For 2019, Montblanc has introduced a veritable bounty of new watches that are mostly inspired by vintage aesthetics. For the majority of its history, the German luxury manufacturer has been recognized as a producer of high-end writing instruments, rather than a brand people turn to when they want to purchase a luxury timepiece; however CEO, Davide Cerrato is on a mission to change this.
One key element of Montblanc’s strategy is to adopt the values, spirit, and technological know-how of Minerva – a storied Swiss watch movement maker that was founded in 1858, and bought by Richemont Group (Montblanc’s parent company) in 2006. Armed with that context, let’s explore some of the brand’s latest watch releases that were announced this year at SIHH 2019 .
Montblanc Heritage Watches
Inspired by classic Minerva wristwatches from the 1940s and 1950s, six new models will be joining Montblanc’s Heritage Collection. Featuring domed, “pie-pan” dials in classic colors (including the coveted salmon shade), well-proportioned cases ranging from 39mm to 42mm, curved horn-shaped lugs, and elegant leather straps, the new Heritage Collection watches are imbued with a strong retro vibe.
The simplest among the Heritage Collection models are the three-handed Montblanc Heritage Automatic watches with 40mm cases in either stainless steel or red gold. Steel versions come with a silver or salmon dial, while the red gold version is fitted with a caramel-color dial. Next in line is the Heritage Automatic Day Date model with a 39mm steel case and a silver dial that has calendar windows placed at 12 and 6 o’clock. The Montblanc Heritage GMT is equipped with a 40mm steel case, and its silver dial includes a blue 24-hour scale along the periphery, which can be used in conjunction with the blue 24-hour hand to reference a second time zone.
The Heritage Monopusher Chronograph highlights Minvera’s long history of producing monopusher chronograph movements. The dial features 3, 6, and 9-minute indicators (within the 30-minute register) as a throwback to the days when people tracked call durations so that they knew when to add more coins to the payphone. Additionally, the single chronograph pusher has been integrated into the winding crown, allowing it to be the only protrusion on the 42mm steel case of the watch.
Montblanc also unveiled the Heritage Perpetual Calendar, offered in either red gold (limited to 100 pieces) or stainless steel. Housed within the 40mm case is the brand-new, in-house Caliber MB 29.22 movement which drives the hours, minutes, day, date, month, moonphase, and leap year functions.
Finally, the star of the Heritage lineup is the Heritage Pulsograph Limited Edition 100, which is based on the vintage “doctor’s watches” that were historically used to check a patient’s pulse. The 40mm stainless steel case includes a striking salmon colored dial, which features a pulsations scale printed along its other edge.
Montblanc 1858 Watches
With the new khaki-green and bronze 1858 watches, Montblanc seeks to emphasize a connection with mountain exploration and nature. Again, these watches draw inspiration from vintage Minerva timepieces; however this time, it is pocket watches and chronographs from the 1920s and 1930s that serve as the inspiration behind the various designs.
The new Montblanc 1858 watches all feature cases that are made from bronze and titanium, which include the 40mm 1858 Automatic, the 42mm 1858 Chronograph, and the 42mm 1858 Geosphere, which is a dedication to the global Seven Summit mountaineering challenge.
Montblanc Star Legacy
The dressiest of the new Montblanc watches introduced at SIHH 2019 are those from the Star Legacy line, which take their design cues from Minerva pocket watches produced during the turn of the 20th century. With round pebble-shaped cases, onion-style winding crowns, and guilloché dials, the Star legacy watches honor classical watchmaking traditions.
There are two new Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronographs, one in red gold and the other in stainless steel. Both feature the characteristic pair of horizontally-aligned rotating disks (which serve as 30-minute and 60-second counters) against their anthracite dials.
Alternatively, there’s the simple and straightforward, Star Legacy Automatic Date in a choice of 39mm or 42mm steel cases; and lastly, to round out the Star Legacy collection, is the Star Legacy Full Calendar that features a 42mm stainless steel case, and displays the time, date, day, month, and moonphase.
