Jewellery & Watch News
French watchmaker Nicolas Rieussec created the world’s first inking chronograph back in 1821 and for 2022, Montblanc honours the invention with two new Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph watches. One in stainless steel and a limited edition in black PVD, the designs beautifully mirror the original device with blue accents inspired by the ink droplets and a Clou de Paris guilloche dial in tribute of Nicolas Rieussec’s birthplace.
The Case
The new Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph watches for 2022 come in two styles. The first is a permanent piece within the collection engineered from stainless steel while the second is a 500-piece limited edition dressed in a gorgeous black PVD coating. Both cases sit on the wrist at 43mm in diameter and at 15.1mm tall. While the steel case elects a combination of brushed and polished surfaces, the black PVD reference opts for a polished treatment across its entire surface. At 3 o’clock, the cases present the familiar onion-shaped crown and a single pusher at 8 o’clock for controlling the chronograph complication on the display. The Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph watches also deliver domed sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating on the front, a matching sapphire crystal glass case back and a 50 metre water resistant rating.
The Dial
Mimicking the same layout as the original inking chronograph created by Nicolas Rieussec, the Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph 2022 watches feature two discs on the bottom half of the dial, horizontally aligned at the 4 and 8 o clock positions. The former displays the small seconds while the latter presents the 30 minutes chronograph counter. Above both of these is a larger subsidiary dial for the hours and minutes. A date window is also included at 6 o’clock and a second time zone function is displayed beside the hours and minutes. On this same off centred dial is a day and night indicator revealed through a rounded aperture at 9 o’clock.
After being left impressed at the mass of functionality cleanly utilised on the dial, it’s time to enjoy the breathtaking decoration. Both Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph watches deliver a lovely Clou de Paris guilloche pattern on their backdrop, the steel edition colouring the display in a crisp silver white and the black PVD version nominating a black backdrop. Both dials are then complete with handsome accents of blue inspired by the ink used in the original inking chronograph. Blue is used more sparingly on the black PVD watch but on the stainless steel case, you’ll find it across the two subsidiary counters, second time zone hand, hour and minute hand and on the screws.
The Movement
The workhorse behind the Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph watches is the Caliber MB R200 automatic chronograph movement. It features 319 individual components including 40 jewels and a 10mm balance spring which sits within its transverse balance bridge to ensure a frequency of 28,800vph. There’s also double barrel construction for a 72-hour power reserve. The monopusher chronograph is column wheel controlled with a vertical clutch and pairs with a rapid-reset mechanism for the hour hand and date display. This means you can move the hours either forwards or backwards without changing the position of the minutes.
The Strap
The stainless steel Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph watch is completed on a navy blue textile strap closed by a stainless steel folding buckle. Meanwhile, the Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph Limited Edition in black PVD opts for the same blue textile strap but one that secures around the wrist by a matching black PVD folding buckle.
Price & Availability
Both Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph watches are available to order now on the C W Sellors website here. The stainless steel version retails at £6,700 and is part of the permanent collection while the black PVD model is a limited edition of 500 pieces and comes in a little higher in price at £7,000. For more information on both releases and to get them for yourself, call the team on 01335 453453 or send us a message at sales@cwsellors.com.
