Unveiling the Secrets of a Historic Minerva Chronograph
The Montblanc Unveiled Secret Minerva Monopusher Chronograph turns the movement over to reveal all its beauty.
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Reversing the Calibre
But there is more to this story. The new Montblanc Unveiled Secret Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Limited Editions not only feature this iconic hand-wound MB 16.29 movement with all its meticulous hand-finishing, but the movement has been flipped over to display all the incredible mechanical action on the dial side of the watch. At first glance, the viewer may think it is a skeletonized movement, but a closer look reveals that this historic chronograph movement is on full display, in all its glory, on the dial side of the watch.
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In 165 years of Minerva history, this has never been done before. It is surprising when you think of how many watch lovers remove their chronographs to admire the movement through the case back. Well, now they don’t have to!
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Turning a movement over sounds simple, but it is a technical feat as the direction of the hands also has to be reversed. The MB 16.29 calibre was one of the only movements in Montblanc’s stable of chronographs where this could be achieved and reversing the time required the addition of 21 components, making this more than an aesthetic feature, but a truly technical one too.
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When the Movement Becomes the Dial
Looking through the sapphire crystal into the depths of the movement, the viewer can immediately perceive the incredible level of finishing on the sanded German silver movement.
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Signature Minerva Movement Design
In keeping with all Montblanc’s highly complicated movements, the iconic Minerva arrow and the Maison’s “V”-shaped bridge are also on display. The Minerva arrow is a tribute to the Roman Goddess who is always depicted with her arrow-tipped staff in hand, and the unusual “V”-shaped bridge comes from the view of the mountains seen from the watchmakers’ window in Villeret, a sight that has been a constant since the founding of the workshop in 1858.
No Distractions
Particular attention has been paid to the indications so that they don’t distract from the movement with an open-worked 30-minute chronograph counter, an open-worked small seconds display, and elegant hands and indexes that have been enhanced with Super-LumiNova® for enhanced legibility.
Double Novelty
In addition to the upside-down chronograph movement, the Montblanc Unveiled Secret Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Limited Editions include a fluted bezel inspired from a Minerva design that dates back to 1927. This strong design element frames the movement and further accentuates all the horological expertise that makes these timepieces so special.
Two Limited Editions
There are two limited editions of 18 and 58 pieces, in Lime Gold and stainless steel respectively. Both come in a case side of 43mm and are fitted with a fluted bezel, the sign of an exceptional Montblanc timepiece.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
About Minerva
Founded in 1858 in the Swiss Jura valley of Villeret, the Manufacture Minerva has been in continuous operation for almost 165 years. Specialising in chronographs and sports counters, Minerva’s precision has received numerous world distinctions over the years. What sets Minerva movements apart is that each movement is assembled from start to finish by the same watchmaker. There are also a number of important details that you will only find in a Minerva movement: an incredible level of finishing, with bridges and baseplates in traditional German silver; a Minerva arrow that pays tribute to the Roman Goddess who is always depicted with her arrow-tipped staff in hand; an unusual “V”-shaped bridge inspired from the view of the mountains seen from the watchmakers’ window in Villeret; in-house hairsprings; and a special snail finishing.
Both Montblanc and Minerva are dedicated to pushing the limits of aesthetic and technical excellence. They are connected by fine craftsmanship, they are connected by mountains and valleys. They are connected by a quest for perfection.
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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Model: Montblanc 1858 Unveiled Secret Minerva Monopusher Chronograph LE 18
- Ident: 129622 - 18 K Lime Gold
- Ident: 129613 - stainless steel
Movement
Montblanc Manufacture Calibre MB M16.26
Type of movement New Manufacture hand-finished manually wound movement
Monopusher Chronograph
Reversed movement with regulating organ, going train, bridges and plate visible through watch’s dial
Complication Hour, minute, seconds, Monopusher Chronograph with column wheel and horizontal coupling
Dimensions Diameter = 37.50mm; height = 7.05mm
Number of components 273
Number of Jewels 26 jewels
Power Reserve Approx. 50 hours
Balance Balance with screws, diameter = 14.50mm
Frequency 18 000 A/h (2,5Hz)
Hairspring With Philips curve
Plate
Rhodium plated German Silver with circular graining on both sides,
hand-chamfered edges, Rhodium plated German Silver bridges with Geneva
Stripes, circular graining on both sides, hand-chamfered edges
Going-train Gold-plated, circular grained, chamfered, diamond hubs on both sides
Displays
Hour, minute and Chronograph’s elapsed-seconds hand from the dial’s
center, 30-elapsed minute counter at 3 o’clock, small seconds at 9
’clock
Habillage
Case- 18 K Lime Gold
- Stainless steel
Bezel Lime Gold / stainless steel fixed fluted bezel, satinated and polished
Crystal Domed glass box with anti-reflective coating
- Back Plain Lime Gold caseback with Minerva Montblanc Manufacture engraved
- Back Plain stainless steel caseback with Minerva Montblanc Manufacture engraved
Water Resistance 3 bar (30 m)
Crown Fluted monopusher crown, Lime Gold with Montblanc emblem engraved, satinated and polished finishing
Skeleton dial
- Numerals Arabic indexes in green Super-LumiNova® with green emission
- Numerals Arabic indexes in green Super-LumiNova® with blue emission
Seconds counter and minute chronograph counter
Hands White Super-LumiNova® with green emission on silvered brass cathedral hour and minute hands, green Arrow-shaped seconds hand
Arrow-shaped brass Chronograph minute hand, Arrow-shaped brass small seconds hand
Wristband
- Green Alligator strap with ecru stitching
- Green lining alligator small scales with Lime Gold pin buckle
- Blue Alligator strap with ecru stitching
- Blue lining alligator small scales with stainless steel pin buckle
Limited Edition: 58 pieces - Stainless steel
Price: Lime Gold $48,000 USD and Stainless steel $33,500 USD
Certified by the Montblanc Laboratory Test 500
(* Super-LumiNova® is not a trademark owned by Montblanc)
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Press releases - 2021
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