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Montblanc makes it difficult for fans of vintage chronographs with two lovely 1930s-inspired creations

- Alvin Wong

Arguably the most widely appreciated of high-level complications, the chronograph’s chameleonic quality has allowed it to cast a wide net as it entices watch lovers of all stripes. Depending on the type and make, a chronograph can appear sporty, dressy or nostalgic – or all of these at once. The complication’s mainstay feature, which is to measure elapsed time, similar to how one uses a stopwatch, comes in varying degrees of technical complexities – straightforward interval timing, split-seconds timing, monoor multi-pusher activation, and more – allowing a wide berth for its appreciation.

Whether budding collectors or connoisseurs, the chronograph is something that we can all ‘get’ without the highfalutin pomp and pressures of learning to love, say, a tourbillon or minute repeater. Which is why, even though Montblanc’s latest chronographs are billed as the top of the range offerings to collectors with enviable bank accounts, the watches exude an almost primal attraction that makes them just so easy to like.

Perhaps it has something to do with the watches’ lineage. Both the 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Origins Limited Edition 100 and 1858 Split Second Chronograph Limited Edition 18 take their design and technical cues from Minvera watches from the 1930s, a rare breed of historically rich horological titans with designs that have obviously stood the test of time. And if there’s one thing to know about Minerva, other than the fact that the 163-yearold company has been fully integrated in Montblanc’s watchmaking setup since 2006, is that its legacy of making beautiful, handcrafted chronographs is second to none.

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