Inspired by the extraordinary Minerva heritage that dates back to 1858, Montblanc is reinterpreting its iconic Star product line. Within this re-envisioned Collection, the Maison keeps all the key elements while enhancing the level of classical finishing and the sophistication of its design. Montblanc is unveiling two exclusive pre-launch models featuring the chronograph complication that is emblematic of the Maison’s sophistication and savoir faire: a very slender and timeless Automatic Chronograph and iconic Nicolas Rieussec monopusher chronograph in a new fine watchmaking interpretation.

The Minerva heritage and legacy dates back to 1858 when the company founded by Charles- Ivan Robert specialized in gold pocket watches. The Montblanc Star Legacy Collection takes its inspiration from the Minerva heritage and the company’s pocket watches that were made during the late 19^th century and early 20^th century. Montblanc’s archives show the existence of international orders from very early on, with some of the watches destined for railway companies. The legibility of the dials was of particular importance and some of the movements were cased in wristwatches.

As early as the year 1880, the manufacture had started to specialise in timekeepers that could be wound with a crown (called “remontoir au pendant” in French). These innovative pocket watches were among the first to be wound through the crown instead of a separate key. This is the reason why Minerva experienced considerable global success very early.


Montblanc reinterprets its iconic Star Legacy Collection, which is celebrating its 20-year anniversary this year, by keeping the key elements, but enhancing the level of classical finishing and the sophistication of its design.

Inspired by the Minerva pocket watches, such as the Gold Hunter Calibre 19’’ from 1927, the new timepieces feature round cases with a curved finish on the sides, giving a refined and shaped pebble effect, along with horns that have steps on the sides. Continuing the journey into classical fine watchmaking, the crowns stand out with their recognisable and easy-grip onion- shape, adorned on the side with the recognisable Montblanc emblem.

In these new versions, the dials of the Star timepieces are highlighted by prominent Arabic numerals. Their shape and size, however, have been slightly redesigned, bringing refinement. Other important aesthetic details include a unique railway minute track on the Montblanc Star Legacy Automatic Chronograph, which is of particular note as it features dots instead of lines (a rare twist found only in very few models from the late 19^th century or the beginning of the 20^th century) and a beautiful filet sauté guilloché running around the dial and outlining it.

Completing the overall design, the dial features the elegant blued leaf shaped hands, contributing to a contemporary, yet classic aesthetic.

Thanks to a large choice of distinctive straps coming from the Montblanc Pelletteria in Florence, the Montblanc Star Legacy Collection is the perfect way for the watch connoisseur to enhance his outfits and express his own personal style.

The Montblanc Star Legacy Automatic Chronograph displays the aesthetic design codes directly rooted in the history of classical fine watchmaking and the Minerva history combined with a practical chronograph function.

The pure silvery-white dial containsbalanced proportions between the aesthetic elements and the timekeeping functions. It features redesigned black Arabic numerals, classic blued leaf-shaped hands, a refined filet sauté guilloché and a unique railway minute track that encircles the dial and counters, completing the design and paying tribute to the elegance of historical Minerva timepieces.

Equipped with the automatic movement, Calibre MB 25.02, the Montblanc Star Legacy Automatic Chronograph indicates the hours, minutes, seconds and date as well as the chronograph’s indications with central hand and counters.

The timepiece comes in a rounded 42 mm stainless steel case with curved horns and steps on the side, an onion-shaped crown with the Montblanc emblem, and a curved finish on the side of the case itself, giving a refined pebble effect.

The timepiece is completed with a new blue Sfumato alligator leather strap coming from the Montblanc Pelletteria in Florence, Italy. The Sfumato effect is an additional operation realised on the strap, giving it a compelling finish.

Movement	:	Calibre MB 25.02 Mechanical movement with automatic winding, chronograph and date
Number of jewels	:	27
Power Reserve	:	Approx. 46 hours
Balance	:	Flat hoop
Frequency	:	28.800 A/h (4 Hz)
Hairspring	:	Flat
Displays	:	Hours and minutes from the centre Small seconds at 9 o’clock Date in a window at 4:30 Chronograph’s elapsed-second hand from the dial’s centre 30-elapsed minute and 12-elapsed hour counters at 3 and 6 o’clock
Case	:	Stainless steel, polished case
Crystal	:	Scratch-resistant, domed sapphire crystal with antireflective coating
Back	:	Stainless steel with inset pane of sapphire crystal
Diameter	:	42 mm
Height	:	14.23 mm
Water-resistance	:	3 bar (30 m)
Dial	:	Silvery-white dial with black Arabic numerals, blued leaf hour-hand, minute- hand and counter-hands, railway minute track, filet sauté guilloche
Crown	:	Stainless steel with Montblanc emblem
Wristband	:	Blue Sfumato alligator leather coming from the Montblanc Pelletteria in Florence, Italy
Clasp	:	Stainless steel triple folding clasp
References
Ident. 118514	:	Silvery-white dial and blue Sfumato alligator leather strap
Ident. 118515	:	Slate grey dial and grey Sfumato alligator leather strap

Montblanc reinterprets its Nicolas Rieussec monopusher chronograph that was launched in 2008 and has become a true Montblanc icon. The case and the dial of the timepiece have been redesigned for utmost fine watchmaking refinement, while keeping its distinctive face, with the chronograph’s turning discs and off-centred dial. The Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph pays tribute to the French watchmaker Nicolas Rieussec who invented the first inking chronograph in 1821.

The watchmaker to the French royal court, Nicolas Rieussec developed this construction to more precisely measure the running times of individual horses at a horserace. Nicolas Rieussec’s device was literally a “time writer,” so he accordingly named it a “chronograph” from the Greek words “chronos” (time) and “graphein” (to write). In 1822, the Académie des Sciences in Paris granted a patent to Nicolas Rieussec for his device and he became the inventor of the world’s first patented chronograph, marking the history of fine watchmaking.

In this new version, the silvery-white dial has been entirely reworked, with particular attention paid to the proportions of the aesthetic and horological details, allowing better visibility and fine watchmaking aesthetics.

The off-centred hour-circle and the chronograph’s titanium turning discs have been domed, giving a three-dimensional effect. Inspired by the codes of the collection, the black Arabic numerals have been slimmed down and surrounded by a precise railway minute track. Classic blued leaf-shaped hands complete the overall design. The date has been placed at 6 o’clock and enhanced with a sophisticated display applied on the dial with blued screws. Providing fine watchmaking appearance, the dial has been highlighted with an elegant guilloché pattern in places, azuré finishing in the centre of the hour-circle, and a filet sauté guilloché decoration that runs around the dial. Paying tribute to the famous chronograph’s inventor, a ring with the Nicolas Rieussec inscription has been applied on the outer part of the dial.

Reminiscent of Minerva pocket watches, the Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph features a newly-designed, round case of 44.8 mm, curved finishing on the sides, and horns that have steps on the sides. A domed sapphire crystal glass surrounds the three- dimensional dial and gives a refined pebble effect. Other details include a recognisable and easy-grip onion-shape crown adorned with the Montblanc emblem.

The Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph is powered by the iconic Manufacture monopusher chronograph movement with automatic winding, the Calibre MB R200 equipped with a column-wheel mechanism that controls the monopusher chronograph. The connection between the gear train and the chronograph's wheels is alternately engaged and disengaged by a vertical coupling and functions nearly without any wear and tear and prevents the elapsed time discs from jumping when the chronograph is switched on.

For utmost performance, the movement has two barrels which store enough energy for 72 hours of power reserve. The contemporary-shape of the calibre can be admired through the sapphire crystal case back with its components that are decorated with Geneva stripes and feature bevelled, polished edges. Red jewels, blued screws and golden-coated wheels complete the ensemble.

The timepiece is equipped with two rotating vertically-aligned discs for the monopusher chronograph's 60-second and 30-minute counters that turn below a blued fixed double index like on the original device. Additionally, a second time zone is displayed via a skeletonized hand on the off-centred dial.

The Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph is water resistant to 30 metres and is certified by the Montblanc Laboratory Test 500. It is fitted with a new matching blue Sfumato alligator leather strap coming from the Montblanc Pelletteria in Florence, Italy and equipped with a triple folding clasp.

Movement	:	Montblanc Manufacture Calibre MB R200 Mechanical movement with automatic winding mechanism, chronograph and double barrel
No. of components	:	319
Number of jewels	:	40
Power reserve	:	Approx. 72 hours
Balance	:	Screw balance, diameter = 9.7 mm; moment of inertia = 12 mgcm²
Frequency	:	28,800 A/h (4 Hz)
Hairspring	:	Flat
Plate	:	Rhodium-plated with circular graining
Bridges	:	Rhodium-plated with “Côtes de Genève”
Going train	:	Special toothing for more efficient power transmission
Displays	:	Off-centred hour- and minute-hand Second time zone on same axis as hour- and minute-hand with day/night display Date in a window at 6 o’clock 60 elapsed-second and 30 elapsed-minute counters on rotating discs with central motionless hand
Special feature	:	Travel function with rapid reset of hour-hand and date display either forward or backward
Case	:	Stainless steel
Crystal	:	Scratch-resistant, domed sapphire crystal with antireflective coating
Back	:	Stainless steel with inset pane of sapphire crystal
Diameter	:	44.8 mm
Height	:	10.02 mm
Watertightness	:	3 bar (30 m)
Crown	:	Stainless steel with Montblanc emblem
Dial	:	Silvery-white with guilloché pattern in places Domed hour-circle with azuré decoration in the centre and black Arabic numerals Filet sauté guilloché around the dial Blued leaf hour- and minute-hands Rhodium-plated skeletonized second time zone-hand Titanium domed chronograph counters with satin-finishing
Wristband	:	Blue Sfumato alligator leather coming from the Montblanc Pelletteria in Florence, Italy
Clasp	:	Stainless steel triple folding clasp