Wednesday, December 23, 2015

MONTBLANC – 4810 Orbis Terrarum Pocket Watch Transatlantic Edition


MONTBLANC Heritage 4810 Orbis Terrarum Pocket Watch Transatlantic Limited Edition 2015

Montblanc 4810 Collection

Montblanc marks its 110th anniversary this year with a new 4810 Collection, building on this best-selling line that was first presented in 2006 for the Maison’s centennial celebrations.  The new 4810 Collection respects all the codes of Montblanc’s watchmaking, with its strong, elegant and sporty design, offering a new sophisticated interpretation of this much loved 4810 Collection for the modern traveller who needs a performance timepiece he can rely on.

It was in 1906, during a booming period of manufacturing, that three pioneers travelled to America – engineer August Eberstein, merchant Alfred Nehemias and stationery trader Claus Voß – inspired by what they discovered. They developed a writing instrument with non-leaking technology and a piston convertor.  Eberstein was the visionary engineer of the trio, and had spent many years researching micro mechanical innovations in the United States and England. His vision of performance, innovation and perfect quality became the nucleus and driving force of Montblanc.  Voß, on the other hand, was the entrepreneur. He had been actively seeking for innovations with unique development potential. When he met Eberstein he immediately recognized his creativity and passion for engineering and knew he would be the perfect partner to complement his own entrepreneurial drive.

In 1910, the three founders adopted the name Montblanc, after the highest mountain in Europe, and made it a symbol for their vision for excellence. This desire for the highest quality translated into ultimate performance, true innovation and the finest craftsmanship, values that continue to drive Montblanc today.  The peak of the Mont Blanc

Mountain measures 4,810 meters, a number which has always been an iconic figure for the Maison. Today this number is reborn in the new 4810 Collection and honours the spirit of excellence that was set by the Maison’s founders when they began their incredible journey 110 years ago.

The beginning of the 20th century was an exciting time for innovation. It marked a departure for new horizons especially with transatlantic transportation driving international commerce and cultural relations.  Thanks to ground breaking new inventions, the rise of the marine steam engine and improved navigational methods, there was a quantum leap in sea travel.  Passenger liners competed against each other for the Blue Riband award — a prestigious prize for the fastest transatlantic crossing.  The record was based on average speed, as ships took different routes across the ocean, and only recognized the fastest speed westbound against the challenging Gulf Stream.  This much-coveted award attracted both passengers and freight companies who sought out the fastest and most powerful ships. The Blue Riband became a true symbol of distinction and high achievement and its spirit is part of the new Montblanc 4810 Collection, embracing peak performance and horological excellence.

During these enterprising times, the cities with the largest ports experienced the most vigorous growth and development, becoming hubs for trade, cultural exchange and innovation.  The port of Hamburg was among them; as Germany’s largest port it soon became referred to as the country’s “Gateway to the World”.  Thanks to the port, the city of Hamburg was thriving with international trade, but also the manufacture of Germany’s own sumptuous ocean liners, which were quickly recognized as the world’s most important and modern shipping vessels. Montblanc’s roots were set down in Hamburg during these dynamic times and are celebrated in the new Montblanc 4810 Collection from both a technological and aesthetic point of view.

To celebrate the Maison’s 110th anniversary, and the incredible era in which it was founded, Montblanc is introducing a number of unique new timepieces in its 4810 Collection. With a choice of three in-house movements including a number of manufacture complications – Calibre MB 29.21 ExoTourbillon Quick Stop-Second, Calibre MB LL100.1 TwinFly Chronograph, and the Calibre MB 29.20 World Timer.

Each timepiece in the 4810 Collection follows the strong and elegant design codes of the Maison with guilloché dials featuring the prominent exploding Montblanc star motif, red gold Roman numerals and indexes, larger and bolder cases, and beautifully designed sword-shaped and skeleton hands. The attention to detail brings a new level of sophistication to the 4810 Collection, showing how Montblanc continues to “share the passion” for watchmaking with timepieces that offer functions, quality and aesthetics to seduce watch aficionados the world over.
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4810 Orbis Terrarum Pocket Watch Transatlantic Limited Edition

This is the first time Montblanc has created a pocket watch, and what better occasion than the Maison’s 110th anniversary to introduce such a new timekeeper into the 4810 Transatlantic Collection.  The Montblanc 4810 Orbis Terrarum Pocket Watch Transatlantic Limited Edition not only harks back to the beginning of the 20th century when pocket watches were the timekeepers of choice, but also features the highly appreciated world timer function — the perfect complication for transatlantic travellers.

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Setting the timepiece is simplicity itself. The wearer starts by setting the home time zone by pressing the pusher between 5 and 6 o’clock until the home city (or the nearest city indicating the wearer’s own time zone) is positioned in front of the arrow at 6 o’clock.  The hours and minutes are then set via the crown at 12 o’clock, paying attention to turn the hands until the central map features the correct day/night indication. Once complete, the 24 time zones can be easily read at a glance thanks to a large open dial. Travelling is equally simple, as the wearer only has to press on the pusher between 5 and 6 o’clock until the new local time is featured in front of the red arrow at six o’clock. The day/night indicator and the hour hand also advance with each push, requiring no further setting as the home time doesn’t change, keeping track of the time simplicity itself.

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Powered by the Calibre MB 29.20, the world timer complication has been developed and assembled entirely in-house by the Maison’s watchmakers. The dial is highly legible thanks to the 53 mm “Lépine” style steel case and a pure design, which leaves plenty of room for the 24 city names. The multilayer dial is crafted out of layers of sapphire crystal showing the continents as viewed from the North Pole. Around the map are the names of the 24 cities representing the different time zones, while under the map a disk indicates the passage of day and night, as well as the 24 time zones. This disk rotates with the movement mechanism, causing the continents to change colour as the day evolves into night.  The size of the disk depicting the globe and the names of the cities is much larger in this 4810 Orbis Terrarum Pocket Watch than it would be in a wristwatch, making it more challenging to turn.  The Calibre MB 29.20, however, was more than strong enough to support the extra size and weight, enabling Montblanc to present this new larger dial aesthetic.

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The pocket watch is completed with the addition of a refined steel chain that has been crafted like a ship’s rope, recalling the transatlantic theme and the Maison’s passion for aesthetic perfection and technical performance, just like the luxury cruise liners of the last century that conveyed the innovative spirit of the age.

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TECHINCAL SPECIFICATIONS

 
Heritage c Model: Montblanc 4810 Orbis Terrarum Pocket Watch Transatlantic Limited Edition
 
Ident. 114928

Movement
Calibre MB 29.20
Mechanical movement with automatic winding mechanism
Number of rubies 26
Power reserve Approx. 42 hours
Balance Flat hoop
Frequency 28,800 A/h (4 Hz)
Hairspring Flat
Displays
Hours and minutes from the center
Worldtime indication with 24 hour time zones and integrated day & night display
Habillage
Case
Stainless steel case in “lépine” style
Crystal: Scratch-resistant, domed sapphire and antireflective crystal
Back: Stainless steel with special engraving
Dimensions: Diameter = 53 mm; height = 16.80 mm
Water-tightness: 5 bar
Crown: Stainless steel with inlaid Montblanc emblem
Chain: Silver
Dial
Sapphire crystal dial showing the Northern Hemisphere and 24 cities of the 24 hour time zones, 24 hour-disc with day and night display that turns under the sapphire crystal dial, red gold-plated skeletonized dauphine hands

Limitation
110 timepieces

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Tuesday, December 22, 2015

TAG HEUER – MONACO Calibre 11 Automatic















TAG HEUERMONACO Calibre 11 Automatic Chronograph NEW

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The TAG Heuer Monaco 1969 reissued. Back to our roots

Launched simultaneously in Geneva and New York on 3rd March 1969, the Heuer Monaco was the first square, water-resistant automatic chronograph watch in the history of Swiss watchmaking.

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Named by Jack Heuer following the Monaco Grand Prix (for which TAG Heuer is still a partner), the watch represented a complete break from the aesthetic codes of traditional watchmaking, with its large square case, metallic blue dial, bright red minute hand, domed plastic crystal and, most notably, its crown positioned on the left which, at the time, meant that the watch did not need winding.

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Original Monaco 1969

Just as innovative at the time, its technology offered perfect water resistance - a first for a square watch. However, the origins of the revolution lay inside the watch: the famous Chronomatic Calibre 11, which was the first automatic chronograph movement offered for sale in the history of watchmaking.

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TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 Chronograph 2015


With its track début in 1970, on the wrist of the Swiss driver Jo Siffert (the first racing driver to be sponsored by a watch brand - Heuer), the following year it shared the cinematic limelight with Steve McQueen, who insisted on wearing it during filming for Le Mans in 1971.
Instantly recognisable and often copied, the "McQueen Monaco" (1133B model) has since become a much coveted watch on the auction and collectors' circuit.

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Steve McQueen

2015: the Monaco Calibre 11 Chronograph is a direct descendant of the 1969 original.

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The 39 mm size, the crown on the left, the legendary petroleum blue dial with two white counters, the date window at 6 o'clock, the diamond-polished horizontal hour indices, the inscribed vintage Heuer logo, the calibre 11 automatic chronograph with date and water-resistance to 100 metres - all the attributes of the Monaco.

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Steve McQueen & Jo Siffert

Note the three-part steel case (since 1998), which is slightly more square on the 2015 version, and closed with 4 screws; the two push-pieces at 2 and 4 o'clock are rectangular, the lugs a little larger, its calfskin strap perforated, the sapphire crystal (since 2009) and an open case-back which reveals the gears of the calibre are all features of the updated version.

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A beautiful interpretation that respects the iconic heritage of the La Chaux-de-Fonds manufacture. Connoisseurs will be under no illusion.
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Technical Specifications

Model: TAG HEUERMONACO (39mm) Calibre 11 Automatic

Reference:  CAW211P.FC6356: Blue dial, black perforated calfskin strap with folding clasp

Movement   
TAG HEUER Calibre 11
Automatic calibre. 
Diameter: 30 mm (13''') — 59 rubies.
Rapid date correction.
Hours — minutes — small seconds at 3.
Date window.
Chronograph minutes counter at 9.
Central chronograph seconds hand.
Balance frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz).
Power reserve: about 40 hours.
Oscillating oscillating mass: "Côtes de Genève",
engraved "TAG HeuerCalibre 11 — Swiss Made".
Dial   
Mat blue dial
      2 silver counters:
  •     Minute chronograph counter at 9 o'clock
  •     Running second counter at 3 o'clockRed small second hand
Polished horizontal faceted indexes and luminescent dots
Hour and minute hands with red line and luminescent markers
Black counters' hands
Red chronograph central second hand
Printed vintage Heuer logo
''MONACO" & "AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH - CALIBRE 11" lettering on the dial
Printed minuterie
Angled date window at 6 o'clock 
Case
Case dimension: 39mm x 39mm
Fine-brushed and polished steel case
Fine-brushed steel bezel
Sapphire crystal glass
Polished steel crown at 9 o'clock with raised polished Heuer logo
Polished steel push-buttons
Sapphire caseback
Water resistance to 100 meters 
Strap
Black perforated calfskin strap
Steel folding clasp with safety push-button and Heuer logo 

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