Comments:
Seconde au centre retour a zero
Currently I am wearing my Montblanc Villeret seconde au centre retour a zero - a watch that is pretty rare in this community (maybe I am the only owner?) but it was tested and commented by some members. So I thought to add some further information.
This watch was produced in a larger case with 47mm and with 41 mm which I have got. The 47mm edition has in total 67 pieces: 58 red gold / silver dial, 8 pieces white gold / silver dial and 1 piece in platinum with mother of pearl dial. The 41mm edition consists also of 67 pieces, but the white gold case came in 4 pieces with silver and 4 with black dial. To me, the 41mm is a perfect size for this watch.
The guilloche decoration of the dial is hand-made so every dial is a little bit different. The Minerva caliber M13.18 is in the end a chronograph with a retour a zero function and a central second hand to set the time (or even to stop something). So it is a chronograph that is running all the time. Due to the hunters case the watch wears very smooth on my wrist - opening the case it reveals the fantastic caliber of this series within the Montblanc Villeret range.
The white gold case has very elegant stepped lugs and the upper part is formed like the upper parts of a knights armor.
Here is the fact sheet:
Model Seconde au Centre Retour à Zéro
Ident No. 104343
Movement:
Calibre: MB M13.18
Movement type: Manually wound retour à Zéro movement
Chronograph: -
Indications: Central hours - minutes and seconds - seconds hand with zero-reset function
Displays (Chronograph): -
Diameter: 29.50 mm
Height: 6.40 mm
Number of components: 196 components
Number of jewels: 21 jewels (hemispherical, cambered, olive-cut)
Power reserve: Approx. 55 hrs
Balance: Screw balance, Ø 11.40 mm; 26 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: Screwed domed sapphire crystal case back, hinged cuvette with patented release mechanism
Crown: With Montblanc emblem in mother-of-pearl
Dial: Solid 18 K gold dial with hand-crafted silver-plated circular-grained decoration
Hands: 18 K gold, central second hand in Pfinodal ®
Horns: With patented cuvette release mechanism
Diameter: 41 mm
Height: 14.80 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: 8 pieces
And some pictures from this weekend - have a great Sunday!
Interesting watch …
And good photos !
Did you share it on WristScan as the theme is about rare and limited watches ?
Link: www.watchprosite.com
Amazing Retour-a-zero
Pls write more about your amazing Montblanc-Minerva pieces. I saw a pocket watch and a tourbillon too on your pictures on Wristscan. My jaw dropped. I lost my jaw this week on Wristscan.
I'm a big fan of this return to zero model
I've never handled these early MB cabiddu with the hinged caseback and the leather over the lugs. That last feature is always something that I'd want to see to evaluate how it would look on my wrist. Thanks for the photos. Love thus guilloche work.
Even with my larger wrists I must say
That the 41 works better than the 47 with this special lug design
You're welcome! And Thank YOU for posting!
We don't see enough of these wonderful watches from Montblanc Villeret! Although WatchProSite is the biggest gathering of Villeret owners!