Montblanc is celebrating 110 years of fine craftsmanship with a limited edition of three timepieces. The Montblanc Collection Villeret Tourbillon Bi-Cylindrique includes an in-house tourbillon, double cylindrical balance spring and “mysterious hours” floating hands, all encircled by that the slithering anthracite snake. To accommodate this, the 18kt red gold case measures a hefty 52mm.
Developed in-house, the Calibre MB M65.63’s double cylindrical balance springs are wound around a vertical axis and positioned one inside the other; moving in opposite directions with equal torque, they provide increased protection against friction, shocks and magnetism.
The most notable feature is the mystery time display,the hour and minute hands are metal arrows deposited onto clear sapphire discs, leaving them floating in midair, suspending over the mirrored base of the dial. Like all mysterious time displays, the sapphire discs have toothed rims which are connected to gears that drive them. Because the Tourbillon Bi-Cylindrique has an open-worked dial, the mystery display mechanism is visible, taking away the mystery but offering a clear view of the novel mechanism. And like all other movements made by Minerva, the calibre is finished by hand in a traditional manner to a high standard, some exemplified by the slim, polished and rounded tourbillon bridge.
Price is 280,000 EUR MONTBLANC
