Skeletonised watches are on-trend, so it is no surprise that a forward-thinking brand like Montblanc is introducing another stunning new watch in this striking design format. Yet it is not an ordinary skeleton watch, quite the opposite.
Montblanc 1858 The Unveiled Minerva Monopusher Chronograph - Credit Montblanc
Montblanc has long since been associated with Minerva, a bespoke manufacturer active for 165 years. They based their business on a speciality of creating chronographs and sports counters, with each movement assembled throughout by the same watchmaker. There are specific technical characteristics you will only find in a Minerva movement, such as bridges and baseplates in traditional German silver, a Minerva arrow somewhere in the design that pays tribute to the Roman Goddess, and a “V”-shaped bridge inspired by the view of the mountains seen from the watchmakers’ window in Villeret.
As we have come to expect from Montblanc, they have taken the concept of the skeletonised watch to a new level by introducing five crystal apertures, or windows, into the case wall. These apertures allow light to flood into the hand-finished, manually wound movement. We can now fully appreciate the stunning Calibre MB M17.26. Like the Calibre MB M16.26 that equipped the previous versions, this Monopusher calibre has been inverted to display all the mechanical action on the dial side of the watch. This impressive heart has 26 jewels, operates at 18000 mph and has a 50-hour power reserve. This is a long way from a traditional skeletonised movement.
Montblanc 1858 The Unveiled Minerva Monopusher Chronograph - Credit Montblanc
This new limited edition has a 43mm stainless steel case with a horizontal satin finish between the light apertures. It is fitted with a white gold fluted bezel inspired by Minerva’s first fluted bezel, which dates back to 1927. The watch has 291 components in total.
Montblanc designers have paid particular attention to the indices and hands to ensure they are legible but don’t distract from the movement. This is no small achievement when you consider the 1858 Unveiled Minerva has an open-worked 30-minute chronograph counter, an open-worked small-second display, and Super-LumiNova on all the key timekeeping elements for enhanced legibility.
It begs the question, at what point will Montblanc’s watch operation take over from their more traditional products? I for one am interested in seeing what else is introduced in 2024.
Montblanc 1858 The Unveiled Minerva Chronograph Specifications
- Movement: Hand-wound, Montblanc Manufacture Calibre MB M17.26, 50 hr reserve
- Chronograph: Monopusher chronograph with column wheel and horizontal coupling
- Dimensions: Diameter 38.40mm; height 7.70mm
- Number of components: 291
- Displays: Hour and minute from the centre, small seconds at 9 o’clock. Chronograph’s elapsed-seconds hand from the dial’s centre, 30-elapsed minute counter at 3 o’clock
- Case: Stainless steel with sapphire openings in the middle, satin and polished finishing
- Bezel:18K white gold fixed fluted bezel, satin and polished
- Crystal: Scratch-resistant, domed box-shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Case Back: Stainless steel with historic Minerva Manufacture unique engraving
- Dimensions: Diameter 43mm; height 14.78mm
- Water Resistance: Approx. 3 bar (30 m)
- Crown: Fluted stainless steel crown with Montblanc emblem in relief. Monopusher chronograph integrated into the crown.
- Dial: Skeleton sapphire dial with white luminescent Arabic numerals and indexes; historical Montblanc logo
- Hands: White luminescent rhodium-coated hour and minute hands, rhodium-coated seconds hand, rhodium-coated chronograph minute hand with blue arrow, blue-coated chronograph seconds hand
- Strap: Blue interchangeable sfumato calf leather strap with alligator print & stainless steel triple-folding clasp
- Limited Edition: 100 pieces
