The New Montblanc 1858 Automatic 24H and Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph (Price, Pictures and Specifications)
In addition to this year’s blue novelties (please read more about here), Montblanc is also presenting two new 1858 models inspired by Minerva’s heritage. These new timepieces feature vintage aesthetics with new colored dials, case elements made of a special alloy of bronze, hand-made NATO straps, and unique complications.
Directly rooted in the Spirit of Mountain Exploration, the Montblanc 1858 timepieces combine the back to nature trend with vintage design codes that are reminiscent of the original Minerva chronographs and pocket watches from the 1920s and 1930s.
For better legibility and design, the dials highlight striking color contrasts with their historical, luminescent, cathedral-shaped hands with a “cloisonné” design; Arabic numerals coated with SuperLuminova; railway minute tracks; and the original Montblanc logo from the 1930s with its historical font and emblem of the Mont Blanc Mountain. The satin-finished cases feature horn edges that are polished to underline their shape. Other details include fluted crowns, typical of those found on period timepieces, and domed sapphire crystal glass boxes.
The two new timepieces are equipped with NATO straps that are handcrafted in France at a traditional, 150-year-old weaving manufacture. Thanks to this artisanal know-how, the NATO straps are refined, robust, durable and extremely comfortable on the wrist. This year, a new beige color will complete the product line, providing even more vintage options.
Montblanc 1858 Automatic 24H
In the Spirit of Mountain Exploration, the 1858 Automatic 24H features a new complication with a 24H indication via a single hand that allows the timepiece to be used both as a timekeeper, to read hours and minutes, and as a compass.
The timepiece indicates the time on a 24-hour scale using a red-colored hand coated in SuperLuminova for better readability both day and night. This red-tipped hand not only indicates the time but also acts as a compass. For precision purposes, the compass scale is displayed in a beige-colored ring that runs around the outside of the dial, with markers for approximately every 5°, and includes the cardinal points in red.
How does it work?
The Earth rotates around the Sun every 24 hours, which explains why a timepiece with a 24-hour display a far more useful tool is for finding your way and makes the compass much easier to use. The sun always rises in the East and sets in the West and will indicate South at midday. If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, set your watch at the right time, simply hold the watch horizontally to the ground and rotate it until the extremity of the hour hand is pointing towards the sun. Like this, all the cardinal points on the dial will be correctly aligned. North is located at 24h and South at 12h. If you are in the Southern Hemisphere, you have to consider that the cardinal points are inversed.
Specific designed codes
Special attention has been paid to the black dial with its map of the Northern Hemisphere and 24 meridians made out of luminescent material. The SuperLuminova-coated elements are subtly visible during the day, while at night, the 24-hour numerals, indexes and single hour hand take on a mysterious glow, making the timepiece truly distinctive.
The automatic timepiece comes with a new 42 mm bicolor case made of stainless steel and a bezel made of a special alloy of bronze, providing a vintage aesthetic. The timepiece is completed with a special “Spirit of Mountain Exploration” engraving on the case back.
The Montblanc 1858 Automatic 24H is equipped with a matching black, hand-crafted NATO strap that is made in a traditional 150-year-old strap manufacture in France.
Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Limited Edition 1858
The Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph is one of the technical pillars of the Maison. In this new version, Montblanc reinterprets a historical Minerva chronograph with its calibre 13.20 from the 1930s. Like on the original timepiece, the 1858 Monopusher Chronograph features a black dial with a beige-colored railway track, as well as two counters at three and nine o’clock. Matching the overall vintage design, other details include a telemeter scale; beige-colored SuperLumiNova numerals; and rose gold-coated, cathedral-shaped hands that are also highlighted with a touch of beige-colored SuperLumiNova for better visibility at night.
In the Spirit of Mountain Exploration, the timepieces come in a 42 mm case made of a special alloy of bronze that evolves over time and forms a patina. The timepiece is completed with a special “Spirit of Mountain Exploration” engraving on the case back.
The Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Limited Edition 1858 features the calibre MB. 25.12 that indicates elapsed time with a central second hand and a 30-minute counter, both with white-colored hands to create a contrast with the black dial and allow better readability of the function. The start, stop and reset can be activated through a single pusher integrated into the crown.
The timepiece is available with a new matching beige-colored NATO strap that is made in a traditional 150-year-old strap manufacture in France.
Two other unlimited models are available in stainless steel, one of which comes with a new stainless steel bracelet made of a mix of link shapes – central polished links in the form of grains of rice and satin-finished rectangular links on the outside – and the other which comes with an aged, cognac-colored calfskin strap.
Montblanc 1858 Automatic 24H
Tecehnical specifications:
· Reference: 126007
· Movement: Calibre MB 24.20
· Type of movement: Mechanical movement with automatic winding, 24H display
· Number of rubies: 25
· Power Reserve: Approx. 42 hours
· Balance: Flat Hoop
· Frequency: 28,800 A/h (4 Hz)
· Hairspring: Flat
· Displays: Hour and minute single hand from the center; Compass indications
· Case: Stainless steel with slim curved horns featuring polished and satin- finishing, fixed bezel made of an alloy of bronze
· Crystal: Scratch-resistant, domed box-shaped sapphire crystal with antireflective coating
· Back: Stainless steel with “Spirit of Mountain Exploration” special engraving
· Dimensions: Diameter = 42 mm; Height = 11.2 mm
· Water-resistance: 10 bars (100 m)
· Crown: Fluted, in an alloy of bronze with Montblanc emblem in relief
· Dial: Black with beige-colored luminescent Arabic numerals, mysterious luminescent Northern Hemisphere map with the 24 meridians, luminescent red-colored hour and minute single hand, historical Montblanc logo at 3 o’clock
· Wristband: High-quality black NATO strap with special stainless-steel pin buckle
Also available with a stainless-steel case and bracelet (ident. 125582) or with an aged, cognac-colored calfskin strap with beige-colored stitching Sfumato (ident. 125581)
Certified by the Montblanc Laboratory Test 500
The price for the Montblanc 1858 Automatic 24H ref. 126007 is $3,030 and will be available from September 2020.
Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Limited Edition 1858
Tecehnical specifications:
· Reference: 125583
· Movement: Calibre MB 25.12
· Type of movement: Mechanical movement with automatic winding, chronograph
· Number of rubies: 27
· Power Reserve: Approx. 48 hours
· Balance: Flat Hoop
· Frequency: 28,800 A/h (4 Hz)
· Hairspring: Flat
· Displays: Hour and minutes from the center, small seconds at 9 o’clock; Chronograph’s elapsed-second hand from the center; 30-elapsed minute-counter at 3 o’clock
· Case: Alloy of bronze with slim curved horns featuring polished and satin finishing
· Crystal: Scratch-resistant, domed box-shaped sapphire crystal with antireflective coating
· Back: Titanium with bronze-coated and “Spirit of Mountain Exploration” special engraving
· Dimensions: Diameter = 42 mm; Height = 14.7 mm
· Water-resistance: 10 bars (100 m)
· Crown: Fluted, in an alloy of bronze with Montblanc emblem in relief
· Dial: Black and beige-colored with beige-colored luminescent Arabic numerals, rose gold-coated and beige-colored luminescent cathedral- shaped hour-hand and minute-hand, white-colored chronograph second-hand and white-colored counter hands, historical Montblanc emblem at 12 o’clock
· Wristband: High-quality beige-colored NATO strap with bronze-coated stainless-steel pin buckle
· Limited Edition: 1858 pieces
Also available in a stainless-steel case with an aged, cognac-colored calfskin strap (ident. 125581) or with a metal bracelet (Ident. 125582)
Certified by the Montblanc Laboratory Test 500
The price for the Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Limited Edition 1858 is $4,900 (steel, leather), $5,200 (steel, bracelet) and $5,600 (bronze LE).