In honour of Nicolas Rieussec and his innovative inking chronograph, Montblanc have used Geneva Watch Days 2022 to launch a new duo of Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph watches. One in classic stainless steel and a limited edition in black PVD, both come dressed in blue accents inspired by the ink droplets used to measure elapsed time in the original 19th-century instrument.
Royal watchmaker to the King of France, Nicolas Rieussec made history in 1821 with the launch of the world’s very first inking chronograph. The design was not a wristwatch but rather a box-shaped device used for timing horse racing. It allowed users to accurately record the races by using a fixed nip that would drop ink onto two rotating counters, one of the minutes and the other for the seconds. The user would push the nib every time a horse crossed the finish line, marking its finishing time. This remarkable invention paved the way for today’s range of modern mechanical chronographs and in commemoration of it, Montblanc have boasted their own range of Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec watches since 2007. While none of the designs drop liquid ink, their layout beautifully mirrors that of the original device while several Paris-themed design elements are used in tribute of the inventor’s birthplace. For Geneva Watch Days 2022, Montblanc unveils two new limited editions into the collection, both dressed in elegant blue hardware inspired by the original ink droplets.
The cases of the new Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph 2022 watches measure to 43mm in diameter and 15.1mm in height, and yet while these dimensions are pretty substantial, they sit flush and content on the average-sized wrist. Both designs are engineered from stainless steel with one given alternating brushed and polished surfaces while the 500-piece limited edition is given a black DLC treatment. The latter is a nice look and pairs great with its corresponding monochromatic dial. The rest of the case specifications match those of predecessors including the large onion-shaped crown at 3 o’clock, a single rectangular chronograph pusher at 8 o’clock, domed sapphire crystal glass with double anti-reflective coating and a matching sapphire crystal exhibition case back. The Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph watches also deliver a 50 metre water resistant rating.
Just like the original device created by Nicolas Rieussec, the dial of the Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph watches feature two horizontally aligned discs for the chronograph counters, the small seconds on the left and a 30 minutes counter on the right. A third larger subsidiary dial is placed above them all for the the main hours and minutes. A date window is also included at 6 o’clock and the time-telling dial very subtle displays a second time zone and a day and night indicator at its 9 o’clock position.
As for dial decoration, the 2022 Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph watches commemorate the city of Paris with a gorgeous “Clou de Paris” pattern which replaces the usual “Grain d’Orge” design seen on the previous editions. For the stainless steel model, the dial is finished in a crisp silver white and for the black PVD limited edition, a matching black backdrop is elected. Completing the displays are stunning accents of blue; the black PVD case uses the colour more sparingly on its double-ended chronograph marker and second time zone hand while the silver dial decorates its screws, hands and counters in the ink-inspired shade.
Powering the Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph watches is the familiar in-house Caliber MB R200 automatic chronograph movement. It features 319 individual components including 40 jewels and a 10mm balance spring which sitting within its transverse balance bridge ensures a running 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, allowing you to quickly set either forwards or backwards without changing the position of the minutes.
Lastly, the Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph watches are completed by textile straps with “Clou de Paris” patterns to match their dials. The stainless steel model opts for a matching polished folding buckle and as you’d expect, the black PVD model elects its own black clasp. As mentioned, the steel watch is a permanent piece in the collection while the black PVD design is a limited edition of 500 pieces.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph watches for 2022 and to shop the collection for yourself, head over to the Jura Watches website here or contact our team of luxury watch specialists. You can call us on 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
