TAKING A SHINE

TIME Montblanc turns the clock back a century to find the inspiration for its horological teaser for 2018.

From its origins as a maker of gold pocket watches, Minerva has been a pioneer of numerous horological achievements, including accurate split-second readings on chronographs, beautifully constructed movements wound with a crown (instead of a key) as well as highly legible dials commissioned by railway companies.

Davide Cerrato, managing director of Montblanc’s watch division, refers to the “very differentiated watchmaking character” in Minerva as a strong concept that Montblanc inherited when it assumed ownership of the company 12 years ago.

“For the Star Legacy collection, we looked to Minerva’s pocket watches at the turn of the 20th century, many of which bore key design codes which you find in the new Star Legacy, such as distinct minuterie and its pebble- shaped case,” Cerrato says. One inspiration, in particular, was Minerva’s Gold Hunter Calibre 19” of 1927 which possessed a similar onion-shaped crown, curved sides and horns as the duo of new Star Legacy releases. The Star Legacy Automatic Chronograph (42mm stainless steel) and the Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph (44.8mm stainless steel) are further accented by Arabic numerals with in-house calibres – the latter a monopusher chronograph movement with a second time zone. To complete the look, both timepieces are fitted with matching Sfumato alligator leather straps, handcrafted at the Montblanc Pelletteria in Florence. www.montblanc.com ≠