The luxury house Montblanc built its reputation with high quality writing instruments, but the Montblanc Time Walker TwinFly proves it can also design and manufacture a superb automatic chronograph watch.
Set to be presented at SIHH 2011, the mechanism will be enclosed in a 43mm stainless steel case with a scratch-resistant matte black DLC coating. and the machine features a Montblanc calibre MB LL 100 automatic column wheel chronograph movement with vertical disk clutch and is water resistant to 100 metres.
To create the self-winding movement, Montblanc collaborated with the specialists at the affiliated Manufacture Horlogère Valfleurier to create its own chronograph Calibre MB LL100.
When a manufacture decides to design its own chronograph movement, its makers take pride in endowing the calibre with additional signature functions. Calibre MB LL100 supports a large chronograph-hand and a minute-hand from the centre, a flyback function, a date window at the “9 o’clock” position and a 24-hour subdial at the “12.” This dial shows the time in a second zone and indicates whether it’s day or night. The watch also has an abundant 72 hour power reserve.
Wristwatch chronographs with chronograph-seconds and minute-hands from the centre of their dials were extremely popular in the 1970s, but they gradually declined into oblivion as their movements grew increasingly rare. This further heightens the interest of Montblanc’s new Calibre MB LL100, on which the practical and highly legible chronograph indications are back at the centre of the dial.
The Montblanc Time Walker TwinFly Chronograph combines no-frills functionality with sleek dark good looks. Although this wristwatch is fully 43 mm in diameter, it’s nonetheless remarkably lightweight and very comfortable to wear and is set off with a black leather strap.
The watch is limited to only 300 pieces and will retail at US$11,950.
