The Low-Down

To celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Rieussec Inking Chronograph invention by watchmaker Nicolas Rieussec, Montblanc has issued a 200 piece limited edition in stainless steel inspired by the same functions and golden colour tones of the first Nicolas Rieussec chronograph. This is in addition to the Unique Piece in 18k gold which Montblanc has donated to Only Watch 2021.

On Saturday September 1st, 1821, Nicolas Rieussec was at the Champ-de-Mars Arrondissement de la Seine race in Paris. He was not there as a spectator or a gambler, but as a watchmaker. His mission was to test a chronometer intended to consistently measure the time horses take to travel the prescribed race distances—not just the winning horse, but also all those that cross the line after it.

The watch worked by means of a fixed nib that would place a black mark on two rotating counters the moment each horse crossed the finish line.

His new invention was presented to the country’s Academy of Sciences in Paris. They named it as a “chronograph”, taken from the Greek “chronos” for time and “graphein” to write, thus Nicolas Rieussec became the inventor of the world’s first inking chronograph.

The 44.8mm round, pebble-shaped gold-color dial presents a traditional guilloché grain d’orge decoration. Echoing the design of the original chronograph, two gold-coloured domed rotating chronograph discs, with 60-elapsed seconds on the left and 30-elapsed minutes on the right, are displayed on the lower part of the dial. A blued double hand bridges the two subdials, a reminder of the historical system that used ink for time measurements. There’s also a date window below at 6 o’ clock.

At 12 o’clock, an off-center hour-and minute-display reveals a white lacquered hour circle with Roman numerals and a gold-coloured sunray finish. While at 9 o’ clock there’s a second time zone open-worked hand and a day and night indication.

The movement is an in-house MB R200, an automatic Manufacture monopusher movement with a column-wheel mechanism that controls the monopusher mechanism positioned at 8 o’ clock. Armed with a double barrel, the movement has a 72-hour power reserve, and the rate remains constant, unaffected by the chronograph function. The watch comes on a matching brown alligator strap.

IMHO

With a 160-year history, Montblanc began producing watches with a monopusher movement at the start of the 20th century. The brand quickly gained recognition for the precision of their watches and stopwatches. Watches from Montblanc’s Star Legacy collection date back to 1858. These fine pieces enhance the level of classic finish and sophistication of the design while keeping the key elements. Since 1927, the Montblanc Star Legacy timepieces have featured round cases with elegant curved finishes to the sides that give a refined pebble-shaped effect, and this is beautifully reflected in the Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph Limited Edition.

Tech Specs

Movement: Montblanc Manufacture Calibre MB R200; Mechanical with automatic winding mechanism, chronograph and double barrel Chronograph Monopusher with column-wheel and vertical disc clutch
Dial: 44.8mm; Off-centered hour- and minute-hands, second time zone on same axis as hour-and minute-hands with day/night display, Date window at 6 o’clock, 60 elapsed-second and 30 elapsed-minute counters on rotating discs with central motionless hand
Case: Stainless steel, polished case, see through sapphire crystal on the caseback
Strap: Brown alligator leather
Price & Availability: USD 8,700; Limited edition of 200 pieces