Watches and Wonders - An Exciting Disappointment
Watches and Wonders 2024 ended only a few days ago and like most watch geeks out there, I waited with bated breath for rumors of new timepieces, upcoming collaborations, and industry revelations to be confirmed (or denied).
Expecting fresh drops from the biggest names in Swiss watches and updates on upcoming projects from 2 of the 3 Haute Maisons (sadly, AP was not in attendance), we were ultimately given a mixed bag of novelty watches. Grand Seiko delivered more of the same with their SLGW003, which is a lovely yet uninspiring timepiece that’s every bit as ‘GS’ as you’d expect. On the other hand, IWC’s Portugieser Eternal Calendar adds a warmth of vintage elements to its namesake range. Perhaps no better-looking Portugieser exists… Nomos premiered new colors, Parmigiani Fleurier tempted the minimalist in all of us, and Rolex disappointed with a run-of-the-mill GMT-Master II (at least the bezel is pretty cool).
An amazingly-rendered ticker from Ressence and Patek’s casual new World Time are certainly eye-opening but they don’t make up for the fairly unsurprising watches on show this year. You can’t win ‘em all, I guess…
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Maybe I’ve been into watches too much for too long, but I never find these things that interesting. It’s cool when they put out a watch in a different color, but I just can’t get fired up over it. Everybody lost their mind when Omega put out a white dial Speedy. It’s a nice watch, but it’s just a different color. Nothing amazing there. I just end up feeling like all the “new” watches are either minor changes to the old watch, or serve no purpose. Like not every watch needs a skeletonized version or a chrono. I just feel like companies are phoning it in expecting everybody to be amazed.
Missed this one I see...
Montblanc 1858 The Unveiled Minerva Monopusher Chronograph
For the past couple of years, Montblanc has punctuated its annual releases with high-end, skeletonized monopusher chronographs produced in its historic Minerva factory in Villeret. These are called Unveiled due to their openworked dials, but this year’s editions are even more “unveiled” than past editions.
Montblanc 1858 The Unveiled Minerva Monopusher Chronograph
Like previous models, the movement is reversed to show the chronograph’s intricate workings which, with traditional watches, you’d usually need to flip the watch over to view through the watch’s caseback. Here, it’s on display through a sapphire crystal dial. It’s been given a new aesthetic treatment with blue-plated German silver plates and bridges contrasting with the gold-plated going train. This new version of the hand-wound movement is called the MB 17.26, an update to the MB 16.26.
Montblanc 1858 The Unveiled Minerva Monopusher Chronograph
The major difference for this years model is just how much the brand has aimed to increase the visibility of the movement. The 43mm-wide case features five sapphire crystal windows on its sides. These not only offer a peek at the movement from different angles, but they also allow more light in for your viewing pleasure. Achieving a similar effect, the dial features more clear sapphire crystal elements, and the movement is mounted on “pillars.”
Montblanc 1858 The Unveiled Minerva Monopusher Chronograph
Tech Specs
Movement: Montblanc MB 17.26 hand-wound
Case: 43mm x 14.78mm; steel
Dial: Sapphire crystal
Strap: Blue sfumato calf leather with alligator print
Availability: Limited to 100 examples
It is an amazing watch...they only are making 100 pieces...excited to be getting one of them...got the chance to spend some serious time with it at W&W...incredible watch...
Make sure to check out the video...
https://youtu.be/U5U6jgyNO-E?si=9AtKTKuXEuXg6r6i
I was only interested in tudor and they delivered for me