BY DHANANJAY PATHAK
Montblanc is not a brand that comes to mind when thinking about a high-end luxury watch. However, since acquiring Minerva, the brand has gradually started making its presence felt by releasing some stunning timepieces such as the new Montblanc Star Legacy Exo Tourbillon Skeleton LE8.
‘Complicated yet strikingly beautiful’ are a few words that, in my opinion, best describe the new Montblanc Star Legacy Exo Tourbillon Skeleton LE8. The folks at Mont Blanc have done a great job of not only bringing the intricacies of the caliber to the forefront but also keeping the legibility of the watch intact. So, while you gaze in amazement admiring those hand-polished bevels and those gears and levers in action, all it would take is a glance at the sub-dial at 12 to get a sense of time. Crafted using the Grand Feu enamel technique, the ivory dial features a traditional layout with Arabic numerals that form the hour index and a rail-road style minute track that runs on the outer periphery. The elegant leaf-style hour and minute hands have been rendered in gold and are well-proportioned, making it a breeze to read the time.
Positioned at 6, is the beating heart of this watch, the Exo Tourbillon mechanism of the open-worked caliber MB M18.69. As is clearly visible, the balance wheel has been suspended above the Tourbillon cage with the help of a stainless-steel arm. And while this arrangement is visually compelling, it also helps improve the performance of the movement. A hand-wound unit, the MB M18.69 operates at a frequency of 18000 VPH and offers a power reserve of around 50 hours. The movement comprises 188 painstakingly hand-finished components that can be viewed from the front as well as the back. Surrounding the Tourbillon cage is a second’s track that can be read using the small blued second’s hand. Finally printed on one of the bridges is number 8, which highlights the limited nature of this watch.
The artistic dial of the Star Legacy Exo Tourbillon Skeleton has been packed inside an elegant gold case. Crafted from 18k rose gold, the case measures 44.8mm in diameter and has a thickness of around 15mm. The case has been beautifully polished and provides a warm contrast to the steel parts of the movement. The case is water-resistant to 30 meters and features a grippy crown at 3, which should make winding the movement a pleasurable experience.
The new Montblanc Star Legacy Exo Tourbillon Skeleton LE8 is accompanied by a brown Sfumato alligator leather strap and is limited to just 8 pieces. The retail price is set at EUR 138,000.
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