Showing at WatchTime New York 2021: Montblanc Heritage Pythagore Small Second LE 148
Montblanc returns to WatchTime New York later this week, showcasing its newest and most exclusive timepieces at Manhattan’s Gotham Hall on October 22 to 24. Topping off a year of interesting releases, including the Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph Limited Edition, bronze-cased 1858 Geosphere LE, and 1858 Split-Second Chronograph LE 18, the brand will feature one of its most exclusive timepieces at the event, the new Heritage Pythagore Small Second LE 148.
Stylistically, the new model follows in the steps of many other Montblanc watches of recent memory, taking its foremost inspiration from vintage Minerva timepieces. For this watch specifically, Montblanc drew from the historical Minera Pythagore and its movement, Caliber 46, both of which were introduced in the 1940s. Montblanc has created both an 18K rose gold version, with a matching brown dial, and a white-gold edition with a deep blue dial.
The case silhouette is reminiscent of other Heritage collection models, all of which bear the influence of vintage Minerva watches. It is well-proportioned, sized at 39 mm in diameter and 9.5 mm thick, and features a polished finishing throughout. On its right side sits a bold, signed crown.
Underneath the box shaped sapphire crystal lies a multi-textured, sectored dial in rich brown, with a sunray and slightly gradient appearance towards the center and a contrasting “grainé” texture on the minute ring. The hybrid railroad-track minute ring surrounds applied hour markers, which are broken up only at the 6 o’clock position by an indented subdial for the model’s namesake smalls seconds display. At the center is a sharp pair of lume-filled, dauphine hands, their color matching that of the watch’s other gold details.
Apart from the attractiveness of its case and dial, much of the watch's appeal, as with others from with Montblanc’s limited-edition Heritage collection, comes from its movement. In this the model, it is the manually wound Caliber MB M14.08, which is directly inspired by the original Minera Pythagore Caliber 46 and stores an 80-hour power reserve.
The movement is visible behind a sapphire exhibition caseback, its vintage-influenced construction embellished with hand-finished details including Geneva stripes. Its alphanumeric name combines the number 14, which refers to the diameter of the movement in lignes; and the number 8, representing the Fibonacci sequence, which is closely related to the Golden Ratio that helped inspire the original Minera design.
The Montblanc Heritage Pythagore Small Second will be limited to 148 pieces, priced at 18,500 euros (or about $21,445) and available at select Montblanc boutiques.
To see this vintage-inspired timepiece in person, in addition to countless other rare and prestigious models from over twenty-five watchmakers, be sure to get your tickets for WatchTime New York 2021 today, here!
