By Summer Sheffer
Montblanc’s latest ladies timepiece has an artistic and useful complication to the usual design elements of the Bohème collection such as the graceful and classic case, the somewhat curved faceted horns and the romantic dial with floral Arabic numerals.
The Bohème Moongarden was developed at the watch manufacture in Villeret, the Maison’s Movement & Innovation Excellence Center. It was inspired by the romance accompanied with the moon and a variety of names that people gave to the full moons over the course of the lunar new year.
The Moongarden also introduced a new complication, displaying the name of each month’s full moon instead of using the traditional name of the month.
From January to December, the names of the twelve moonphases are Ice, Snow, Chaste, Seed, Bright, Dyan, Rose, Red, Fruit, Harvest, Hunter, and Oak. These are finely engraved in a circular manner on the back of the watch to facilitate the setting and the choice of the moons. The current moon is the one in front of the little golden moon at 12 o’clock.
Under that, at 6 o’clock, another aperture shows the moonphase which can be adjusted or changed by using the individual corrector on the side of the 36 mm case.
The floral Arabic numerals and the leaf-shaped hands are set on a silver-white, blue or even pearl looking guilloché dial with 90 facets. The case is embellished with a crown set with a scintillating Montblanc diamond.
A feature that will be highly appreciated by some people, the Moongarden makes it incredibly easy to create a different look thanks to an interchangeable leather strap mechanism. Not being one for leather straps, in general, I’m not phased much. Others may enjoy it, though. A simple push mechanism unlocks the strap allowing the owner to pass from an elegant black alligator strap to a fashionable two color calf leather strap featuring seasonal colors to stimulate the seasons and the changing of the moonphases.
The movement of choice is the self-winding MB 29.17 with a manufacture complication. This four Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) movement promises a power reserve of 42 hours.
The Montblanc Bohème Moongarden is available in stainless steel or red gold with prices starting at about $4,600 for the steel version, and on up to $12,800 for the rose gold and diamond model.
Overall, I believe that the Montblanc Bohème Moongarden is a beautiful and useful watch, especially considering that the moonphase is one of my personal favorite complications. I’d recommend it to anybody looking for one such as this.
For more info, please visit montblanc.com
SUMMER SHEFFER – CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Summer’s stepfather introduced her to the world of watches when she was at a young age. He’d gotten a watch with a face that lit up, and she’d become incredibly intrigued. Years went on, and she did more research about watches, mostly what’s on the inside. She was fascinated by how they were put together. As for luxury watches, Summer prefers Breitling. Though her favorite brands are Franck Muller and Jaeger-LeCoultre. Read her articles here.
