The Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858 Seconde Grande Authentique watch celebrates a noble heritage of haute de gamme watchmaking tradition. A masterful demonstration of traditional watchmaking craft, the Seconde Grande Authentique watch is a proudly illustrates Montblanc's dedication to the art of manufacturing exceptional and exclusive luxury watches. With
Montblanc's recent acquisition of the prestigious Minerva manufacture in Villeret, and the establishment of the 'Institut Minerva de Recherche en Haute Horlogerie', the elite circle of truly exclusive watchmakers has gained a new and illustrious member.
A luxurious and visually pleasing 47mm case has been created, crafted exclusively from 18K gold, or platinum. The beautiful dials, made from solid gold, display a distinctive central guilloche pattern and Roman numerals and leaf-shaped hands made from polished gold. The hinged cuvette which covers the sapphire crystal caseback can be released by an artful hidden mechanism in the strap lugs. It opens with gentle precision to reveal a manually wound masterpiece that displays the finest in the centuries-old Swiss watchmaking craft.
The Montblanc Seconde Grande Authentique watch is made extraordinary by its exclusive manual wind movement. Designed and crafted entirely by Minerva, the slender Caliber 16-15 demonstrates an exemplary degree of attention to constructive detail and exceptional finish in every detail. The harmoniously shaped bridges are manufactured from rhodium-plated German silver, chamfered by hand, and decorated with Geneva stripes. As would be expected from such a high-grade execution, aesthetic and functional finishing goes hand in hand, extending even to those secret zones that only a watchmaker will have access to. Among other numerous refinements, the winding wheels feature individually beveled teeth, the mainspring barrel has been perlage finished on its interior surfaces, pinions showcase polished end faces and each gold-plated wheel has spokes which are carefully faceted. Four of the eighteen jewels that this movement possesses are set in golden chatons, each jewel being olive-cut and cambered in the manner of only the finest watches. Also deeply traditional is the large balance wheel, a feature long considered desirable by connoisseurs for its precision as well as architectural beauty. visually dominant, this wheel is fitted with gold or platinum underlaid meantime adjustment screws, and features a hand-crafted hairspring which is meticulously shaped into a Philips terminal curve. Like classical pocket watches, the balance wheel completes a leisurely 18,000 alternations per hour . Naturally, all screws are polished on both sides and top, and are set into beveled and polished recesses. All steel components, including the swan-neck adjustment are also painstakingly polished, and gleam with the distinctive finesse that results only from the most intensive hand operations.
Montblanc will only produce a very small series of the Seconde Grande Authentique watch. One example will be presented in platinum, while another eight will be made in 18K white gold. To complete the commemorative numerology --"1858"-- a final 58 pieces will be offered in a 18K red gold. Each of these superb Montblanc timepieces will be fitted with a luxurious hand-sewn alligator strap and a prong buckle in platinum or gold.