SIHH 2014: Introducing the Montblanc Meisterstück Heritage Perpetual Calendar and Moonphase

Montblanc has an entirely new collection, called the Meisterstück Heritage collection. A collection that can be recognized by its timeless, classic looks, and elegantly shaped lugs. The new Meisterstück Heritage collection comprises four models: Date Automatic, Moonphase,  Perpertual Calendar and the Pulsograph. And all of the above come at an extremely attractive price!

Central in the collection are the classic, timeless design elements that all models share. Case diameters are either 39 mm (Perpetual Calendar and the Moonphase) or 41 mm (Date Automatic and Pulsograph), and feature elegant short lugs, a domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating and a sapphire crystal in the case back. All metal that can be seen from above is polished, while the case band (also called mid case) and sides of the lugs feature a horizontal satin brush finish. The silvery white dial features a sunburst pattern and is slightly cambered, and features faceted applied hour indices and a Roman numeral “XII”.

The Meisterstück Heritage Moonphase shows how very nice these details come together. This image shows the satin brushed case band, with the small push piece to adjust the moonphase.

Inside ticks the automatic caliber MB 29.14 that can be seen through the sapphire crystal in the case back (this is by the way, the same base caliber as used in the Perpetual Calendar). All new pieces in the Meisterstück Heritage collection come on a black alligator strap and a pronged buckle made of 18 karat rose gold or stainless steel, matching the metal of the case. The Meisterstück Heritage Moonphase will be available in the summer of 2014 for € 11,500 Euros in rose gold and € 3,490 Euros in stainless steel.

Timeless Aesthetics – Eternal Functionality

With this credo, Montblanc announced the new Meisterstück Heritage Perpetual Calendar. While a full calendar needs adjustment for every month with less than 31 days, an annual calendar only needs adjustment at the end of February. The perpetual calendar also needs adjustment, but not before the year 2100! So, within this lifetime you’re good to go.

The perpetual calendar mechanism requires complexly shaped rockers and cams that mechanically pre-program the variously durations of months and also add a 29th day to February once every four years. The displays of the Meisterstück Heritage Perpetual Calendar are classic for a perpetual calendar: the date is shown at 3 o’clock, the day of the week at 9 o’clock, and the month at 12 o’clock. On the inner scale of the month display, the leap-year cycle is shown by a blue triangle and a leap year is indicated by a red 4. The moon’s phases are shown in a window at 6 o’clock.

If this watch is left unworn for a longer period, its calendar displays can be quickly and easily adjusted to the current date by pressing the push pieces in the case band. The watch is powered by self-winding mechanical movement caliber MB 29.15., which has a balance paced at 28,800 vph (4 hertz). Every Meisterstück Perpetual Calendar undergoes a comprehensive 500-hour quality test at the manufacture in Le Locle, and each watch that passes the 500-hour test is individually issued a test certificate.

I’m not a walking and talking price catalog, however I feel safe to say that it’s (almost) impossible to buy a beautiful mechanical perpetual calendar for under € 10,000 Euro retail price (approx. $ 13,5k USD). And that’s exactly the pice level of the new Meisterstück Heritage Perpetual Calendar in stainless steel. The 18 karat rose gold version comes at a retail price of € 16,900 Euro!

The Meisterstück Heritage Perpetual Calendar will be available from the summer of 2014.

More info: www.montblanc.com