Montblanc Collection Villeret: Pushing The Boundaries Of Fine Watchmaking With The Utmost Performance And Artisanal Aesthetic
During the golden age of travel across the Atlantic Ocean, the world’s best passenger ships competed against each other for the prestigious Blue Riband Award. This distinguished accolade — symbol of peak performance and precision in nautical navigation — was given to the liner with the fastest crossing westbound against the challenging Gulf Stream. Even though there was no official trophy, the Blue Riband was respected on both sides of “The Pond” as the ultimate recognition for speed and performance, and the record holder would tie a blue ribbon around its mast for all to see and admire.
These record-breaking performances were representative of the innovations occurring at the time, with new steam turbine engines and sophisticated navigational equipment that included marine clocks with cylindrical hairsprings. These marine timekeepers enabled navigators to master nautical navigation and helped them to achieve these outstanding speeds.
To celebrate the Maison’s 110th anniversary, Montblanc has chosen to honour travel across the Atlantic Ocean and the ultimate precision of marine chronometers, both essential parts of this pioneering spirit, with two unique horological creations: a limited edition of eight Montblanc Collection Villeret Tourbillon Cylindrique Pocket Watches 110 Years Edition and a one-of-a-kind Villeret Tourbillon Cylindrique Pocket Watch & Navigator 110 Years Edition.
Like the revolutionary marine chronometers that guided navigators across the ocean over a century ago, these highly collectible Montblanc limited edition timekeepers push the boundaries of fine watchmaking by combining ultimate performance with artisanal aesthetic. They represent the highest level of traditional craftsmanship with hand-engraving, hand-painting and Grand Feu enamelling.
Montblanc Collection Villeret Tourbillon Cylindrique Pocket Watch 110 Years Edition – 8 pieces
Montblanc presents a limited edition of eight pocket watches that follow the pioneering spirit of the ships crossing the Atlantic and their precision marine chronometers, capturing the essence of travel, both past and present. The choice of eight pieces is in reference to the year the Montblanc Manufacture in Villeret, the former Minerva Manufacture, was founded back in 1858.
The Montblanc Collection Villeret Tourbillon Cylindrique Pocket Watch 110 Years Edition – 8 pieces features some of horology’s most innovative complications, including a tourbillon with cylindrical hairspring, a triple time zone indication, and a worldtime with both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Montblanc Collection Villeret Tourbillon Cylindrique Pocket Watch & Navigator 110 Years Edition – Unique Piece
The one-of-a-kind Montblanc Collection Villeret Tourbillon Cylindrique Pocket Watch & Navigator 110 Years Edition combines a nautical clock with a pocket watch that can be placed in a dedicated compartment for display and safekeeping when not in use. The navigator structure measures 93 cm in height and is composed of a heavy 56 cm granite base for stable installation on the deck of a ship, while the case is made of nickel-plated brass and has a diameter of 64 cm. Weighing an impressive 120 kg, the navigator is designed to stand firm whether it is placed on the motionless floor of a library or on the pitching and rolling planks of the ship.
The nautical precision clock keeps its balance with a cardanic suspension system that sits inside a nickel-plated brass cage. Even when the ship rolls to one side, the clock remains perfectly horizontal and runs precisely, thanks to a case mounted with eight ball bearings, indicating the ship’s heeling with a downward pointing arrow on a scale from 0 to 27 degrees, the perfect symbiosis of aesthetic form and nautical function.
The Montblanc Collection Villeret Tourbillon Cylindrique Navigator was developed in collaboration with the renowned Erwin Sattler clock manufacture, who made the base of the Navigator. It was completely reworked by the Montblanc Manufacture with respect to the movement, complications and finishings.
The nautical clock itself has a diameter of 15 cm and a height of 9.5 cm and is equipped with a hand-wound movement that indicates the hours, minutes, seconds, time in 24 different time zones, and a 15-day power reserve.
