Face to Watch: Montblanc Villeret 1858 Vintage Tachydate

Montblanc’s Villeret 1858 timepieces, produced in highly limited qualities from the legendary Minerva workshop, are immensely sought after by aficionados for their handcrafted virtues and creative proprietary movements inspired by early 19th century watchmaking. The Villeret 1858 Vintage Tachydate, the latest watch to emerge from Minerva’s hallowed workbenches certainly lives up to this billing.

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Essentially, this watch is a mono-pusher chronograph; a single-button chronograph that allows the user to start, stop and reset interval time measurements from a button on the crown. While the function, driven by the company’s in-house, manual-winding MB M16.32 is not new (illustrious marques spanning Vacheron Constantin to Cartier also boast such chronograph in their archives and recent collections), Montblanc’s offering ups the ante with an authentic movement and vintage-inspired aesthetics.

The watches are presented in classically round cases, which have been polished to impeccable luster. Elsewhere, the time, chronograph and date indicators on the solid gold dials evoke sepia-tinged romance with neat, geometrical layout and stylised numerals that recall vintage pocket watches. Of particular interest is the tachymeter scale, which integrates harmoniously with the rest of the watch (unlike tachymeter scales on other watches that have the tendency to look overtly sporty).

Limited to 58 pieces each in white and red gold, the watches are paired with elegant alligator straps to complete their old-style regality. Needless to say, as with other Villeret 1858 models, pre-orders are essential for connoisseurs who do not want to miss out.

Case: White or red gold
Movement: Hand-wound MB M16.32
Functions: Hours, minutes, date, chronograph
Power Reserve: 50 hours

www.montblanc.com