Home » The Salon International De La Haute Horlogerie » SIHH 2016 Preview – Montblanc Timewalker ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph Watch
At the upcoming Salon International De La Haute Horlogerie (SIHH 2016) watch fair, Montblanc will present the new Timewalker ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph Watch which will be issued in the limited quantity of only 100 pieces. This novelty comes with the Maison’s exclusive in-house patented ExoTourbillon, introduced last January on a model of the Heritage Chronométrie collection.
The one-minute ExoTourbillon complication allows the cage to be smaller in size and free of the weight of the balance, thus saving 30 percent more energy when compared with a conventional tourbillon. Furthermore, since the balance is situated outside of the rotating cage, it will not be affected by the inertia of the cage, thus resulting in improved precision. The movement also has a stop-second mechanism for accurate time setting. Once the crown is activated, it directly stops the balance from rotating, whilst it does not halt the tourbillon cage. The in-house developed ExoTourbillon features a screwed balance which operates at the frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz).
The new Montblanc watch tends to be elegant and sporty at the same time. It is housed in a round three-part case with a material mix of titanium, carbon fiber and DLC. The case measures 44mm in diameter and 16mm in thickness. Due to this unique material, the case is a lightweight yet robust.
Underneath the front sapphire glass lies the grainé dial which accentuates the manufacturer’s focus on aesthetics, performance and legibility, with the time displayed in an-off-centred black dial at the 12 o’clock with a mix of red and white Arabic numerals that have been enhanced with a luminescent material for the best visibility under low lightening conditions.
The lower part of the dial shows the patented Exotourbillon complication and boasts two semi-circular chronograph counters with their double indication hands at the 8 o’clock position for the elapsed seconds, and on the opposite side at the 4 o’clock position for the elapsed minutes.
The dial is shielded with a domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal and provides excellent legibility and scratch-resistance. Each Montblanc Timewalker ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph (ref. 112587) has been tested by the Montblanc Laboratory Test 500 that simulates real-life situations for 500 hours.
The watch comes with a sleek, black alligator leather strap with red stitching which nicely completes the overall look.
The retail price of the new Montblanc should be around $40,000.
