Montblanc TimeWalker Pythagore Ultra-Light Concept

jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) · 2016-05-09T07:33:06Z

Explore the Montblanc TimeWalker Pythagore Ultra-Light Concept, a 14.88-gram marvel featuring ITR²®Kevlar®/Carbon and a skeletonized Minerva movement. Discover community insights on this groundbreaking timepiece.

jrwong23 (aka watchthebin)

WPS member · Montblanc forum

31 replies4997 views2 photos

Jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) introduces the Montblanc TimeWalker Pythagore Ultra-Light Concept, a watch that pushes boundaries in lightweight construction and material innovation. This post highlights Montblanc's unexpected foray into high-tech watchmaking, blending a classical Minerva movement design with cutting-edge materials. Readers will gain insight into the technical specifications and the community's initial reactions to this intriguing concept.

31 collectors discussing this on the WatchProSite forumJoin the Conversation →

Thanks to Esharp for spotting this earlier on the web.

I just shared on News Central.

www.watchprosite.com

This seems like quite a "secret" project and a nice surprise from Montblanc as I didn't see this Montblanc TimeWalker Pythagore Ultra-Light Concept during the Black and White week in Singapore (even though I saw a few other watches under embargo which I cannot share for now until the time is ripe)

Ken, Fx, Nico - any of you saw this TimeWalker Pythagore Ultra-Light Concept in the metal before? Or any other Purist? If so, please share live pictures for I do not have them.

Some features of this watch which sounds pretty exciting (adapted from the press release):

The TimeWalker Pythagore Ultra-Light Concept focuses on very high end innovation and R&D on its case to make it super light weight.. Montblanc's engineers have worked on a combination of black DLC titanium for the horns and ITR²®Kevlar®/Carbon elements for the middle case, case back, bezel and crown, making the new TimeWalker Pythagore Ultra-Light Concept one of the lightest mechanical timepieces in the world — a mere 14.88 grams.

ITR²®, otherwise known as Innovative, Technical, Revolutionary Resin, is a composite material charged with carbon nanotubes. It is extremely difficult to manufacture, with only a handful of specialists able to make watch cases out of it. It is eight times lighter than steel and four times lighter than titanium. Montblanc continues to innovate with this outstanding material by combining it, for the first time, with Kevlar®/carbon, a highly resistant synthetic fibre, to reach utmost robustness, creating a world première in case-making materials.

Case is 40mm, a good size for a sports themed watch. It is not a sports watch per se as the water resistance is only 30m. The case construction is also reinforced by the horns made of titanium that have been skeletonized, satin-finished and treated with a black DLC coating for scratch resistance. The Maison has also equipped the case with an ITR²®Kevlar®/Carbon crown adorned with the Montblanc emblem. Mineral glass on both the dial and the case back of the timepiece also helps keep weight to the minimum. Of course, mineral glass is easier to scratch than sapphire glass so something to take note of here. However, kudos to Montblanc for the level of detail exercised here to keep the watch to the lightest possible weight.

On the dial, the very visible calibre MB M62.48 is handcrafted and skeletonized.The decision to skeletonize the movement was not only an aesthetic choice, however, as careful attention was paid to keeping the overall weight to a minimum. Even the small seconds subdial at six o'clock has been skeletonized for additional lightness and transparency. This anthracite subdial has been crafted out of super-light anodized aluminium and applied directly to the titanium mainplate, along with its elegant red-tipped Minerva arrow for increased legibility.

In terms of the movement, the design of the movement is inspired by the historic Minerva Pythagore movement with its straight architectural bridge shapes that follow Pythagoras's Golden Ratio. Pythagoras discovered that beauty was associated with the ratio of small integers, and by respecting these ratios he could create perfect harmony with proportions. The Montblanc Calibre MB M62.48 is the modern-day interpretation of the historical Minerva movement that was designed in 1943. This contemporary movement has been completely redesigned in terms of materials and finishing. The skeletonized main plate and the five bridges have all been crafted out of titanium for an extreme lightness, while preserving the robustness of the movement. So this is the first Montblanc Villeret movement I know that does not have bridges crafted in German silver. The result is a highly contemporary, ultra-light movement of only 4.73 grams

Hopefully one day I can see this in the metal. If I have more info, any live pictures, I will share asap!

Cheers

robin

This message has been edited by jrwong23 on 2016-05-09 07:33:26

Key Points from the Discussion

The Montblanc TimeWalker Pythagore Ultra-Light Concept represents a surprising shift towards ultra-light, sporty, and innovative watchmaking, moving beyond the 'ultra-thin' trend.
The blend of a classical Minerva Pythagore movement with a high-tech finish was unexpected but intriguing, suggesting Montblanc's unpredictable and surprising direction.
While appreciating the innovation, some collectors would prefer a more monochromatic, tech-focused aesthetic for the movement and case, suggesting a PuristS edition with brushed titanium gray and minimal color accents.
The concept is interesting, but the practical need for a super-light watch is questioned for everyday wearers not involved in high-performance activities like racing or tennis.
The movement's size appears small relative to the 40mm case, drawing a comparison to earlier Minerva movements typically found in smaller, 34mm watches.
The use of mineral glass instead of sapphire for weight reduction is a notable detail, highlighting Montblanc's commitment to lightness, albeit with a potential trade-off in scratch resistance.

The Discussion

KMII

May 9, 2016

Now we need a bit of magic from you, Robin... :)

As discussed in the other thread, if this was some grams heavier, more conventional in terms of material choice, came with the movement and at a more palatable price, it would make for a great 15th anniversary PuristSPro watch What do you say?

jrwong23 (aka watchthebin)

May 9, 2016

I am not the Wizard of Oz lol

To be honest, will PuristS want a Montblanc watch as an anniversary watch? Especially at such a high end level (even if not this concept watch, a Villeret movement watch that is highly finished is not at mainstream price level like say a steel Reverso or Rolex price). I am thinking not so much for our anniversary watch but more of a regular production Montblanc watch with a time only Villeret movement . That will be a killer especially in steel with blue dial :p

KMII

May 9, 2016

Surely you have more magic than you let on ;)

I know it is largely wishful thinking but then again, why not at least give it a try

amanico

May 9, 2016

I totally agree with you, Robin. Not so sure it would be a community watch, here. [nt]

amanico

May 9, 2016

I didn't see it in the real, but it is an intriguing piece.

After the Ultra Thin battle, will we have the ultra light ( which is not an easy game, either )? I am surprised, to tell the truth. The choice of the Pythagore movement is not something I would have thought about for such a piece but I am waiting to know more about that strategy. Ultra Light, extreme sporty in the look, innovative, somehow. Intriguing. 40 mm is a good diameter for that kind of watch. Now, I have to see it in the flesh before any final judgement. Yes, intrigued I am. Best, Nicola

jrwong23 (aka watchthebin)

May 9, 2016

Likewise my friend

I would love to see and feel this in the metal. So far I am not a fan of watches too light nor too heavy but if it really feels like nothing on the wrist, like those Super light weight sports sunglasses, I think it is pretty cool. Making a very classical calibre into something with a high tech feel was also something I didn\'t expect from Montblanc . I sense the Wizard of Oz playing his magic here Unpredictable and full of surprises Cheers Robin