Drawing inspiration from its founders’ early voyage to America, Montblanc’s revamped 4810 collection pushes the boundaries of innovation and craftsmanship.

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Every first quarter of the year, horology aficionados look forward to a new and highly collectible collection launched by Montblanc. They got what they wished for and more this time, with a revamp of the 4810 collection introduced to celebrate the company’s 110th anniversary. Named after the 4,810m-high Mont Blanc, the highest peak in western Europe, and first presented in 2006 to mark the maison’s centennial milestone, the collection boasts several refined and sporty models, including one with a new calibre, which naturally channel the spirit of adventure and excellence evoked by the maison’s own symbol.

The inspiration behind the collection is the era of intrepid sea exploration at the turn of the century, which is a tribute to the transatlantic voyage to America undertaken in 1906 by Montblanc’s three enterprising and innovative pioneers: engineer August Eberstein, merchant Alfred Nehemias and stationery trader Claus Voss. 

Aesthetics-wise, the refreshed 4810 does not stray from Montblanc’s classical codes and the Meisterstück series from the late 1990s. Its main theme here is the modern traveller and his desire for performance, reliability and craftsmanship. Altogether, the collection features three in-house movements, including manufacture complications Calibre MB 29.21 ExoTourbillon Stop-Second, Calibre MB LL100.1 TwinFly Chronograph, and the Calibre MB 29.20 World Timer.

Innovation Nonpareil 
The top-end showpiece is the Montblanc 4810 ExoTourbillon Slim, which combines the watchmaker’s patented ExoTourbillon complication with the addition of a quick stop-second function. Its performance is superior to a standard tourbillon’s, thanks to the minimal weight of the cage, which is disconnected from the balance wheel. The cage is nestled under the balance, earning it the Exo prefix.

This Calibre MB 29.21 ExoTourbillon automatic movement incorporates a new gold-plated micro-rotor decorated with a Côtes de Genève en Eventail motif. It measures 4.5mm in height with a total case height of 10.14mm, which is a feat in itself for such a complex calibre. Design-wise, it features a thinner bezel, satin finishing on the case, modified horns for better ergonomics, a silvery-white dial with an exploding Montblanc Star guilloched design on the upper half. Enhancing its elegance are red gold-plated and luminescent Roman numerals and indexes.

Continuing with Montblanc’s expertise in creating timeless and highly practical watches is the new 4810 Chronograph Automatic timepiece. The 43mm integrated two-pusher chronograph features the self-winding Calibre MB 25.07, with a 46-hour power reserve. Its perfectly balanced guilloched dial flaunts elements in luminescent red gold, and has excellent readability.

Following the success of the Montblanc Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum last year, the watchmaker now presents its contemporary world-time function in the striking 4810 Orbis Terrarum. The 43mm piece displays the time of 24 time zones on a multilayered dial depicting the northern hemisphere in an intelligent and intuitive way, thanks to a proprietary complication. The local time of any chosen destination as well as the 24 time zones are fully synchronised and effortlessly regulated with a simple adjustment. On one of the dial discs, a 24-hour ring indicates the different times in the 24 cities.

Hark the golden age
Special editions models have also been rolled out to honour the Montblanc founders’ journey across the Atlantic Ocean during an age of industrial and technological advancement. The inspiration behind them is the Blue Riband, an award given to passenger liners breaking the fastest speed record westbound against the Gulf Stream.

Capturing this spirit of endeavour so well is the Montblanc 4810 TwinFly Chronograph 110 Years Edition. Limited to 1,110 pieces and offering 72 hours of power reserve, the 43mm is driven by the in-house Calibre MB LL100.1, the proprietary self-winding chronograph movement with flyback function as well as a second time zone.

How could a tribute to the past be complete without a pocket watch? Taking pride of place in the 4810 collection is the Orbis Terrarum Pocket Watch 110 Years Edition, which is the first-ever pocket watch produced by Montblanc. Limited to 110 units, this 53mm piece features a Lépine-style steel case and a steel chain resembling a ship’s rope. Equipped with the same Calibre MB 29.20 World Timer movement as the Orbis Terrarum watch, it is convertible into a desk clock via a fold-out stand on the back, which is also engraved with an image of the passenger liner SS Deutschland from Hamburg, Montblanc’s home city.