Limited to just 100 pieces, the new Montblanc 1858 Split Second Chronograph is a technical and aesthetic marvel
The 2018 edition of Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) saw Montblanc raise the curtain on a reimagined Montblanc 1858 collection inspired by the adventure traveller. From innovative chronographs to a beautifully crafted pocket watch, this collection got horology buffs talking.
This year was more about technical and aesthetic updates with the Montblanc 1858 models rendered in an elegant pairing of green and bronze in a nod to the outdoors. With the historic Minerva pocket watches and chronographs from the 1920s and 1930s – conceived for military use and exploration – serving as the inspiration, four new timepieces were introduced in 2019. And there’s one name already making waves among watch collectors across the globe – the all-new 1858 Split Second Chronograph.
Limited to just 100 pieces, the model looks every bit like a sports watch, but it’s the high-end chronograph movement beneath the dial that’s a technical marvel. The watch is a monopusher split second chronograph – something of an evolution – boasting a completely new MB M16.31 manufacture movement. For the wearer, this means there’s a single pusher for starting, stopping and resetting the chronograph as well as a button set into the crown to control the split function.
Although simple and easy to use, it takes 262 components (of which 25 are jewels) to power this high-end movement with a balance that beats at 18,000 vibrations per hour or 2.5Hz. Also, the calibre is hand-wound and carries a power reserve of 50 hours. On the wrist, the 1858 Split Second Chronograph looks like every watch collector’s dream. Red-gold elements stand out against the black lacquered dial enclosed in a 44mm bronze case that gives it a vintage touch – yet another distinguished colour pairing from the Swiss maison.
Another standout feature, a telemeter scale runs around the dial, which makes it possible to measure the distance of a phenomenon which is both visible and audible, like lightning and thunder in a storm. The watch also features a tachymeter (base 1000) at the centre of the dial in a snail-like shape, allowing the wearer to measure a length of time up to three minutes instead of one minute in a traditional chronograph scale around the dial.
Discover the collection at Montblanc boutiques at The Dubai Mall 04 4340300 and The Galleria on Al Maryah Island 02 6764776.