Nicolas Rieussec Rising Hours for Monaco by Montblanc

Montblanc has designed and developed a unique watch in its Manufacture in Le Locle, the Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Rising Hours for Monaco. Alliance of red gold and steel with Dual Carbon treatment, it displays the hours on a turning disc, that has been augmented with the appealing complication of a day/night indication in the hour display.

Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Rising Hours for Monaco the unique piece for Only Watch 2013

Montblanc - Hommage à Nicolas Rieussec

Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Rising Hours for Monaco - official picture

In addition to being an explicit reference to the inker-chronograph of 1822, the collection also welcomes Montblanc in the prestigious circle of movements’ manufactures. A certificate of merit allowed by the purchase of Minerva, a Villeret firm renowned for its 13-20ch column-wheel chronograph calibre which will be used as the basis for the creation of the first calibre MB R100.

Since then, Montblanc increases the complications according to an almost annual cycle: the Open Date 2009 and its opened-heart manual calibre MB R110, the Silicon model with silicon pallets and escape wheel followed by the new calibre MB R210 of the Open Home Time in 2012, presenting the opportunity to read the local and home time in one go. It is a skill evolving throughout each calibre. Anyone can perceive this through the continuous complications appearing on the dial.

With the advent of the MB R220, the latest Rising Hours patent develops a daring colorimetric day/night display of the watch dials. Indeed, as the night comes, the dial becomes blue and during the day it reverts to black! We have to admit that this device is one of the most bluffing.

With the MB R220 Montblanc develops a daring colorimetric day/nigh display

We are here dealing with the famous mechanical system also known as the Geneva drive, which is used in cinematographic devices in particular. Its function consists of transforming a continuous movement into a notched one. At the movement of only the minutes hand on the off-centred dial, an aperture acts as a see-through for a rotating analogue disc where the watch numbers are finely cut out. It is at this moment that the device engages at a fixed time. From 4:30 am, the depth of the mechanism helps the black colour of the day to gradually rise among the numbers until 7 hours are over, taken over by the night’s blue colour at 4:30 pm… It will not be easy to get used to it! The phenomenon is most significant at twilight since it is then that the numeral 6 is two-toned: black on the right for the day or blue when all the settings turn grey.

Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Rising Hours for Monaco with the emblematic star crown

The Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec customised with style for Only Watch 2013

For the occasion of Only Watch 2013, Montblanc designs a unique piece appearing to be a blend of genres: a one-of-a-kind style for this single push-piece chronograph intended for towns. The exclusive shiny black case combines the mother-of-pearl pink gold star crown with a thermal-treated steel and covered with DLC (Diamond-like Carbon).

Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Rising Hours for Monaco on the wrist

Another captivating feature of this watch includes the stark contrast between the gold bridge with blue screws and visible rubies of the Open Date and the guilloché barleycorn black back opted for this 5^th edition of Only Watch. Sophistication is once more found in the association of the animated case and the delicate alligator strap delivered with a stitching of the same colour as that of the red gold pin buckle. This particular style makes this watch of an amazing technical feat– it consists of more than 343 components – lively and disposing of a 72-hours power reserve. With the oxymoron robust and delicate, classic and stylish, masculine and warm attributed to it, the paradoxical For Monaco even goes as far as changing the colour of our nights.