Swiss Watches
Although powered by a modified version of an unassuming ETA blank movement, this new Montblanc Star Quantieme Complet (Ref. 108737) automatic wrist watch is delivered in a refined, slim rose gold body and looks like a very nice choice for a person looking for an, um, expensive “entry level” luxury watch.
As you can gather from the photos below, the watch features a very familiar dial layout with the usual “day of week” and “month” apertures placed at 12 o’clock, and a moonphase display at 6 hours. The inevitable circular date indicator with a crescent-pointed blued hand is also present.
While many similarly designed dials often tend to look jaw-breakingly boring, this particular silver-colored job actually looks quite inspiring (if you are into this style of timekeepers, that is), mainly thanks to a wise choice of fonts and a somewhat unusual guilloche pattern at the center of the face.
Like many other members of Montblanc’s Star Collection of classic-styled watches, the timepiece features a compact (at least, by today’s standards) body, which is crafted from 18-carat rose gold, mirror polished and equipped with an onion-shaped winding/setting crown decorated with the signature Mont Blank Star emblem done in mother-of-pearl.
As for the movement, it is their new MB 4810/912 self-winding caliber.
Based on a standard ETA ebauche, it is equipped with a full calendar add-on module and features a rather standard set of 25 jewels, beats at a common frequency of 28,800 vph and features a barely adequate (for the price range) power reserve of just 42 hours.
Well, while the movement can’t impress anybody with the amount of energy that it can store, it will still be enough if you plan to wear the Montblanc Star Quantieme Complet on a daily basis or are ready to put it into an automatic winder.
Price is still to be officially announced, but I suspect that it will cost no less than some $20,000*.
See also: Montblanc Villeret 1858 Vintage Pulsographe
* UPDATE ON PRICE: It actually costs even more ahem affordable €14,900. This is actually a good price for a full calendar wristwatch in a rose gold body. Yes, the choice of mechanism doesn’t seem to be particularly impressive, but, being primarily a maker of luxury writing instruments, the Swiss brand still makes only first tentative steps into becoming a true “Manufacture” and its own facility is probably not able to make so many in-house calibers to power their “entry-luxury” timekeepers animated by relatively simple “tractor” calibers. So, all in all, the price seems to be good and will only get better as long as various online retailers will start offering it with good discounts.
Photos: Montblanc
Montblanc Star Quantieme Complet in Rose Gold (Ref. 108737) Automatic watch specification
Price: €14,900 (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic, Caliber MB 4810/912 (base ETA blank movement), Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 25
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 42 hours
Movement decoration: No data
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, day of week (full calendar), moon phase indicator
Case material: Rose gold
Bezel material: Matches case
Crown material: Matches bezel
Case shape: Round
Bezel shape: Round
Case size: 42.00 mm
Case height: 12.17 mm
Lug width: No data
Dial: Silver
Numerals: Roman
Hour markers: Black
Hands: Blued
Water resistance: 30 meters
Strap: Brown leather strap with 18-carat rose gold pin buckle
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Case back: Sapphire