Heritage Chronométrie Chronograph Annual Calendar

Montblanc strikes the perfect balance between heritage and innovation with a new model in its Heritage Chronométrie Collection: a chronograph with annual calendar

A continuation of core values

Montblanc’s passion for fine watchmaking is the driving force behind The Montblanc Heritage Chronométrie collection. From the movements, the functions, the complications, the precision and the design, everything comes together to celebrate the heritage of Swiss fine watchmaking. . The design inspiration for the collection dedicated to precision comes from the Pythagore watches crafted in 1948 by the Montblanc Manufacture in Villeret, that was set-up under the name of Minerva.

The Manufacture Minerva was renowned for its ground breaking calibres that put precision at the heart of everything it created. The French term chronométrie translates as precision timekeeping and is a core value that remains deeply engrained in Montblanc’s horological philosophy today.  The Montblanc Heritage Chronométrie collection pays tribute to both the technical and aesthetic beauty of the watchmaker’s art, bringing the past to the present in this timeless and elegant collection. 

Iconic Design Details

The iconic Pythagore wristwatch featured the finest watchmaking codes—refined Arabic numerals, faceted appliqué indexes, distinctive sword hands, slim cases, straight bezels and graceful curved horns—which have now been beautifully reworked in the Montblanc Heritage Chronométrie collection.

Evolution of a passion

Since its launch at SIHH 2015, the Montblanc Heritage Chronométrie collection has been equipped with a number of complications including a patented Exotourbillon mechanism with chronograph, a dual time function, an annual calendar, a quantième complet and a number of limited editions. This year, Montblanc unveils an attractive new model - a chronograph combined with an annual calendar.

Montblanc Heritage Chronométrie Chronograph Quantième Annuel

Montblanc presents this year for the first time a new combination  with a chronograph associated with  an annual calendar that only needs setting once a year at the end of February. Inspired by one of the first chronograph wristwatches created by Minerva in the 1920s, this heritage is reflected in the new model.

Montblanc’s watch designers created a clear and legible dial by keeping all the chronograph-related hands as well as the small seconds in blue and the hands for the hours, minutes  and calendar functions in plated red gold. The chronograph seconds are indicated with a central blue hand, the elapsed minutes are displayed in a counter at 9 o’clock with sectorial scale, and the hours in a counter at 6 o’clock. For the annual calendar function, the days of the week are on display at 6 o’clock, the date is shown at 12 o’clock and the months are featured at 9 o’clock.  The ten hands are operated by the automatic movement calibre MB 25.09, with a 42-hour power reserve, and are easily set thanks to four individual correctors positioned in the middle-piece of the case and operated by a dedicated Montblanc pin that is delivered with the timepiece.

A sophisticated moonphase complication has been included in a counter at 3 o’clock, displaying the four principal cycles of the moon via four individual red gold-plated moons—new moon, first quarter, full moon and last quarter—that are identified with a red gold hand.  This striking moonphase indication evokes the beginnings of timekeeping when ancient civilisations relied on the lunar calendar for their timing needs and adds a striking feature on the watch’s silvery-white sunray dial.

The refined and elegant aesthetic of the Montblanc Heritage Chronométrie Chronograph Quantième Annuel follows the collection’s fine watchmaking codes with facetted sword hands, red gold-plated indexes and Arabic numerals in a 42mm stainless steel case. The timepiece is fitted with an alligator leather strap crafted by the Montblanc Pelletteria in Florence and, like all the other timepieces in the collection, is tested for 500 hours following the stringent requirements of the Montblanc Laboratory 500 Test.