Unveiled at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva on 21 Jan 2013, the new Montblanc Star Classique collection offers two models: Star Classique Lady Automatic & Star Classique Steel-Gold Automatic.
Montblanc’s Star Collection embraces a whole series of classically beautiful wristwatches that wed the brand’s unmistakable aesthetic and the traditional art of Swiss watchmaking.
These watches follow no trends and will therefore never go out of style. Instead, they embody timelessly elegant design which will seem as convincing and harmonious to tasteful individuals many years from now as it seems to their discerning forebears today.
New models will soon be added to further enhance this imperishably classical look by combining it with a mechanical inner life crafted in accord with the best Swiss tradition: there will be a diamond-studded watch for ladies, as well as a bicolour version in stainless steel and gold in sizes for ladies and gents. This latter duo is conceived for two people who already belong together or hope to become a loving couple.
Montblanc Star Classique Lady Automatic
This lady’s watch with 72 brilliant-cut diamonds weighs more than half a carat (circa 0.526 ct). These gemstones sparkle with a radiance that will bring a similarly bright gleam into the eyes of the lady who owns them.
The incandescent twinkle of the diamonds gorgeously contrasts with the softly nacreous shimmer of the white mother-of-pearl dial and subdial for the seconds with its red-gold-plated appliqués and hands. The seconds display is further embellished with an engraving of Montblanc’s emblem. The result is a subtle lightshow that presents a new staging with each successive motion of its wearer’s wrist.
The theatre for this show is a classically elegant, very slim, circular case made of 18 ct red gold: with a diameter of 34 millimetres and an unostentatious height of 8.9 millimetres, this case is perfectly dimensioned to achieve its fullest effects.
A clear silhouette, finely stepped horns, a fluted crown with Montblanc’s emblem inset in mother-of-pearl and the warm hue of red gold imbue the case with all the attributes of a classical and timelessly elegant beauty.
Furthermore, it harbours a pleasant surprise which it reveals only to the lady who owns it. The red gold back includes a scratch-resistant pane of sapphire crystal through which she can peer to admire a piece of jewellery that’s becoming increasingly popular among discriminating ladies: namely, a mechanical movement with all the characteristics of the famed Swiss art of watchmaking, i.e. precision, reliability and longevity.
This calibre needs no batteries because it winds itself by capturing energy from the natural motions of its wearer’s forearm. If the watch has stopped running because it has been left unworn for a longer period of time, a few turns of the winding-crown suffice to set it in motion again.
The Montblanc Star Classique Lady Automatic is an irresistible piece of jewellery for ladies who believe that inner values are as important as external beauty and timeless elegance.
Technical details
Model: MONTBLANC Star Classique Lady Automatic Ref 107958
Movement
MB 4810/408
Type of movement: Mechanical movement with automatic winding mechanism
No. of jewels: 27
Power reserve: approx 42 hours
Frequency: 28’800 bph (4 Hz)
Hairspring: Flat
Indications: Hours, minutes, small second at the ‘6’
Case & dial
Case: 18 K red gold
Bezel: 18 K red gold bezel set with 72 Top Wesselton diamonds (~ 0.526 ct.)
Sapphire crystal: Domed sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating
Case back: 18 K red gold with sapphire crystal
Crown: 18 K red gold with mother-of-pearl Montblanc emblem
Dial: White mother-of-pearl dial with red gold-plated indexes and numerals
Hands: Red gold-plated feuille hands
Dimensions: Diameter 34 mm; Height 8.98 mm
Water resistant: 3 bar / 30 m
Bracelet
White, shiny Alligator-skin strap with 18 K red gold pin buckle
Montblanc Star Classique Steel-Gold Automatic
Particularly strong emotions are evoked by wristwatches which not only combine artistic perfection, traditional Swiss precision and timelessly classical aesthetics, but also convey a romantic message.
Such timepieces are available as lady’s and gent’s models that are identical in appearance and differ only in their dimensions. A perfect example of this category is the new Montblanc Star Classique Steel-Gold Automatic, which will be available in diameters of 34 and 39 millimetres, each of which encases a mechanical movement.
The new Montblanc Star Classique Steel-Gold is a highpoint in classical watch design and has the best prerequisites for becoming a veritable classic. With a round, very flat case and a narrow bezel, it embodies understatedly simple elegance that outlasts ephemeral fashions.
The colour contrast between warm 18 ct red gold and cool stainless steel on the case and bracelet has been a classic for decades and has lost none of its appeal today. As the Star Classique Steel-Gold convincingly proves, this contrast not only creates an attractive aesthetic, but also has a functional aspect.
The pale dial, which is white mother-of-pearl in the lady’s model and matte silvery grey for gents, matches the stainless steel tone-in-tone. This contrasts with applied red-gold-plated numerals and indices, and with likewise red-gold-plated feuille hands, to assure that the time display is outstandingly legible.
The rosy metallic elements convey the warm hue of the crown and bracelet links (both made of 18 ct red gold) to the dial, which gains an expression of even greater value through this appealing contrast. Narrow, vertically extending horns curve slightly downwards to give the watch an anatomically correct contour that perfectly fits its wearer’s wrist.
The harmonious impression is consummated by a slightly domed sapphire crystal which guarantees the utmost transparency thanks to antireflective treatment on both its surfaces.
The value is further increased by the inner life of the new Montblanc Star Classique Steel-Gold watches for ladies and gents: calibre MB 4810/408 is a self-winding mechanical movement with a balance that vibrates at a pace of 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour, a barrel that amasses a 42-hour power reserve and other components that embody all the characteristics of genuine Swiss watchmaking tradition and are increasingly becoming indispensable attributes of quality for ladies’ and gents’ wristwatches in higher-priced classes.
Good reasons to place these outstanding features in full view behind a transparent pane of sapphire crystal. Both models have a bicolour linked bracelet with a triple folding clasp and will be available in the combination of steel and yellow gold as well in autumn of 2013.
Technical details
Model: MONTBLANC Star Classique Automatic Steel-Gold Lady & Gent (Ref 107915 and 107916)
Movement
MB 4810/408
Type of movement: Mechanical movement with automatic winding mechanism
No. of jewels: 27
Power reserve: approx. 42 hours
Frequency: 28’800 bph (4 Hz)
Hairspring: Flat
Indications: Hours, minutes, small second at the ‘6’
Case
Case: Bi-colour in stainless steel and 18 K red gold
Sapphire crystal: Domed sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating
Case back: Stainless steel case back with sapphire crystal
Crown: 18 K red gold Water resistant 3 bar / 30 m
Dimensions
Lady: Diameter 34 mm; Height 8.9 mm
Gent: Diameter 39 mm; Height 8.9 mm
Dial
Lady: White mother-of-pearl dial with red gold-plated indexes and numerals, red gold-plated hands; small second at the ‘6’ with engraved Montblanc emblem
Gent: Silver-grey dial with red gold-plated indexes and numerals, red gold-plated hands; small second at the ‘6’ with engraved Montblanc emblem
Bracelet
Bi-colour in stainless steel and 18 K red gold, triple-folding clasp
Both models also available as bi-colour in stainless steel and 18 K yellow gold.
