A visit to Villeret, where this and a few other models were made by roughly 15 watchmakers, settled it for me - every part of the caliber was produced by themselves. So I had to wait a little and then I was able to enjoy it as my first Montblanc Villeret timepiece. Many others followed afterwards, even the same tachydate in red gold ;-) But this one has a special place in my heart and my collection. It is up to now btw the only Montblanc Villeret watch with a date function - here is the fact sheet for all interested:
Model Vintage Tachydate
Ident No. 107341
Movement:
Calibre: MB M16.32
Movement type: Manually wound monopusher chronograph
Chronograph: Monopusher chronograph mechanism with column wheel and horizontal coupling
Indications: Central hours and minutes - seconds at 9 o‘clock - date at 6 o‘clock
Displays (Chronograph): Central seconds, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, tachymeter scale
Diameter: 38.40 mm
Height: 7 mm
Number of components: 268 components
Number of jewels: 22 jewels (hemispherical, cambered, olive-cut)
Power reserve: Approx. 50 hrs
Balance: Screw balance, Ø 14.5 mm; 59 mg.cm
Frequency: 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz)
Balance spring: With Phillips curve
Plate: Rhodium-plated German silver, circular-grained on both sides, hand-chamfered edges
Bridges: Rhodium-plated German silver, “Côtes de Genève”, recesses circular-grained on both sides, hand-chamfered edges
Going train: Wheels: gold-plated, circular-grained, chamfered, diamond hubs on both sides
Pinions: polished faces and toothing, burnished pivots
Case
Material: 18 K white gold
Bezel: -
Sapphire crystal: Cambered sapphire crystal
Case back: Sapphire crystal case back
Crown: Integrated chronograph pusher with Montblanc emblem in mother-of-pearl
Dial: Solid 18 K gold grained “argenté” dial
Hands: Blued stainless steel, red chronograph hand
Horns: -
Diameter: 43.5 mm
Height: 13 mm
Water resistant: 3 bar (30 m)
Strap
Material/Colour: Hand-stitched alligator-skin / Black
Clasp/Buckle: Pin buckle in 18 K white gold
Limitation: 58 pieces