New Release
This year Montblanc showed two new variants of their previously released Worldtimer. The Worldtimer itself was quite an accomplishment. This model won First Place in the Category Petite Aiguille at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2011. Its complication module has a specially designed gearing m
This year Montblanc showed two new variants of their previously released Worldtimer. The Worldtimer itself was quite an accomplishment. This model won First Place in the Category Petite Aiguille at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2011. Its complication module has a specially designed gearing mechanism which is patent protected. Not only can this device separately control all indicators via one and the same winding-stem, it also disconnects the movement from the wheels of the time-zone and world-time indicators whenever a time-zone correction is made. The movement continues to run accurately while the time zone is being reset.
Now at SIHH 2013 we see this movement slightly modified and incorporated into the contemporary Timewalker family. I think the overall dial design is harmonious and is, imho, a huge improvement over its more "classical" predecessor.
Montblanc has released a Northern Hemisphere model (white dial) and its corresponding Southern Hemisphere model (gray dial).
Both models have fixed rings around their dials marked with the 24 cities in the relevant hemisphere, but the 24-hour discs in the center turn in opposite directions: the disc turns clockwise on the Northern Hemisphere watch, it bears a 24-hour scale labelled anticlockwise; the 24-hour disc on the Southern Hemisphere timepiece turns anticlockwise and bears a 24 hour scale labelled clockwise. Thus the base movement is the same but complication module is different in the two watches to allow for the opposite rotation of the inner 24 hour disk.
And although Montblanc would like to sell a pair of watches, they have been consumer friendly 
Take a look at the caseback. It is engraved with a handy reference for cities of the "other" hemisphere!
A subtle but nice improvement is the brushed finish noted on these new Timewalker models. Checkout the center links on the Timewalker bracelet and the thin bezel...both these changes provide needed contrast to the usual high polish case.
Here is a video from Mr. Bethege showcasing this new model
Enjoy,
Mike
I had been very interested in the movement of the Star World Time GMT Automatic (even though it is not a "true" Worldtimer) but was not really in love with the aesthetics. Now both movement and aesthetics have come together in one watch! I do wish that Montblanc would tweak the Timewalker case to achieve 100m water resistance, but it is a small drawback. The black dial on bracelet is beautiful, I wonder if I could re-orient my world view to the southern hemisphere? Bravo, Montblanc!
Perhaps Montblanc's market research is different but I've always thought that darker colored dials were more popular. I like the Southern Hemisphere version too but the cities which are represented on the Northern Hemisphere represent the majority of MB's market. So wouldn't it have made sense to swap the dial colors around? I may change my mnd based on how the watch looks like in the metal. Best, Mike
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