A Collector’s Dream: Montblanc Heritage Small Second Limited Edition 38
Voltaire knew that “Perfect is the enemy of good.” In this sense, the excitement of Davide Cerrato, Managing Director Montblanc Watch Division is completely justifiable. He currently has one of the brand’s best watch stories to tell – the origins of the Montblanc Heritage Small Second Limited Edition 38. He calls this watch “magical”, a rare collectors dream, and a true lucky strike thanks to a fortunate find in the still slightly jumbled Minerva archives.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Default. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
In there, they discovered 38 calibres of the manual wound movement Minerva MB M62.00 from 2003, which is inspired by a Minerva Pythagore calibre from 1948 – with an identical setup, yet an improved finishing. The large escapement in this movement runs with a slow-paced frequency of 18.000 vph (2,5 Hz) and offers a power reserve of 50 hours. Emerging from these 38 movements, Montblanc now established the new Heritage Small Second Limited Edition 38.
Limited to 38 pieces – Manual-wound movement Minerva MB M62.00
Due to its particular genesis, it is a watch that relays very different stages of the brand’s history – from decades of upswing of the manufacture that was founded in 1858, the highly praised calibres of the first half of the 20th century, the time after the quartz crisis, to the many years under the lead of former owner Emilio Gnutti and his demand of highest workmanship. And, eventually, from the acquisition by Richemont in 2006, when Minerva’s history was implemented into the horological ambitions of Montblanc, that today belongs to the Richemont Group.
Montblanc Heritage Small Second Limited Edition 38
Ever since, Minerva – based in the Swiss town of Villeret – is responsible for the most exquisite pieces amongst the precious watches of the Montblanc collection. And the Heritage Small Second Limited Edition 38 is one of the most extraordinary models of recent times. It is not superficially limited for marketing reasons, but rather due to the lack of ‘material’ – in this case new-old-stock-movements.
Sleek 39mm case size
Inspired by design elements from the 1940s, one can certainly spot a touch of vintage. At the same time, Super-LumiNova has been used for hands, numerals and indices to combine the beauty of the past with modern technical approaches. Hence, the horological possibilities of 2020 meet with 160 years of tradition – today and yesterday and ere yesterday mingle in this timeless dress watch.
Contemporary design made in Villeret – Inspired by Minerva chronographs from the 1940s
The dial with a small seconds indication at six o’clock is decorated in two nostalgic-romantic rose shades and will most likely please vintage collectors as well as fans of contemporary design. This shade is highly coveted at the moment. Another subtle highlight reveals itself just underneath the 4 and 5 o’clock position – it shows a Minerva lettering on the dial, that Montblanc calls a secret signature. This is the very first time it has been included since the acquisition of the manufacture by Montblanc, and it ought to remain an exception, as a unique homage to underline the brand’s history.
A secret signature – The Minerva lettering between 4 and 5 o’clock
The movement and dial are cased in a very classic, fully polished stainless-steel case with curved horns, 39 mm case diameter and a domed box-shaped sapphire crystal glass. The watch wears comfortably on almost any wrist. However, at a price of 17.900 euros, one or the other potential wearer might probably have wished for a white-gold case. Anyhow, it is a watch with a unique story, has the name of Minerva on the dial and is undoubtedly a very tempting model for Minerva and Montblanc collectors.
Domed box-shaped sapphire crystal glass
A production limit of only 38 pieces means there are only a few watches per continent available, Davide Cerrato emphasises. To actually meet another person with this exceptional piece is highly unlikely, even in the watch world. But if it happens, one thing is for sure: They will get on well and take a rose-tinted look into the past, not to mention future.
Montblanc has added three new pieces to its Heritage collection, including the 18-carat rose-gold Heritage Manufacture Pulsograph Limited Edition 100 with a 'smoked-tobacco' brown dial. The vintage-looking wristwatch evokes the brand’s Minerva watches that were produced in the 1940s and 1950s, featuring a domed box-shaped sapphire crystal. Initially launched showcasing a salmon-coloured dial and stainless-steel…
What we spotted on YouTube this morning, is a great example of how self-ironic and contemporary the watch industry can be. It is probably the most amusing idea on demonstrating the merits of a mechanical watch, that a brand published in a long time: An elderly smart dressed gent seeks advice about a smartwatch in a…
Initially debuted in 1979, the Piaget Polo 79 has been a big talking point for us at Swisswatches ever since its revival last year, as reported on in great detail by my colleague Nico Bandl. It is a beautiful watch – and an undeniably grand watch, available up until now, true to the original, in…
In 2011, Cartier acquired a 17th century farmhouse a stone’s throw away from its watch manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds, lovingly renovated it, and created an atelier in which the maison prioritises traditional craftsmanship. The renovation work was completed in 2014; gem-setters and enamellers promptly moved in to bring the maison's most breathtaking creations to life,…
The fifth LVMH Watch Week, which took place in Miami from January 28 to February 1, was proof of LVMH's ambition to become ever more influential in the watch sector, in which it is now the fourth largest power after Rolex, Richemont and the Swatch Group. To this end, the family-owned business is gearing up…
Building the thinnest watch in the world is undeniably one of the most competitive and impressive record chases in modern day horological engineering. Whilst many brands have produced thin watches, only a few brands have ever been truly in competition for the trophy – predominantly Bulgari, Richard Mille and Piaget. In this article, we will…
A childhood dream has come true. Thanks to Mercedes-AMG and IWC Schaffhausen who teamed up at the Nürburgring 24-hours race to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the performance sports car brand of Mercedes-Benz, which took it’s name from the initials of the founders Hans Werner Aufrecht, Erhard Melcher and the town where it all began,…
At first glance, one could almost forget that this new Breguet model—limited to just 250 pieces—is a precision timekeeping instrument, despite the fact that much of its intricate mechanism remains visible even while worn on the wrist. The Breguet Tradition 7035 stands as a symbol of 250 years of aesthetic refinement and innovation. Today, Abraham-Louis…
Swiss watch start-up Norqain earned a spot in the display windows of the prestigious retailer Wempe in remarkably little time. Our editor Joern F. Kengelbach explores this through the lens of the latest 2024 Wempe Signature Collection, created in collaboration with none other than this rising watch start-up, which has been making waves in recent…
The history of the most expensive Audemars Piguet watches ever offered at auction is simultaneously a narrative of the brand’s greatest achievements, its illustrious heritage, and the most exquisite models it has produced throughout its long corporate history. The timepieces’ lofty prices are, in a sense, a reflection of the rich tradition they carry, and…
A famous Italian track near Sant’Agata Bolognese (not far from the Lamborghini headquarter) had been temporarily closed for us to be able to enjoy the adrenaline rush of some Lamborghini super cars (Huracán Performante and Aventador S)! But not enough – the gala dinner afterwards was held right in the middle of the production lines…
This story begins with a personal anecdote, which at first doesn't appear to have anything to do with Tissot's new Seastar 2000 Professional Powermatic 80. My Seastar from the 1960s is a vintage dress watch. It is so simple and so elegant that actually, I only wear it for important occasions. Tissot Seastar 2000 Professional Powermatic…
Retailer Bucherer is kicking off 2025 with the introduction of three special timepieces created in collaboration with watch manufactures Ulysse Nardin, Girard-Perregaux and Chopard. Each watch presents its own unique concept. The Ulysse Nardin Freak X Enamel combines its extraordinary movement construction with a deep green dial. Meanwhile, Girard-Perregaux offers up a tourbillon in a…