A Splendid Chronograph

SIHH 2012:  With watches like this, it is not surprising that Montblanc watches may soon outsell its iconic pens (BusinessWeek via Wall St Journal).  The Montblanc Vintage Tachydate is part of the Collection Villeret 1858 collection.  This elegant new timepiece is the first chronograph+date display in the collection and features a new in-house caliber developed specifically for the watch.  I am in love with this watch — it is one of the most graceful chronograph designs that I have ever seen.  Most watches with a tachymeter scale are usually very sporty or part of a racing collection (think Chopard Mille Miglia or TAG Heuer), but not this piece.  As well, on sporty/racing chronographs that have a date window, it is almost universally a date window, but not this piece.  The double-ring tachy scale is elegantly laid-out on the dial (not the bezel as is often the case), and the date on this Montblanc is shown via a small sub-dial at 6 o’clock.  The dial also has painted numerals/markers on the ivory lacquer surface, and a very cool “Minerva 1858″ notation at the very bottom (see close-up below).  The Vintage Tachydate will be available Spring 2012.  Price TBD.

Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858 Vintage Tachydate

Limited Edition 58 pieces white gold, 58 pieces red gold

43.5 mirror polished white or red gold case, solid gold dial with ivory lacquer finish (silver finish on the white gold model) with painted numerals, alligator strap

The Montblanc Collection Villeret 1855 is powered by a newly manufacture caliber developed specifically for this watch, the MB M16.32.  It is a mono-pusher chronograph (start/stop/all functions controlled through the single integrated crown pusher).  The watch does have a sapphire crystal display back, but unfortunately at this time I do not have any pictures of the movement — but I would guess it is very eye-pleasing.

close-ups:

note:  1) red-tipped hand in the date window, 2) “Minerva 1858″ notation at bottom of dial (Manufacture Villeret was formerly known as Minerva)

“Montblanc logo” on end of crown

Perpetuelle SIHH 2012 Previews >>> IWC Top Gun Miramar Pilot’s WatchRalph Lauren Slim Classique, Richard Mille RM037, A. Lange & Sohne Datograph Up/Down Watch, Cartier Skeleton Pocket Watch, Cartier Rotonde de Cartier Minute Repeater, Baume & Mercier Capeland Flyback Chronograph,  Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 40th Anniversary Watch, Panerai PAM 422, Girard-Perregaux 1966 Small Second, Piaget Altiplano Skeleton Automatic, Cartier Cadran Lové Tourbillon