1858 Pocket Watch Limited Edition 100

Montblanc 1858 Pocket Watch 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 Pocket Watch 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 Pocket Watch 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 Pocket Watch Limited Edition 100 undergoes over 500 hours of simulated wear, with specific testing and controls under extreme conditions.

Montblanc 1858 Pocket Watch Limited Edition 100

Montblanc 1858 Pocket Watch Limited Edition 100 honours the 160th anniversary of the Minerva Manufacture. Inspired by the Manufacture's extraordinary heritage, the Montblanc 1858 Pocket Watch Limited Edition 100 epitomizes this new collection. Designed for mountain explorers, this ultimate and versatile timepiece offers the unique opportunity to appreciate the time in different ways while exploring. The pocket watch can be positioned on a table with a stand or combined with an in-built compass that can be accessed by opening it up to lay flat on a map for planning adventures. Reminiscent of the first historical wristwatches developed by Minerva, the pocket watch can be transformed into a wristwatch thanks to a unique brown Sfumato aged calfskin strap with two pin buckles, which allows the watch to be worn on the forearm safely during exploration. Lastly, the timepiece can be held in the hand thanks to a dedicated brown Sfumato aged calf strap equipped with a cover. Over 50 elements make up this versatile and adaptable case.
The 60 mm pocket watch is made of grade-two titanium and combines polished and satin-finishing. The timepiece is powered by the new Montblanc Manufacture calibre MB M16.24, a beautifully hand-crafted monopusher chronograph movement with the iconic V-shaped chronograph bridge and the Minerva arrow, which is inspired by the Minerva Monophuser chronograph calibre MB M16.29. This new version features a unique red central hand coated with SuperLumiNova® indicating the time on a 24-hour scale on a dedicated minute-track.

Special attention has been paid to the dial to offer excellent readability and performance during the day and night. It is crafted from Dumortierite stone, a natural mineral, giving a unique blue appearance. The signature design details of the Montblanc 1858 collection are all present, including beige SuperLumiNova® Arabic numerals, indexes and hands; vintage fluted crown with monopusher chronograph and the historic Montblanc logo. The timepiece readings include a 30-minute counter at 12 o'clock (24 o’clock on this dial), a small second counter at 6 o'clock (12 o’clock on this dial), which are directly cut into the Dumortierite stone, as well as a central white chronograph second hand and a pulsometer scale engraved on the bezel.

The back of the compass features an engraving of the four cardinal points which are enhanced with SuperLumiNova®.