Montblanc adds a new member to the Collection Villeret 1858 family with a beautiful modern re-interpretation called simply the Vintage Chronographe. This classically elegant piece features a grand feu enamel dial and a hand-finished MBM caliber 16.29 column-wheel movement. The dial is created by heating a solid gold disk in a kiln to a temperature of about 800 degrees Celsius, fusing it to a layer of vitreous molten enamel.
The periphery of the Vintage’s dial is reserved for the telemeter scale, and the tachymeter scale is shifted to the center, where coils like a snail’s shell, making it long enough for tachymeter measurements up to three minutes in duration.
The co-axial monopusher chronograph movement features a large and weighty balance with adjustment screws along its rim, oscillating at 18,000 A/h (2.5 hertz); a balance spring with a Philips terminal curve; a swan’s neck fine adjustment mechanism; a V-shaped chronograph-bridge; a manually-beveled and finely finished chronograph-lever; classical horizontal coupling, and a column-wheel to control the chronograph’s functions. The “mise en function”, i.e. the exact abrading of the chronograph-lever, is performed during many hours of painstaking manual craftsmanship to a precision of several 1,000ths of a millimeter.
The Vintage Chronographe will be available in a strictly limited edition. The series consists of 58 timepieces in 18k red gold cases with white grand feu enamel dials and brown alligator-leather wristbands, and another set of 58 watches in 18k white gold cases with black grand feu enamel dials and black alligator-leather wristbands.
The red gold version has a European MSRP of 37,000 euro, and in white gold the MSRP is 39,000 euro.
Additional information appears below the image, which may be enlarged with a click.
Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858 – Vintage Chronographe
Calibre MBM 16-29
Type of movement: Hand-wound movement with chronograph and small seconds
Chronograph: Monopusher chronograph mechanism with column-wheel and horizontal coupling
Dimensions: Diameter 38.4 mm; height 6.3 mm
Number of components: 252 (complete movement)
Number of jewels: 22 (hemispherical, domed, olive-cut)
Power reserve: 55 hours
Balance: Screw balance, Ø 14.5 mm; 59 mgcm2
Frequency: 18’000 semi-oscillations per hour (2.5 hertz)
Balance-spring With Phillips terminal curve
Plate: Rhodium-plated nickel silver with circular graining on both faces
Bridges: Rhodium-plated nickel silver with côtes de Genève decoration
Going-train: Gold-plated, faceted arms, diamond polished hubs
Watch Displays: Hours and minutes from the centre, small seconds at 9 o’clock
Chronograph Displays: Center seconds, 30 minute counter at 3 o’clock
Features
Case: 18 K gold, domed sapphire crystal, screwed back with transparent pane of sapphire crystal
Watch dimensions: Diameter 43.5 mm; height 12.48 mm
Watertight: To 30 meters’ depth (3 bar)
Crown: With integrated button to operate the chronograph
Dial: Grand feu enamel atop 18 K gold (white enamel for the red gold watch, black enamel for the white gold model)
Hands: Blued stainless steel for the white gold model, rhodium plated for the red gold model
Wristband: Hand-sewn alligator-leather with pronged buckle made of 18 K red or white gold
Limited edition 58 pieces each in 18K white gold and 18K red gold
