Words: Justin Hast
It isn’t possible to introduce you to the new Montblanc TimeWalker Collection without introducing you to Mr Davide Cerrato first. He is currently the Managing Director of the Watch Division at Montblanc, but previously of Tudor, where he helped develop one of the industry’s most coherent collections of modern sport watches in the Black Bay. A wonderful dresser – and all round nice guy – he is now at Montblanc and as focused on functionality as he is on providing customers with real value.
The aesthetic DNA of the new Montblanc TimeWalker Collection are rooted in the world of racing (via the brands’ connection to Minerva), with robust satin cases, semi-skeletonized horns, crowns and pushers all directly inspired by classic cars. You’ll be aware that the Montblanc TimeWalker is not a new collection. It has, in fact, been in the Montblanc catalogue for quite some time – but in a very different form. In the new line up we have one outlier in the new collection, the mighty Chronograph 1000 which I will cover first, and then the three core models from the Collection.
The Chronograph 1000 is a 46.4mm, mechanical chronograph that has the capability to measure elapsed time to 1/1000th of a second. Possibly not something you would have use for on a day to day basis – but that’s beside the point. Foremost, it’s a triumph of engineering. Within the 1000, you will find an MB M66.26 calibre, and on the dial a time-only balance, visible through the skeletonised dial at 7 o’clock, with small chronograph balance at 10 o’clock. A red speedometer-inspired scale at 12 o’clock is for thousandths of a second – a triangular pointer counts from 0 to 9. A long, red central hand shows hundredths of a second on a matching red scale around the dial. The watch will retail at €175,000 and is limited to 18 pieces.
Within the core TimeWalker Collection we have the TimeWalker Chronograph UTC, the TimeWalker Chronograph Automatic and the TimeWalker Automatic Date. All of which share a common color scheme of black, silver, red and white.
The Chronograph UTC comes in a 43mm DLC-coated case with black ceramic detailing. It features a new black ceramic uni-directional rotating bezel with 24-hour indication and black dial with two vertically aligned subsidiary dials for the chronograph. One a 30-minute register and the other a 12-hour register. The chronograph seconds hand is bright red with a Minerva-inspired arrowhead tip. It has a caliber MB 25.03 inside with a 46-hour power reserve and retails for $4,990.
The Chronograph Automatic is much like the UTC case wise. Again, it’s a beautifully balanced watch with a polished ceramic bezel and dashboard style sub-dials. I particularly like the engraved Montblanc logo inside the small seconds at 9 o’clock, and at €3,990 cracking value for money.
And finally, we have the Automatic Date. The smallest of the trio at 41mm, with a 60-minute style dial (inspired by Minerva racing). And €2,990 which has to be considered for value proposition of the year thus far.
Become a Gentleman’s Journal Member?
Like the Gentleman’s Journal? Why not join the Clubhouse, a special kind of private club where members receive offers and experiences from hand-picked, premium brands. You will also receive invites to exclusive events, the quarterly print magazine delivered directly to your door and your own membership card.
