SIHH 2016: Introducing the Montblanc 4810 Chronograph – Live photos, Specs and Price

Montblanc has been coming with an extremely strong offering, this year again, and during the fair they literary are the talk of the ‘town’. The high-end complication, like the ExoTourbillon Slim and the limited editions with hand-painted dials, the Tourbillon Cylindrique Pocket Watch 110 Years and the 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter are awe-inspiring. At the same time, the ExoTourbillon and the 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter are priced rather competitively and that’s also how Montblanc sets itself apart from the crowd. Today we’re going to look at a friendly priced chronograph of the newly revamped 4810 collection, the Montblanc 4810 Chronograph. 

One of the distinct features of the 4810 collection has always been the impressive guilloché dials that feature the ‘exploding Montblanc star motif’, as the brand calls it, and big applied Roman numerals. This year the 4810 collection has been revamped, and the cases have been redesigned, and are slightly smaller and thinner. The ‘exploding Montblanc star’ motif dial comes with red gold Roman numerals and indexes, and beautifully designed regate-shaped and skeleton hands.

The Chronograph Automatic is powered by the self-winding MB 25.07 calibre, which is based on the Sellita SW500. This caliber features a 46-hour power reserve, central hours and minutes and a small seconds dial at 9 o’clock for keeping track of the time. The chrono functions are displayed in a minutes subdial at 12 o’clock (that registers up to 30 minutes), hours at 6 o’clock (up to 12) and central seconds. The date is displayed in an aperture in the subdial at 6 o’clock with a small triangle indicating the exact date.

Due to the slighty reduced size, thickness and different lugs, the new Montblanc 4810 Chronograph wear very good on the wrist. It is an improvement over older models! As you can see it fits very nice on the wrist, and has a bolder presence than for instance the watches from the Heritage Chronométrie or Heritage Spirit collection that sport smaller and slimmer cases. The guilloche pattern on the dial really catches the attention!

You know that we usually do not copy/paste any press releases, however here’s a fair bit on the history of Montblanc and the very ‘reason d’être’ of the 4810 collection that I don’t want to withhold from you.

In 2016 Montblanc marks its 110th anniversary with a new 4810 Collection, building on this best-selling line that was first presented in 2006 for the Maison’s centennial celebrations. The new 4810 Collection respects all the codes of Montblanc’s watchmaking, with its strong, elegant and sporty design, offering a new sophisticated interpretation of this much loved 4810 Collection for the modern traveller who needs a performance timepiece he can rely on.

It was in 1906, during a booming period of manufacturing, that three pioneers travelled to America – engineer August Eberstein, merchant Alfred Nehemias and stationery trader Claus Voss – inspired by what they discovered. They developed a writing instrument with non-leaking technology and a piston convertor. Eberstein was the visionary engineer of the trio, and had spent many years researching micro mechanical innovations in the United States and England. His vision of performance, innovation and perfect quality became the nucleus and driving force of Montblanc. Voss, on the other hand, was the entrepreneur. He had been actively seeking for innovations with unique development potential. When he met Eberstein he immediately recognised his creativity and passion for engineering and knew he would be the perfect partner to complement his own entrepreneurial drive.

In 1910, the three founders adopted the name Montblanc, after the highest mountain in Europe, and made it a symbol for their vision for excellence. This desire for the highest quality translated into ultimate performance, true innovation and the finest craftsmanship, values that continue to drive Montblanc today. The peak of the Mont Blanc Mountain measures 4,810 meters, a number which has always been an iconic figure for the Maison. Today this number is reborn in the new 4810 Collection and honours the spirit of excellence that was set by the Maison’s founders when they began their incredible journey 110 years ago.

The Montblanc 4810 Chronograph Automatic is available with a silver/white dial or a black dial (that features the same guilloche pattern), and you have the choice between a leather strap or metal bracelet. Here are the prices:

• 4810 Chronograph Automatic, white dial, leather strap (Ident: 114855): 3.990 Euros
• 4810 Chronograph Automatic, metal strap (Ident: 114856): 4.250 Euros
• 4810 Chronograph Automatic, black dial, leather strap (Ident: 115123): 3.990 Euros

Specifications Montblanc 4820 Chronograph Automatic

• Movement: Calibre MB 25.07, automatic winding movement with a  chronograph function, and date. Frequency 28,800 A/h (4 Hz), 22 jewels, 46-hours power reserve
• Case: Stainless steel with polished and satinated bezel, 43mm in diameter and 13.7mm thick
• Glass: Scratch-resistant, domed sapphire and antireflective crystal
• Case-back: Stainless steel with inset pane of sapphire crystal
• Waterresistance: 5 bar
• Crown: Stainless steel with inlaid Montblanc emblem
• Dial: Silvery-white dial with exploding star guilloché pattern, red gold-plated Roman numerals and indexes, red gold-plated luminescent hour-hand and minute-hand in regate shape, red gold-plated small second-hand, blued chronograph hands, date indicated via a luminescent red gold-plated triangle at 6 o’clock
• Wristband: Black alligator-skin strap with stainless steel folding clasp

More info about the entire 4810 collection and the availability of watches on the Montblanc website here.