Foversta offers an exclusive look into Montblanc's 2016 novelties exhibition at their Paris Champs-Élysées boutique, focusing on the redesigned 4810 collection. His detailed photo essay highlights the aesthetic refinements made to celebrate the brand's 110th anniversary, providing valuable insights into the evolution of this recognizable collection. Readers gain a unique perspective on how Montblanc balances heritage with contemporary design.
Between the 2nd and the 16th of June, the Montblanc boutique on the Champs-Elysées in Paris organizes an exhibition to present some of the 2016 novelties with a focus on the 4810 collection. The new pieces of the 4810 collection were created to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the brand and it is very interesting to compare them with the already existing 4810 watches to discover some aesthetic changes.
Actually, the 4810 collection is maybe the one which gathers the most numerous recognizable elements: a strong case with rather thick lugs, the large roman numerals, the crown shape close to an onion one, the specific guillochage of the dial, the high and inclined flange etc...
The aim of the redesign of the 4810 collection in the context of the 110th anniversary was to preserve the stylistic touches which define the DNA of any 4810 piece and to bring more refinement. It is the reason why you will notice that on the new pieces the flange is smaller and that the lugs are thinner.
I propose you to discover now this exhibition.
The boutique window is an invitation to discover the new pieces. Montblanc is pioneering since 1906 and the liner is part of the history of the brand. It also reminds that the 4810 collection is designed to offer useful complications like a second time zone display or a chronograph.
Inside the boutique, the rotonde is dedicated to the timepieces with the exhibition on the table:
Some details in the different windows remind the watchmaking heritage of the brand and of the Minerva manufacture:
Before we discover the new pieces, let's have a look at a "classic" 4810 watch: the Date Automatic. It gathers the traditional style effects of the 4810 collection like the high and inclined flange, the strong roman numerals, the star-shaped counterweight of the second hand and the guillochage of the dial with sunrays pattern.
This is for me the most interesting piece of the new 4810 collection (with the Orbis Terrarum): the Twinfly Chronograph 110 years edition. It combines a chronograph with the display of the second timezone. You will notice that the peripheral scale is not anymore on the flange but on the dial. The lugs are thinner and the overall visual rendering is more elegant. The key feature of this watch is the use of the in-house movement MB LL100.1 with a power reserve of 3 days. The case is large (43mm) and rather thick (close to 15mm). The upper subdial is a night/day indicator. Both the seconds and the minutes of the chronograph are displayed thanks to the peripheral scale and so with the central hands. The legibility of these data is preserved.
The Twinfly Chronograph 110 years edition is available in a LE of 1.100 pieces.
This is the 4810 Chronograph Automatic which features a similar case diameter (43mm). The chronograph data are displayed with a classic way: the upper sub-dial is dedicated to the minutes counter while the peripheral scale displays the seconds.
The 4810 Day Date uses a small date window and a 40,5mm case. I would like to highlight the quality of the work on the bracelet on the picture below. The brushed and polished parts make it nice to wear.
The 4810 Date Automatic is available with a silver or black dial. I tend to prefer the later which is for me, a bit more original and casual. The large date window at 6 o'clock is back. I appreciate on it the little red details. Moreover the black color makes the guillochage more discreet and I think it is a good point for someone who looks for a watch with a sober design. The case diameter is 42mm.
We leave the 4810 collection to discover two novelties which belong to other parts of the catalogue.
The 1858 Manual Small Second is easily recognizable thanks to its typical hands and the logo. This large (44mm) watch powered by an Unitas movement is also available with this bracelet which works pretty well.
The last novelty is the Heritage Chronométrie Chronograph Annual Calendar which also combines two useful complications. The watch features the typical design elements of the Heritage Chronométrie collection (like the 12 on top of the dial or the indexes) and offers a balanced dial lay-out. Sadly, I found the date not very legible but it is maybe the sign that I need to buy glasses! This 42mm watch has a good presence on the wrist and remins elegant despite its large diameter.
The good surprise for me was the ability to handle the Villeret Exotourbillon Chronograph and its superb movement.
We obviously have a pocket watch feeling when we open the hunter caseback to discover the stunning handwind movement which powers the watch:
The "regulator" type of display is maybe a bit confusing at the beginning (we don't have to forget that the watch also offers a second timezone display with a day/night indicator):
Once on the wrist, the large tourbillon opening attracts our eyes! Even if it wasn't a novelty, it was for me a big pleasure to put it again on the wrist.
The exhibition will last on this boutique till the 16th of June.
I would like to thank the staff of the boutique for the warm welcome.
Fx
This message has been edited by foversta on 2016-06-05 07:55:22 
