Jewellery & Watch News
The perpetual calendar is arguably one of the luxury watch industry’s most coveted complications allowing for the display of the date, day, month, week and moonphase all while accounting for leap years. To manufacture a perpetual calendar movement is no easy feat, and yet when Montblanc released what was then the most affordable perpetual calendar on the market back in 2014, they have since remained a master of the complication. As part of their Watches & Wonders 2021 exhibition, the Swiss watch brand returns to the module with a trio of new Montblanc Heritage Perpetual Calendar watches.
Before we go into detail about each Montblanc Heritage Perpetual Calendar watch, we have to talk about the 378-component movement that powers them. Montblanc are certainly proud parents of their perpetual calendar module. It took them over three years of research and development to finalise it and during that time, the company’s watchmakers made the surprising decision to remove all the levers out of its composition and instead rely on just wheels and three independent cams. The calibre we’re talking about here is the MB 29.22 automatic winding movement and its lack of levers means that the time and date can be set both forwards and backwards. It’s architecture also incorporates a special safety feature which prevents wearers from manipulating the calendar mechanical mechanism between 6pm and 12pm which could otherwise cause serious damage.
The MB 29.22 automatic winding movement delivers a whole host of calendar functions to the Montblanc Heritage Perpetual Calendar watches including a subsidiary dial at 3 o’clock for the month and leap year, a moonphase aperture and display for the date at 6 o’clock and the day referenced on the dial at 9 o’clock. Uniquely, and something certainly not warranted to a perpetual calendar watch, the 9 o’clock subsidiary dial also boasts a 24 hour display which pairs with the central, short skeletonised second time zone hand. The MB 29.22 calibre continues to amaze with a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, courtesy of the flat hairspring and flat loop, and a power reserve of 48 hours.
Montblanc Heritage Perpetual Calendar Steel (119925)
Now you’ve got some appreciation of the mechanical mastery going on within them, let’s talk about the exteriors of each of the Montblanc Heritage Perpetual Calendar watches. We’ll begin with the stainless steel model under reference 119925. It’s 40 millimetre round case retains all the characteristics of Montblanc’s Heritage watch collection with refined curved horns and domed sapphire crystal box-shaped glass. Its polished stainless steel construction is wonderfully paired with a classic silvery-white dial with bent dauphine hour and minute hands treated with Superluminova, studded indexes and a single Arabic numeral at 12 o’clock. It promises a water resistance of 50 metres and is secured to the wrist by a Sfumato alligator leather strap in grey. Compared to the two rose gold models mentioned below, the Montblanc Heritage Perpetual Calendar Steel watch is a non-limited edition.
Montblanc Heritage Perpetual Calendar Rose Gold (119926)
Next up is the Montblanc Heritage Perpetual Calendar watch under reference 119926. Like it’s stainless steel counterpart, it’s centrepiece is a silvery-white dial with two alternating textures, but this time balanced by rose gold markers and hands. To pair, the 40 millimetre case is engineered entirely from 18 carat rose gold with a breathtaking polished finishing, a smooth unadorned bezel and a knurled crown at 3 o’clock. Again, the watch is water resistant to 50 metres and features sapphire crystal glass on both the front and back, with the back revealing the MB 29.22 movement from within. The Sfumato alligator leather is this time dyed in a warm brown tone and finished with a matching rose gold pin buckle. This Montblanc Heritage Perpetual Calendar Rose Gold watch is understandably a little more pricey than its stainless steel brother and is a limited edition of 100 pieces.
Montblanc Heritage Perpetual Calendar 100 (128669)
Last but certainly not least, Montblanc’s latest addition to its Heritage Perpetual Calendar family is reference 128669. Named the Montblanc Heritage Perpetual Calendar Limited Edition 100 watch for its exclusive 100-piece run, this model enhances its already well-versed vintage aesthetic with a gorgeous burnt caramel dial and 18 carat rose gold case. Still showcasing the grained hour ring and sunray finished centre, the wonderfully warm brown dial achieved its colour by “a special process that takes dexterity and time to achieve” and is complimented by familiar rose gold hardware. The case is again engineered to 40 millimetres in diameter with sapphire glass, a 50 metre water resistance and an exhibition case back. To complete the Montblanc Heritage Perpetual Calendar Limited Edition 100 watch, a brown Sfumato leather strap is added alongside an 18 carat rose gold pin buckle.
If you’d like to learn more about these Montblanc Heritage Perpetual Calendar watches and to shop your own, head over to the C W Sellors website here or get in touch with our team by calling 01335 453453. You can also message us at sales@cwsellors.com.
Specifications: Montblanc Heritage Perpetual Calendar Watches (119925, 119926, 128669)
- Case Size: 40mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel or 18 carat rose gold
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Case Back: Exhibition
- Movement: Montblanc Manufacture Calibre MB 29.22
- Functions: Hours, minutes, day, date, month, moon-phase, leap year, second time-zone, 24-hour display
- Power Reserve: 48 hours
- Jewels: 77
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Silver-white or burnt caramel
- Strap: Sfumato leather in grey or brown
- RRP: £13,500 (Steel), £22,500 (Rose Gold)
- Limited Edition: Non-limited (Steel), 100 pieces each (Rose Gold)
- Release Date: Available now
