| Quick specs Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie ExoTourbillon Rattrapante Limited Edition 8 Price: Approx. $ 208,000 | approx. € 190.000 | approx. £ 145,000 Size: 47 mm Reference: 115993  |
In 2006 a partnership between Minerva and Montblanc starts as the Richemont Group, also the owner of Montblanc, buys the Fabrique d’Horlogerie Minerva SA. This to secure the manufacture know-how. That is why the Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie ExoTourbillon Rattrapante is inspired by the 1948 Minerva Pythagore. Although it doesn’t really look like it. Nevertheless, this is a great timepiece.
The Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie ExoTourbillon Rattrapante combines a mono-pusher split-second chronograph (rattrapante) and a tourbillon. For Montblanc the rattrapante chronograph goes back to the 1930s when Minerva produced their first split-second stopwatches. These measure intermediate times without interrupting the ongoing measurement of a longer elapsing interval. A rattrapante is also known as a double chronograph (or fly-back second chronograph in the old days), as they have two hands. One for the intermediate time and one for the ongoing time. An invention from the 19th century by Adolphe Nicole. When exactly we don’t known, only that the conventional chronograph was invented by Louis Moinet, in 1816.
The ExoTourbillon of the Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie ExoTourbillon Rattrapante saves energy
The other important feature is the ExoTourbillon. “Exo” refers to the screwed balance wheel, which is positioned outside of the tourbillon’s rotating cage. As exo is Greek for “external” or “outside”. Montblanc has patented this mechanical architecture which allows the cage to be smaller in size and free of the weight of the balance wheel. Which saves 30 per cent more energy than a conventional tourbillon. The balance is positioned outside of the rotating cage and therefor it isn’t affected by the inertia of the cage; that improves precision.
Furthermore, a conventional tourbillon typically complete one rotation per minute. The ExoTourbillon rotates once every four minutes. This slower rotational speed requires less energy from the barrel but still produces the same compensating effect.
The Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie ExoTourbillon Rattrapante is limited to eight pieces. Below you’ll see how it works.
technical data Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie ExoTourbillon Rattrapante Limited Edition 8 |
| Reference: 115993 |
| Movement: Montblanc MB M16.62 | Hand-wound | Diameter: 38.4 mm | Thickness: 12.27 mm | Frequency: 18,000 vph (2.5 Hz) | Jewels: 36 | Parts: 432 | Tourbillon | Plate and bridges: rhodium-plated German silver | Hours, minutes, small seconds, GMT, mono-pusher split-second column-wheel chronograph with elapsed seconds and split seconds, day/night indicator | Power-reserve: 50 hours |
| Case & dial: 47 mm | 18K red gold | Thickness: 18.58 mm | 18K red gold crown with integrated chronograph mono-pusher | 18K red gold split-second pusher | Scratch-resistant, cambered sapphire and antireflective crystal | Screwed 18K red gold back case with inset pane of sapphire crystal | 18K gold dial with gray grené decoration and vertical satinated finishing | 18K red gold Arabic numerals | Red gold-plated and steel blued sword-shaped hands | Red gold-plated baton chronograph second hand and steel blued baton split-second hand | Water-resistance: 3 ATM / 3 bar / 30 meters / 100 feet |
| Strap: Black alligator-skin leather | 18K red gold pin buckle |
| Price Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie ExoTourbillon Rattrapante Limited Edition 8: Approx. $ 208,000 | approx. € 190.000 | approx. £ 145,000 |
| Website: www.montblanc.com |