Montblanc Timewalker Pilot Chronograph Review

Michael Ting's 'On The Wrist Review' of the Montblanc Timewalker Pilot Chronograph delves into his search for a versatile, everyday sport watch. This detailed review explores the watch's design, comfort, and historical inspirations, offering a personal perspective on how this particular Timewalker model resonated with his collecting philosophy, drawing parallels to his experience with Panerai.

Montblanc Timewalker Pilot
Chronograph Review

I believe most enthusiasts share similar purchasing habits.  One of these is the pursuit of the “Grail watch”.  For some of us the grail represents a timepiece out of our current financial reach; for others it is an extremely limited variant which is rarely seen.  My grail watch was neither. I’ve been looking for a casual sport watch, one that I would instinctively grab at a moments notice without hesitation for any event. Simple enough of a concept but over the past few years I went through all the usual beater candidates and fashion brands without finding the ideal watch.  

I became the Montblanc forum moderator because I was fascinated by the new Rieussec and Villeret product lines.  When I was offered the opportunity to assess the Timewalker Pilot chronograph, I hesitated.  Even though I had read the excellent review of the ceramic Timewalker Chronograph by my PuristSPro colleagues (click here ) and appreciated its intriguing design, I felt that the entire Timewalker collection did not offer any thing new to the marketplace compared to its upscale brethren.  However I decided to keep an open mind and accepted Montblanc’s invitation.  

The Timewalker collection: Chronograph, GMT, Retrograde, Automatic

 General Overview

Although the packaging could have been upgraded, I fell in love with this watch at first sight when the box was opened.  This Timewalker Pilot chronograph evoked a visual and visceral effect that I recall only experiencing with the arrival of my first Panerai.  On the wrist the watch is comfortable and possesses a reassuring heft. This excellent tactile sensation is coupled to a clean and modern dial design.  It is easy to see why this particular model is the best selling Timewalker variant.  

Sticking to its Germanic heritage, Montblanc based the design of this watch on the WWII Luftwaffe Flieger Chronographs (for information here is an excellent overview by fellow moderator SJX click here ). 

Copyright: Militaruhren-- Military Timepiece by Konrad Knirim

The Dial

The two symmetrical sunken subdials located at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions display the continuously running seconds and the 30 minute chronograph respectively.  The small seconds hand hacks when the crown is pulled out while the hand for the 30 minute totalizer moves semi instantaneously after 60 seconds have elapsed.

 The long central hand with the red tip is the chronograph seconds which is activated and reset using traditional two button actuators. The perimeter of the dial has been divided into ¼ second intervals to accurately match the 28,800 VPH beat of the movement.  The hand lines up exactly with the 12 o'clock hashmark, the offset seen in the picture is due to the angle of the photograph.  At the time of activation, the chronograph seconds hand exhibits no noticeable  recoil but as it travels around the circumference of the dial its motion is sometimes slightly jerky.

However the similarity to its historical counterparts ends there.  Montblanc has completely updated the Pilot chronograph’s styling.  The case has been sized up to 43mm and the traditional ornate cathedral hands have been replaced with polished graduated batons. 

The knurled bezel found on the original Luftwaffe flieger is no longer a functional necessity.  Montblanc smartly substitutes a simple, thin, downward slopping version in its place which helps accentuates the dial and fools the eye into believing that the watch is actually larger than its 43mm states size. 

However the most important change was the development of a unique font for the dial.  Montblanc succeeded in designing properly proportioned numerals which are easily read yet stylishly modern in appearance. Notice that the numerals have the same width and height.

 On the Pilot chronograph these numerals with alternating double hash marks annotate the hours and unlike any other model found in the Timewalker collection they are created using superluminova paint allowing for nighttime visibility.  The luminescence of the various hands and indices offers functionality during evening hours. A 30 minute charge in sunlight provides about 10 minutes of readability. 

Thankfully Montblanc has kept text to a minimum on the dial.  Although the word “chronograph” is superfluous, the decision to paint this word and a few other details in red provide nice accents to an otherwise colorless dial.  The printing on the dial is sharp.

The date window cuts off a segment of the numeral “6”.  While this may be distracting for a few enthusiasts, I believe it was done to keep the dial symmetric and balanced. 

 It is nicely sized to allow for easy viewing of the date and the background of the date wheel is also color matched to the dial.  The date is adjusted via a pusher located on the side of the case and advances slowly over the span of 15 minutes before midnight while the watch is running.  The small date corrector tool is sharp enough to draw blood if you are not careful.

The Case

The stainless steel case is the same as that of the Timewalker chronograph previously reviewed.  Viewed directly on the wrist, it is very difficult to see any component of the case because its sides, the bezel, and the lugs all slope away, allowing the dial to dominate the visual field.  

Everything is curved in design, no straight lines can be found on the case.  The lugs are wonderfully shaped.  They actually provide reflective surfaces which create interesting light play outdoors.

Look at the nice visual and textural contrast between the polished surfaces with the bead blasted finish.  It is a very small detail which adds to the expense of manufacturing. The Montblanc star shaped lug screws are decorative.  A special tool is not needed since the strap is actually attached to the lugs using simple spring bars.  

The crown is textured and sized to allow for easy winding and setting of the watch.  It is capped with the Montblac star in resin.  Another thoughtful engineering touch is the notch cut out at the crown’s base to facilitate its extraction.

The actuator and reset pusher have similar feel compared to other Valjoux based chronographs I have owned.  Crisp breaks and no spongy feedback through the complete cycle of start, stop, and reset.

The bracelet is composed of highly polished stainless steel links.It is secured onto the wrist with a hidden double deployant clasp.  It is comfortable on the wrist and is easily adjusted using the traditional tools.

A look on its side shows that the semi hollowed lugs and the empty space in between them replicate the same hourglass motif along the entire length.

The Movement

The movement which powers the Pilot chronograph is a modified Valjoux with a bicompax/date layout renamed Montblanc Caliber 4810/505.  It is jeweled in 27 locations and runs at 28,800 VPH.  The power reserve on this Pilot Chronograph is 43 hours +/- 2 hours which correlates well with the expect 46 hours of a standard 7750.   On the wrist, the Pilot chronograph performed well averaging + 4 seconds a day.

On the TYMC timegrapher set to the specified lift angle of 52 degrees, this watch tested surprisingly well for a non certified movement.

The decoration of the caliber 4810/505 is unmodified by Montblanc except for the customized rotor with Cotes de Geneve decoration and is standard for a high grade version of a Valjoux 7750.  I noticed very little rotor noise or wobble while wearing the watch.

 Blued screws, Incashock, Etachron.

For fun, disassemble the basic movement like a trained Montblanc watchmaker (virtual teardown click here )

Conclusion

Over the past 6 weeks the Montblanc Timewalker Pilot chronograph was instinctively my “go to” watch.  It matched perfectly with professional as well as casual attire and functionally it was a solid timepiece which stood up to my daily activities. Unlike other fashion watches, Montblanc designed the Timewalker to be an elegant sports watch for the modern gentleman who neither requires a professional grade timing instrument nor pariticpates in extreme sports.  It also satisfied my very non-Purist desire of wearing a watch from a luxury brand which can be easily recognized and appreciated by the general public.  Listed at approximately 4800 US dollars, the Pilot chronograph is not inexpensive.  In fact some enthusiast would say that it is overpriced for a timepiece based on a Valjoux movement.  However in my personal experience, I’ve spent much more over the past five years searching for the everyday casual sports watch that I found in the Montblanc Timewalker Pilot.  It may not offer anything new to the horological marketplace but it does what it was designed to do extremely well.

I hope enthusiats will take a look at the Timewalker collection next time they visit a Montblanc boutique to catch a glimpse of the new Rieussec and Villeret models.  I think you will be surprised at the level of build quality, something usually not associated with a fashion watch.  Who knows, the Timewalker may fill a void in your collection too!

Author's FTC Disclosure:  This Montblanc Timewalker Pilot Chronograph was obtained on loan from Montblanc USA.  I did not and will not receive any direct compensation nor special considerations from Montblanc USA for this review.  As the conclusion implies, I will be purchasing a Montblanc Timewalker Pilot Chronograph for my personal use through a Montblanc authorized dealer. 

Copyright October 2009 - Michael Ting & PuristSPro.com - all rights reserved

Comments, suggestions, and corrections to this article are welcome.