Horological Meandering

PuristS and Montblanc announce the Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858 Vintage Chronographe PuristS 10^th Edition watch

The PuristS' family of horology and luxury websites (ThePuristS.com and PuristSPro.com) is celebrating its 10^th anniversary in 2011, with a gathering of PuristS, friends, watchmakers and sponsors.  A number of watchmakers and brands are issuing limited edition or piece unique watches to commemorate a decade of PuristS independence on the horological scene.

"It is a tribute to all PuristS that Montblanc has honoured us with a special edition of the Collection Villeret 1858 Vintage Chronographe as one of the PuristS 10^th Anniversary watches,  said Dr Mike Ting (PuristSPro Montblanc forum moderator), continuing: "The 'Collection Villeret 1858' sets the standard at the top of a wide range of serious timepieces from Montblanc. "

Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858 Vintage Chronographe PuristS 10^th Edition

Euro 41,000 equivalent + local country taxes

The Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858 Vintage Chronographe PuristS 10^th Edition is a limited edition of 10 watches available to those attending the 10^th Anniversary celebrations at IGOTT-2 in Las Vegas, and then to PuristS worldwide. It is a hand-crafted monopusher chronograph with a column-wheel and horizontal coupling that allows all chronograph function to be activated with only one button. 

Montblanc Watch Management Director, Alexander Schmiedt , explained, "We designed this special even more limited 10-piece edition with PuristS, to celebrate their 10th Anniversary and also to demonstrate the bespoke potential of the highest echelon of watch making at Montblanc Manufacture in Villeret. "

The regular Vintage Chronographe was introduced in 2010 as limited editions of 58 pieces in 18K red gold cases with white enamel dials and 58 pieces in 18K white gold cases with black enamel dials.

Telemeter and Tachymeter Scales

PuristS and watch collectors will recall the coiled or snail scale that was typical and a frequent feature on the legendary Minerva chronographs from the 1920s and 1930s. Some of the dials with finely calibrated scales were used on timepieces that could measure intervals to the nearest hundredth of a second. This wide variety of specific applications and highly precise movements helped Villeret's watchmakers to earn a fine reputation as chronograph specialists.

Today, with an unmistakable dial, which emphasises finely calibrated scales, the Vintage Chronographe PuristS 10^th Edition (a.k.a. Montblanc P10) is a superlative device for the measurement of brief intervals of time.  The periphery of the Montblanc P10 dial features a telemeter scale, so the tachymeter scale occupies the centre, where it is coiled like a snail's shell for sufficient length to enable tachymeter measurements up to three minutes in duration.  It is a genuine multi-functional instrument but executed with masterful horological artistry.

Grand Feu Enamel Dial

Like all Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858 pieces, each dial is crafted in the most exquisite way. The face is covered with grand feu white enamel: a solid gold disc is heated in a kiln to 850 degrees Celsius, thus fusing it to an uppermost layer of vitreous molten enamel. The red 'P10' marker at 10 o'clock, black numerals and blue calibrated scales require additional 'firings' of enamel.

Touched by Human Hands

The legendary Minerva Caliber 16-29 truly is a PuristS movement, which is endowed with all the features of chronometric and horological heaven: a large and weighty balance, with adjustment screws along its rim, oscillates at a pace of 18,000 A/h (2.5 hertz); a balance-spring with a Philips terminal curve; a swan-neck fine adjustment mechanism; a V-shaped chronograph-bridge; a meticulously and manually bevelled and finely finished chronograph-lever; classical horizontal coupling; and a column-wheel to control the chronograph function. The 'mise en function', i.e. the exact abrasion to fit the chronograph-lever, takes many hours of painstaking manual craftsmanship to a precision of several 1,000ths of a millimetre. Meticulous overall finishing is enhanced by the finest decorative techniques and surface treatments: the steel parts feature alternating polished, snailed and circular-grained surfaces.  Certain load-bearing components are bevelled and the screw heads are polished.

Vintage Design – Modern Interpretation

Although paying tribute to the heritage of vintage chronographs, the watch case has a contemporary diameter of 43.5 mm.  All of the case parameters (including the lugs) had to be entirely newly designed to preserve the proportions and overall impression of a typical Villeret watch.  The result is a timepiece which belongs to one of the world's most exclusive lines of watches, yet making a sporty technical impression.

Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858 Vintage Chronographe PuristS 10th Edition – Specifications – Euro 41,000 equivalent + local taxes

Calibre MBM 16.29

Type of movement:       Hand-wound movement with chronograph and small seconds

Chronograph:               Monopusher mechanism with column-wheel and horizontal coupling

Dimensions:                 Diameter 38.4 mm; height 6.3 mm

Components:                252 (complete movement)

Jewels:                        22 (hemispherical, domed, olive-cut)

Power reserve:              55 hours

Balance:                       Screw balance, Ø 14.5 mm; 59 mgcm2

Frequency:                   18,000 semi-oscillations per hour (2.5 hertz)

Balance-spring:             Phillips terminal curve

Plate:                           Rhodium-plated nickel silver with circular graining on both faces

Bridges:                       Rhodium-plated nickel silver with Côtes de Genève decoration

Going-train:                  Gold-plated, faceted arms, diamond polished hubs

Watch Displays:            Hours and minutes from the centre, small seconds at 9 o'clock  

Chronograph Displays:   Centre seconds, 30 minute counter at 3 o'clock

Case:                           18K white gold, domed sapphire crystal

Back:                           Screw-in case back with transparent pane of sapphire crystal

Dimensions:                 Diameter 43.5 mm; height 12.48 mm

Water resistance:          30 meters (3 Bar)

Crown:                        With integrated button to operate chronograph 

Dial:                            White Grand Feu enamel fired on 18K gold disc

Measurement:               Telemeter and tachymeter scales

Hands:                         Blued stainless steel

Wristband:                   Hand-sewn blue alligator-leather with 18K white gold prong buckle

Limited edition:             10 pieces

Availability

Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858 Vintage Chronographe PuristS 10^th Edition (Montblanc P10) watches will be available initially to PuristS at the 10^th Anniversary Party (IGOTT-2).  The watch will be presented at IGOTT-2 on 30^th May 2011. IGOTT-2 attendees will get priority to order this watch before the public offering to PuristS worldwide. To accommodate the high demand for the Montblanc P10 , please send your early requests to this email:  PuristS10th @ puristspro.com (remove spaces)

How to order?

1.   Write to the dedicated order e-mail address: PuristS10th @ puristspro.com (remove spaces) 

2.   State your contact details and which model of PuristS 10th edition watch that you want.

3.   State your PuristS log-in name as a check on IGOTT-2 attendance status.

4.   Instructions about payment and delivery time will follow.

International Gathering of the Tribe 2 (IGOTT-2), LAS VEGAS, 30 May to 02 June 2011

This is a unique event bringing together members of the PuristS community from across the world. The 2nd IGOTT event is where watch collectors, enthusiasts and buyers gather to share in the passion of high horology.  The event will take place in Las Vegas 30 May - 2 June 2011 with a series of seminars, gala dinners and watch novelty presentations.  The last PuristS gathering had great success in Singapore (2004).  Las Vegas is the IGOTT-2 destination with its world class facilities and easy access for our guests coming from around the world.

About PuristSPro.com 

PuristSPro.com is the premier independent moderated on-line discussion forum covering haute horlogerie and luxury brands, and focused on owners, collectors and watch enthusiasts across the globe. 

URL:  http://www.puristspro.com

Contact Information:

Anthony Tsai, General Manager PuristSPro LLC
anthonyt @ puristspro.com (remove spaces)