Montblanc Collection Villeret Seconde Authentique Watch

The Montblanc Seconde Authentique watch reveals the essence of its unique quality through the sapphire crystal window that lies beneath the hinged cover-lid. Designed and crafted entirely by Minerva, the slender Caliber 62-00 demonstrates a superb level of attention to constructive detail and exceptional hand finishing.

The harmoniously shaped bridges are crafted from rhodium-plated German silver, chamfered by hand, and decorated with cotes de Geneve. As is the case with the most artistic movements, aesthetic and functional finishing goes hand in hand, appearing in areas that often, only a watchmaker will have the opportunity to behold. For example, the winding wheels feature teeth which have been individually beveled, the inside of the mainspring barrel has been perlage finished, pinions feature polished end faces and all wheels display faceted spokes, as well as gold plating. Three of the nineteen jewels that this movement possesses are set in golden chatons, each jewel being olive-cut and cambered in the traditional manner. 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 affixed with gold or platinum underlaid meantime adjustment screws, and features a flat hairspring. Each hour, this balance wheel completes 18,000 alternations per hour, a slower-paced, classical frequency which is entirely appropriate to the spiritual essence of this fine mechanism. Naturally, all screws are polished on both side and top, and are showcased in beveled and polished slots. All steel components, including the swan-neck fine adjuster are also painstakingly polished, and gleam with the distinctive finesse that can only be the result of intensive hand finish.

Montblanc will produce a small number of the Seconde Authentique timepiece. One example will be presented in platinum, while another eight will be offered in 18K white gold and the remaining 58 will be offered in a stunning shade of 18K red gold. These limited edition pieces (1-8-58) when taken together actually give the collection its name: 1858. Each of these superb examples of exclusive haute horlogerie will be fitted with a hand-sewn alligator strap and a prong buckle in 18K gold or platinum.