Pre SIHH 2015: Introducing the Montblanc Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum (Live photos, specs and price)

Montblanc introduced the new Meisterstück Heritage collection at the 2014 edition of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, that was held in January of this year. A very interesting new collection that includes the most affordable perpetual calendar on the market, and with the Meisterstück Heritage Pulsograph they introduced the first “Villeret” movement (calibre MB M13.21) in a non-Villeret collection, and many more classically styled watches. Beginning of 2015 they will introduce the new Montblanc Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum, a stunning worldtimer that is part of the Heritage Spirit collection, that we can already show you here with lots of hands-on photos, the specs and price.

In terms of style, the Heritage Spirit collection embodies all the codes of fine watchmaking, with a refined case design and elegant, clear dials. And now they’re introducing what is probably the most useful complication in a wrist watch, a worldtimer, into this Heritage Spirit collection. Here at Monochrome Watches we just love it. Let’s have a closer look at all the beautiful design cues, the multi-layered dial, and the beautifully finished case of the Montblanc Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum, that is soon available in stainless steel and 18K red gold.

Now for those of you who are extremely well informed, the design of the centre of the dial, displaying the continents as viewed from the North Pole, might look a bit familiar. Vacheron Constantin showed the continents in a comparable way, with multiple layers that change the colour of the continents from light (day) to dark (night). That one was is of an entirely different price range, because the new Montblanc Heritage Spirit Orbus Terrarum (in steel), starts at a retail price of € 4,990 Euro and the red gold version comes at a retail price of € 13,900 Euro.

How does it the worldtimer on the Montblanc Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum work?

Centrally placed are the hour and minute hand, that indicate the local time.

The multi-layer dial in the centre, comprises the main sapphire crystal dial that displays the continents as viewed from the North Pole. The continents are cut out from the rest of the disc that displays the oceans in a light blue colour. Under the main dial is a disc that, at a glance, shows where on Earth it is day and where it is night, by using a sapphire disk that is partially darkened.

Around the centre dial is a disk with the names of 24 cities that stand for their respective time zones. The disk with the cities can rotate independently (so no timing function will be influenced), by pushing the button located at the 8 o’clock position. This disk indicates the home city at the 6 o’clock position.

As said, the “local time” is displayed by the central hour and minute hands, which are adjusted with the crown. When traveling to another timezone, you can adjust the central hour and minute hand to the time of destination, which you can already read form the 24-hour disk that surrounds the city-disk.

Your home time will still be at the 6 o’clock position on the city-disk. The photo shows it is just after 22:00 /10PM in your home location. The 24-hour disk rotates in 24 hours and always, at any given time, shows the time in all 24 cities/timezones.

Both the stainless steel and the 18K red gold version feature similar finishing of the case. The 41mm round case has a refined design, with a narrow polished bezel and vertically descending flanks. The mid case features a horizontal satin brushed finishing, which beautifully contrast with the polished lugs and bezel.

The hands are classic dauphine shape hands, which are faceted and polished. The crown features the well known Montblanc emblem, raised in reflief (bass relief) against a sand-blasted background. The Montblanc Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum comes on a black alligator leather strap, with a triple folding clasp. The stainless steel version can also come on a steel bracelet for the price of € 5.250 Euro.

The ‘engine’ that powers this very beautiful Worldtimer, is the Montblanc calibre MB 29.20, which utilized a Sellita movement as base. The movement runs at 28,800 vph, and has approx. 42 hours of power reserve (when fully wound).

Specs of the Montblanc Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum

• Case: stainless steel or 18k red gold, 41mm in diameter, 12mm thick, domes sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, metal case back with flat sapphire crystal pane
• Movement: calibre MB 29.20, 26 jewels, 42 hours power reserve, 28,800 vph (4Hz), indicates hours and minutes from the centre, Worldtime indication with 24 hour time zones and integrated day & night display
• Strap: black alligator leather with triple folding clasp, or stainless steel bracelet
• Price: € 4.990 Euro for the stainless steel version and the 18k red gold is available for € 13,900 Euro.

More info: www.montblanc.com