Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Collection made its debut in 2007, based on the technology used by Nicolas Rieussec, the sixth royal watchmaker to the King of France and world’s first inventor to make inking chronographs. Following the same mechanism, the Maison introduced two iterations in 43mm last year. Adding a contemporary touch to the aforementioned timepieces, the brand has released two new models - a black DLC coated stainless steel case model with an anthracite dial (Ref. 130985), limited to 500 pieces and a stainless steel version with a deep blue dial (Ref. 130986).
The novelties pay tribute to the origin of their existence - Paris. The new 43mm timepieces are incorporated with a monopusher chronograph at 8 o’clock and feature anthracite or deep blue dial with Clous de Paris motif, a pattern born out of Paris’s cobbled streets—the previous Grain d’Orge design is now replaced. The dial aesthetics extends to the black or blue interchangeable textile straps and the oscillating weight. Further, the rehaut is engraved with “Chronographe Nicolas Rieussec” at 12 o’clock and “Académie des Sciences de Paris 1821” on the lower arc, as a reminder of validation of Rieussec’s invention.
Sharing the common traits, the face of the references have an off-centred dial, 60-second and 30-minute counters on rotating discs with central index, second time zone with day and night display, and a date window located at 6 o’clock. The distinct features include green luminescent rose gold hour and minute hands with beige Super-LumiNova® for Ref. 130985. While for Ref. 130986, there are silver-white chronograph counters along with blue luminescent rhodium-coated hour and minute hands with white Super-LumiNova®.
Powering both the creations is the automatic Calibre MB R200, beating at the frequency of 4 Hz, and boasting a power reserve of about 72 hours. The watches are water resistant up to 50 metres.
Images courtesy: Montblanc