Hands-on with the Montblanc 1858 Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Red Arrow
Monday - 18 April 2022
The new Montblanc 1858 Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Red Arrow watch nods to Minerva’s symbol of heritage – the red arrow – and features a multi-functional fluted bidirectional rotating bezel, chronograph features, a telemeter scale and tachymeter track
Over the last few years, Montblanc has really been immersing itself in Minerva’s heritage and the role it played both in the development of its beautiful chronograph movements and its commitment to supplying professional stopwatches and chronographs to pioneers of the skies during the 1920s and 1930s. It was a significant time in the development of advanced technology for both civilian and military aircraft. As a result, Minerva’s reliable timekeeping instruments formed an integral part of the cockpit kit. During this time, 1927 to be more exact, Minerva produced one of the very first fluted bezels, as well as an internal rotating countdown bezel. Eight years later and Minerva released its first externally rotating bezel, equipped with a reset function. Accurate in-house movements like the Calibre 19.09 and the Calibre 13.20 soon paved the way for Minerva’s success in producing reliable timepieces that measured elapsed time.
Highly treasured by Montblanc, these two historic models with internal and external rotating bezels provide the inspiration behind the new Montblanc 1858 Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Red Arrow watch. The design of the watch bears strong links to the field of pilot’s watches. The red arrow reference in the model’s name may not be what you’d automatically associate with the aviation industry. The symbol is actually a nod to the Roman Goddess Minerva, who was known for carrying an arrow-tipped spear.
A multitude of uses
The 1858 Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Red Arrow watch has a fluted bi-directional rotating bezel and a red arrow that can be used in several different ways. Simply align the red arrow with the dial’s second, minute or hour hand and you can track elapsed time effectively. Alternatively, a countdown timer can be set using the red arrow to point to a future time. Simply align the red arrow 20 minutes after the current position of the minute hand, for example, and record the time elapsed between the start and finish point when the minute hand catches up with the red arrow.
To uphold Montblanc’s promise of a legible and practical design for fearless adventure-seeking, the new 1858 Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Red Arrow watch presents the time on a rich black dial with beige coloured Super-LumiNova-coated hands and Arabic numerals that, when the darkest hours of the night arrive, glow in a rich green hue. Adding to the watch’s innovative elapsed time functions using the red arrow on the bezel, the watch also comes equipped with a telemeter scale around the outside of the dial and a tachymeter scale positioned around the inner section of the dial. Executed in a colimaçon snail shape, the tachymeter scale adds an unusual and eye-catching detail to the display of this Montblanc 1858 watch. Look to the 3 o’clock location and you’ll find the chronograph 30-minutes function, whilst a small second sub-dial at 9 o’clock balances out the layout of the display perfectly. The chronograph seconds are indicated by a central hand and the entire dial is protected by a domed box-shaped anti-reflective and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass front.
The case of the new Montblanc 1858 Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Red Arrow watch measures a diameter of 42mm and has been crafted from stainless steel with satinated and polished finishes. Adding a luxurious element to the entire dial is the aforementioned fluted bidirectional rotating bezel, which has been crafted from satinated and polished 18ct white gold. A steel brushed finishing on the back of the model’s case gives way to a transparent sapphire crystal glass lens that provides a generous view into the performance and beautiful arrangement of the watch’s manually winding movement beating within.
The 30-meter water-resistant case of the new Montblanc 1858 Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Red Arrow watch holds the Calibre MB M13.21 inside its robust structure. The manually winding movement is hand-finished and boasts circular graining on both sides, hand-chamfered edges, rhodium-plated German silver bridges with Geneva stripes, circular graining on both sides, and hand-chamfered edges – all put on show through the watch’s exhibition caseback. The Calibre MB M13.21 has a gold-plated, circular-grained and chamfered gear train with diamond hubs on both sides. Capable of performing at a rate of 18,000 vibrations per hour, it produces a power reserve of 60 hours once fully wound and comprises a total of 239 individual components including 22 jewels and a hairspring with a Phillips terminal curve.
The new Montblanc 1858 Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Red Arrow watch is delivered on a semi-mat black coloured alligator leather strap with beige coloured stitching and a sumptuous black lining. The leather band secures to the wrist with a double deployment buckle crafted from polished stainless steel. If you’d like more information on the new 1858 Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Red Arrow watch, you can register your interest with our pre-order service here at Jura Watches on 01335 453453, or check out more detail and images on the watch here.
