Montblanc's "1858" line is inspired by the Minerva military chronographs produced in the 1920s and 30s. The new models released in 2020 from the "1858" product line feature beautiful blue dials that evoke the natural beauty of glaciers and snowy mountains.
What is the Montblanc 1858 product line?
The "1858" line is a collection characterized by a design rooted in the spirit of mountain exploration. It is composed of unique elements reminiscent of Minerva chronographs from the 1930s onwards. Extremely robust and highly legible even in harsh environments, its appeal also lies in its sophisticated European vintage style. The name "1858" comes from 1858, the year Charles Yvon Robert founded the watch workshop that would become Minerva. The "1858" line, named after this commemorative year, is imbued with a strong desire to carry on Minerva's history.
Montblanc 1858 Split-Second Chronograph Limited Edition 100
Manual-winding (Cal. MB M16.31). 25 jewels. 18,000 vph. Power reserve approximately 50 hours. Ti (diameter 44mm, thickness 14.55mm). Water resistant to 3 bar. Limited to 100 pieces worldwide. 39,500 euros (current market price). Scheduled for release in April 2020.
The 1858 Split-Seconds Chronograph Limited Edition 100 is a reinterpretation of Minerva's historic military monopusher chronograph. Its vibrant blue dial is paired with a satin-brushed titanium grade 5 case. The dial is finished with Grand Feu enamel, resulting in a beautiful, lustrous shine and deep color. The Grand Feu enamel technique involves applying an enamel glaze to the dial disc, firing it briefly in an 800°C kiln, removing it, and allowing it to cool and set. The surface is heated in several layers, each heated at a high temperature. The gradation dial is a result of meticulous craftsmanship.
While the contents are not significantly different from the limited edition chronograph released in 2019, the blue dial, combined with orange and white, emphasizes the vintage style. Many enthusiasts associate the blue dial 1858 with the limited edition pocket watch. For those who have been waiting for the blue dial 1858, this new release is sure to be a delight.
The movement is the in-house caliber MB M16.31, a manual-winding monopusher chronograph with split-seconds, tachymeter, and telemeter. Two column wheels and horizontal couplings provide a power reserve of approximately 50 hours. This movement is an evolution of the MB M16.29, which was inspired by the Minerva caliber 17.29 developed in the 1930s and used in both pocket watches and wristwatches.
The telemeter allows you to measure the distance to a storm or thunder by starting the chronograph hand the moment you see lightning and stopping it when you hear thunder. The spiral-shaped tachymeter seen in the center of the dial indicates the speed of an object whose traveled distance can be determined, such as a car. The person measuring the distance starts the chronograph hand when the car passes the starting point of the course being measured and stops the hand when it passes the finishing point. While you may not use it often in real life, having this watch will surely make you look forward to thunder so you can use the telemeter.
The split-seconds feature, which requires a sophisticated mechanism, also stands out in terms of design. The chronograph center second hand has a scale of the same color, and the orange split-seconds hand has an orange scale, improving visibility.
