Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph

Vintage Exploration: Two new 1858 timepieces take inspiration from Minerva’s heritage.

Minerva’s heritage

In addition to this year’s blue novelties, Montblanc is also presenting two new 1858 models inspired by Minerva’s heritage. These new timepieces feature vintage aesthetics with new colored dials, case elements made of a special alloy of bronze, hand-made NATO straps, and unique complications.

Directly rooted in the Spirit of Mountain Exploration, the Montblanc 1858 timepieces combine the back to nature trend with vintage design codes that are reminiscent of the original Minerva chronographs and pocket watches from the 1920s and 1930s.

For better legibility and design, the dials highlight striking colour contrasts with their historical, luminescent, cathedral-shaped hands with a “cloisonné” design; Arabic numerals coated with SuperLumiNova®; railway minute tracks; and the original Montblanc logo from the 1930s with its historical font and emblem of the Mont Blanc Mountain. The satin-finished cases feature horn edges that are polished to underline their shape. Other details include fluted crowns, typical of those found on period timepieces, and domed sapphire crystal glass boxes.

The two new timepieces are equipped with NATO straps that are handcrafted in France at a traditional, 150-year-old weaving manufacture. Thanks to this artisanal know-how, the NATO straps are refined, robust, durable and extremely comfortable on the wrist. This year, a new beige colour will complete the product line, providing even more vintage options.

Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Limited Edition 1858

The Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph is one of the technical pillars of the Maison. In this new version, Montblanc reinterprets a historical Minerva chronograph with its calibre 13.20 from the 1930s. Like on the original timepiece, the 1858 Monopusher Chronograph features a black dial with a beige-coloured railway track, as well as two counters at three and nine o’clock. Matching the overall vintage design, other details include a telemeter scale; beige-coloured SuperLumiNova numerals; and rose gold-coated, cathedral-shaped hands that are also highlighted with a touch of beige-coloured SuperLumiNova for better visibility at night.

In the Spirit of Mountain Exploration, the timepieces come in a 42 mm case made of a special alloy of bronze that evolves over time and forms a patina. The timepiece is completed with a special “Spirit of Mountain Exploration” engraving on the case back.

The 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Limited Edition 1858 features the calibre MB. 25.12 that indicates elapsed time with a central second hand and a 30-minute counter, both with white- coloured hands to create a contrast with the black dial and allow better readability of the function. The start, stop and reset can be activated through a single pusher integrated into the crown.

The timepiece is available with a new matching beige-coloured NATO strap that is made in a traditional 150-year-old strap manufacture in France.

Two other unlimited models are available in stainless steel, one of which comes with a new stainless steel bracelet made of a mix of link shapes – central polished links in the form of grains of rice and satin-finished rectangular links on the outside – and the other which comes with an aged, cognac-coloured calfskin strap.