Re-Writing Time

Introducing two expressions of the chronograph from Montblanc's Minerva facility, the 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Red Arrow LE88 and the Unveiled Secret

- Jonathan Ho

1858 MINERVA MONOPUSHER CHRONOGRAPH RED ARROW LE88 PRICE + SPECS

Case 42mm stainless steel with 30 metres of water resistance

Movement Manually wound Calibre MB M13.21 with 60 hours of power reserve

Price TBA Limited Edition 88 pieces

COMBINING FINE WATCHMAKING with vintage 19th century aesthetics, the Montblanc 1858 Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Red Arrow LE88 is inspired by early designs from the Villeret-based Minerva manufacture. Pioneering the fluted bezel and an internal countdown rotating bezel as early as 1927, it was a design Minerva eventually incorporated into the brand's first wrist chronograph in 1939. Hence, the new 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Red Arrow from Watches & Wonders 2022 is a remarkable link to two milestones for the maison in one sumptuous modern edition.

The 1920s and '30s were the formative decades of aviation with rapidly advancing technology and the start of both civilian and military flights. Over the years, Minerva became a leading specialist in professional watches for measuring elapsed time with high precision, using accurate in-house movements such as the Calibre 19.09 or the Calibre 13.20. The manufacture is noted for having created both pocket watches and wristwatches with fluted bezels for both officers and non-commissioned officers with black dials and luminescent numerals and hands.

Reinterpreted in a 42mm stainless steel case, the Red Arrow Limited Edition includes an 18k white-gold fluted rotating bezel with the signature red arrow functioning as a zero marker to track elapsed time or operate as a countdown timer.