Montblanc Meisterstuck Heritage Pulsograph
Meisterstück - translate it and you get "Masterpiece", Google it and you'll get pens, each adorned with the stamp of über luxury, the Montblanc snowy star.
Jerome Lambert, the CEO of Montblanc must be as pleased as punch as the dust settles following SIHH 2014, because under his leadership his watchmaking company has achieved what Baume et Mercier did with their Clifton collection last year - that is, has unveiled a collection which everyone - (the retailers the collectors even the journalists) loved. Today we pluck just one piece from the collection, the Meisterstück Heritage Pulsograph.
It is understated with more than a hint of vintage styling, is designed to slip into the +40mm dress watch niche (just a whisker above, at 41mm) and is limited enough in numbers (90 units worldwide) to be special.
Dauphine hands are faceted to catch the light. A sunbrushed silver-white dial adds interest and clever styling ensures there is still enough empty dial space despite the addition of a traditional pulsograph scale. On the side of the rose gold case at 6 o'clock is a sneaky little Montblanc diamond.
All are fine meritorious features, they do however only provide the aesthetics, what makes this piece so desirable is the movement which powers it - a monopusher column-wheel chronograph, inspired by a Minerva Calibre dating back to 1923. Better still, it is hand-finished and assembled by the historical Minerva Institute which was bought by the Richemont Group in 2004 - a move which has been vital to Montblanc's elevation into Haute Horlogerie, and its inclusion means that this watch has added desirability for those with an appreciation for watchmaking history. If you are motivated by the term "in-house" then Minerva is as authentic as you can get thanks to Richemont's careful and considered handling of this traditional watchmaking marque.
More on the Montblanc Meisterstück Heritage Pulsograph here.
