1858 Monopusher Chronograph Limited Edition 100

Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Limited Edition 100

Inspired by the legendary professional Minerva watches from the 1920s and 30s that were meant for military use and mountain exploration, the 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Limited Edition 100 pays tribute to the 160 years of the Minerva Manufacture and its extraordinary heritage. These watches were highly accurate, legible and robust for use in extreme conditions.

Minerva - 160 years of fine watchmaking heritage

Montblanc Villeret’s watchmaking tradition began in 1858 when Charles-Yvan Robert founded a watch workshop in the Saint-Imier valley. The Manufacture progressively gained international recognition for its precision timepieces, becoming a leading specialist in the fabrication of professional watches and stopwatches. Minerva produced a number of movements equipped with chronograph functions such as the legendary calibre 19.09 (19 lines / launched in 1909), featuring the recognizable V-Chrono shaped bridge. Several patents for precision timers were filed during this period, attesting to the Manufacture's innovative spirit.

In the 1920s, Minerva invented one of the first manually wound monopusher chronographs specially developed for wristwatches, marking a new chapter in the Manufacture's history. This was possible thanks to the smaller size of the movement, the calibre 13.20 (13 lines / launched in 1920), featuring the iconic V-shape bridge – whose design was protected in 1912 – a column wheel, an horizontal coupling and a traditional frequency of 18,000 A/h. In addition to the calibre 13.20, the calibre 17.29 was produced during the 1930s and was one of the slimmest monopusher chronographs of the time, measuring a mere 5.6 mm in height.
These developments symbolize the level of mastery and innovation reached by Minerva over the years and consolidate its reputation in the manufacture of monopusher chronographs with various case sizes and complications. Upholding the extraordinary Minerva legacy and paying tribute to 160 years of fine watchmaking history, these horological achievements have become the inspiration for the development of the new Montblanc 1858 timepieces.

The Spirit of Mountain Exploration

The Montblanc 1858 collection finds its inspiration in the world of mountain exploration. Reinterpreting the Minerva pocket watches and chronographs from the 1920s and 1930s, the new Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Limited Edition 100 captures the spirit of the past in a modern way, expressing the trend of back to nature and adventure. The vintage codes are directly rooted in the spirit of mountain exploration with distinctive designs that are reminiscent of the original Minerva chronographs. The satin-finished case has been slightly reworked with horns that have been slimmed down thanks to polished, beveled edges that underline its shape. Other details include fluted crown that recall those on period timepieces and domed sapphire crystal glass box, increasing the robustness and the look of the watch.
In order to guarantee its performance, the Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Limited Edition 100 undergoes over 500 hours of simulated wear, with specific testing and controls under extreme conditions. It is also water-resistant to 100 meters, ensuring performance in all environments.

Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Limited Edition 100

The Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Limited Edition 100 pays tribute to the historical Minerva monopusher chronograph calibre 13.20, specially developed in 1920 for use in a wristwatch.
This timepiece is the epitome of vintage chronograph design with its 40 mm stainless steel case. Reinforcing the vintage look, the timepiece features an original smoked green dial and matching green alligator strap with beige stitching that comes from the Montblanc Pelletteria in Florence. Reminiscent of the iconic Minerva chronographs, the dial features a bi-compax dial with a small second counter at nine o'clock, a chronograph 30-minute counter at three o'clock and a tachymeter scale on the outer part of the dial.

Like the other timepieces in the collection, the Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Limited Edition 100 features a domed sapphire crystal glass box, resized and rounded cathedral-shaped hands with SuperLumiNova®, luminescent Arabic numerals and the historical Montblanc logo. On the case back, the sapphire crystal reveals the beauty of the Montblanc Manufacture monopusher chronograph Calibre MB M13.21, composed of a large balance wheel with 18 screws beating at the traditional frequency of 18,000 A/H, a column wheel and horizontal coupling. This high-end, hand-finished movement features the iconic V-shaped chronograph bridge, whose design was protected in 1912, along with the iconic Minerva arrow decorated by hand.