Montblanc Meisterstück Heritage Date Automatic

The Montblanc Meisterstück Heritage Collection

Sharing the Passion for Fine Watchmaking
Ninety years ago, Montblanc created a writing instrument that became an icon in the culture of writing: the Montblanc Meisterstück. With functional and aesthetic design, an innovative ink supply and a manually profiled gold nib, this fountain pen is the legendary writing instrument of our time.

Ever since 1924, the Meisterstück has represented consummate excellence, the striving for perfection and masterly craftsmanship – and has thus embodied the principles that pervade Montblanc’s production, innovation and products. Precisely this attitude also determines the extremely high standards that Montblanc upholds so that it can consistently develop and produce the finest timepieces and innovative calibres on the highest echelons of the traditional art of Swiss watchmaking in its manufactures in the Swiss Jura, in Villeret and Le Locle.

The Montblanc Meisterstück Heritage Collection is inspired by the ninety-year heritage of the Meisterstück. With classical design, discriminating complications and sumptuous decorations, these elegant timepieces manifest the values of the Montblanc Meisterstück and the traditional features of fine Swiss watchmaking in every detail – thus making them their owners’ lifelong companions.

The Montblanc Meisterstück: A Legend from the Hands of Master Craftsmen 
Meisterstück is the German word for “masterpiece”. The concept originated in medieval craftsmen’s guilds: ever since the Middle Ages, a craftsman who had successfully completed his journeyman years could apply for recognition as a Meister (master). If the guild accepted his request, the applicant was obliged to prove his abilities by fabricating an especially demanding artefact under the supervision of one of the guild’s masters. If the other masters accepted this piece as a Meisterstück, the applicant was granted the title of Meister. Today too, the word Meisterstück continues to stand for extraordinary craftsmanship, traditional techniques, high-quality materials, perfect aesthetics and outstanding functionality.

When the Meisterstück fountain pen 149 debuted in 1924, it proved that Montblanc had created an artefact which truly deserves its name. The design is elegantly reduced: the barrel and cap are made of deep black precious resin, a golden gleam beautifies both the ring around the barrel and the clip, and the entire ensemble is crowned by Montblanc’s emblem, which symbolizes the snow-covered summit of the European continent’s tallest peak. This mountain towers 4,810 metres above sea level, which is why the engraved numeral “4810” adorns the nib of every Montblanc Meisterstück writing instrument and distinguishes it as a product that embodies the acme of European craftsmanship.

The passion for aesthetics, craftsmanship and quality gave birth to a highly functional, exclusive and timelessly beautiful object for daily use.

This pen wrote world history: countless presidents, crowned heads and high-ranking dignitaries have used it to sign international treaties and certificates of appointment. But above all, it’s the discriminating standards and spirit, along with enduring appreciation from its owners, which have enabled the Meisterstück to become a legend.

The Montblanc Meisterstück Heritage Collection
This “Spirit of Meisterstück” was the starting point for the development of a new line of watches: the Montblanc Meisterstück Heritage Collection. This new collection is inspired by the standards of the Montblanc Meisterstück. Like the legendary fountain pen, these timepieces are distinguished by masterly craftsmanship, timeless design and perfect functionality.

The Montblanc Meisterstück Heritage Collection embodies the finest Swiss watchmaking in each and every detail. For example, the time is shown by faceted hands in the classical dauphine shape, which sweep over cambered, silver-white dials that have been tastefully embellished with sunburst patterns. Dauphine hands are extremely challenging to fabricate because their clear geometry, straight contours and perfectly smooth flanks would instantly reveal even the tiniest flaw in their manufacturing or assembly. Their elegant length is an especially distinguishing feature of fine watchmaking.

The hour circle combines polished faceted appliqués in three different lengths and an eye-catching applied Roman numeral “XII”. In accord with the best watchmaking tradition, each appliqué stands atop two little feet which are firmly riveted to the dial. The classical shape of the elegant 39- or 41-mm-diameter case is accentuated by various finishings on the surfaces, for example, horizontal satin finishing on the middle piece. The crown is adorned with Montblanc’s emblem in polished, raised relief against a matte sand-blasted background.

These elaborate features distinguish all models in the Meisterstück Heritage Collection: from the classical three-handed wristwatch with date display, through the elegant moon-phase watch, to grandes complications such as a perpetual calendar and a monopusher chronograph.

Montblanc Meisterstück Heritage Date Automatic

With its four displays (hours, minutes, seconds and date), the Montblanc Meisterstück Heritage Date concentrates on all essential functions. Embodying the tasteful styling associated with the Meisterstück Heritage line, it self-confidently combines understatement and elegance.

The dial’s design embodies an aesthetic based on pure functionality so that the highlights of the Meisterstück philosophy can be especially well expressed: the cambered dial with fine black indices for the minutes along the downwardly sloping periphery of the dial, the sharply faceted applied indices in various lengths, the applied Roman numeral “XII”, the date window with polished frame and the fine sunburst pattern with a radiant shimmer that wanders across the dial in response to the incident lighting. All this forms the background for the circular motions of the rhodium-plated and polished hour-hand and minute-hand, each in dauphine style, with sharply tapering facets that beautifully match the applied indices. The large blued second-hand is another characteristic of the traditional codes of artistic Swiss watchmaking.

The hands are propelled by self-winding mechanical Calibre MB 24.17. A pane of sapphire crystal in the back of the case invites connoisseurs to admire the movement’s finishing and its gleaming golden balance, which oscillates at a precise pace of four hertz. The movement is ensconced in a stainless steel case that boasts all the distinguishing features of Meisterstück Heritage design: a narrow, convex, polished bezel; vertically descending flanks with horizontal satin finishing; finely arcing horns; a cambered crystal, treated on both its surfaces to prevent reflections, above the dial; and a brown alligator-skin strap with large reptilian scales and a stainless steel pronged buckle.

The Montblanc Meisterstück Heritage Date Automatic will be available starting in the summer of 2014 for a retail price of 2,090 euros.