In homage to the spirit of the legendary Montblanc Meisterstück Fountain Pen launched in 1924, Montblanc introduced a new watch collection to honour its 90th anniversary in 2014. From 2015 onwards this collection will assume its future position among the Montblanc watch families as the Heritage Spirit Collection.
Embodying all the codes of fine watchmaking down to the last and smallest detail it bears the signature of traditional craftsmanship, timeless design and flawless functionality. Based on refined design codes, the collection includes timepieces with elegant, clear dials and refined cases expressing the dna of fine watchmaking. Up to the grand complication, each model in the Montblanc Heritage Spirit collection makes its own statement, all timepieces being meticulously crafted.
The collection is enhanced by a new model that highlights again the ambition of Montblanc to share the passion for fine watchmaking. The Montblanc Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum interprets one of the most contemporary and useful complications – the world time function – in a new, innovative way. The earth is anchored at the core of this complication, that is named Orbis Terrarum, the Latin term for “globe”, “earth”, and “world”. This timepiece adopts a universal approach, telling the time in 24 timezones all over the world, thanks to a manufacture complication developed in-house by the Montblanc master watchmakers.
The inspiration for this complication came likewise from the history of horology and from Montblanc’s watchmaking past. The “Montres à eclipses”- watches that had multiple layers of dials that could change their functionality or aesthetics – were some of the most fascinating complications at the beginning of the 20th century. Always reaching towards the pinnacle of its craft, Montblanc has developed a strong expertise for working on complications by using multiple layers – two examples manifesting this expertise being the Metamorphosis II launched in 2014 or the Rieussec Rising Hours from 2012.
The complication of the Montblanc Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum is simple to read and easy to use, displaying the time in different parts of the world in a practical and intuitive way. The dial is constructed in a multi-layer way. At its centre, the main sapphire crystal dial displays the continents as viewed from the North Pole. The continents are cut out from the rest of the disc that displays the oceans in a light blue colour. Under the main dial is a disc showing day and night, which rotates with the movement of the 24-hour mechanism. On the outside of the dial, there is a disc with the names of 24 cities, encircled by their respective time zones. The disc with the cities can rotate separately from the 24 hours disc with the aid of the pusher, located at 8 o’clock. To adjust the time the desired “home” city only needs to be positioned with its corresponding time at 6 o’clock. The “local time” is displayed by the central hour and minute hands, which are adjusted with the winding crown. When travelling, the Montblanc Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum’s worldtime complication indicates what time it is at the destination. The hour and minute hands to give the new “local time” just need to be adjusted, while the time in the country of origin remains displayed at 6 o’clock.
Due to the innovative multi-layer dial construction, the times of all 24 timezones can be indicated. A day/night disc shows at a glance where it is day or night on the planet. The rotation of this disc changes the colours of the continents as seen on the dial, alternately from light (day) to dark (night). This innovative functional principle is rare to find in fine watchmaking. The watch is driven by a self-winding mechanical movement, calibre MB29.20, beating at the frequency of 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour (4 hertz) with the exclusive complication developed in-house by Montblanc.
Like all timepieces of the Heritage Spirit Collection, the Montblanc Heritage Spirit “Orbis Terrarum” expresses the codes of fine watchmaking in every detail: A 41mm case with refined and straight lines, a narrow convexly round bezel, anti-reflective cambered sapphire crystal, vertically descending flanks with horizontal satin finishing that beautifully contrast with the polished case, finely arcing horns, polished faceted hands in the classical dauphine shape, a crown with the Montblanc emblem in raised relief against a sand-blasted background, and a large-scale black alligator wristband with a triple folding clasp, for maximum comfort.
Montblanc shares its passion for fine watchmaking with the presentation of the new Montblanc Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum model, an innovative model with an attractive value proposition.
