Montblanc Unveiled Secret Watch Collection

penfriend · 2024-03-24T11:52:48Z

Explore the Montblanc Unveiled Secret in aged steel with collector penfriend. Discover insights on its unique caliber, distressed case, and horological appeal.

penfriend

WPS member · Montblanc forum

31 replies5796 views5 photos

Penfriend, a respected collector, shares his latest acquisition: the Montblanc Unveiled Secret in aged steel. This article delves into his personal experience with this distinctive timepiece, highlighting its unique caliber and aesthetic. His insights offer a valuable perspective on a watch that challenges traditional design, making it a compelling read for both new and seasoned collectors.

So I finally picked up the unveiled secret in aged steel. It is the third official iteration of this caliber after one in steel with blue accents and one in lime gold with green accents.

The specialty about this caliber 16.26 by Minerva Montblanc is that they flipped the proven caliber 16.29 from the back to the front. Thus this dial is not only skeletonized but also provides a view on the normally back-side of our watches, allowing a deep glance at the nice decoration of this hand-wound mono pusher (in the crown) chronograph movement.

The case is in distressed steel and Montblanc told me that the whole steel case is made of blackened steel instead of being coated. So whenever the case receives a major hit there shouldn't be any shining steel beyond it - I will hopefully not have to prove that. I am aware that faux patina is not very popular but I must say that it adds a lot of nice shades and character to this watch - especially imagining that it would be fully black which I wouldn't prefer. The bezel is made of white gold and is contrasting the case nicely. The nubuk alligator strap has a shade of blue-grey which suits it very well, features a quick exchange strap system and comes on a folding clasp which can be micro-adjusted.

Legibility is great in this color scheme, especially compared to the other two variants which I have seen as well. Some parts of the caliber have been blackened to fit the color scheme of the watch and again I like it. The golden shining parts of the movement though are the 16 components which had to be changed and added in flipping the movement in order to have the watch run in the correct direction and re-arranging the sub-dials. All in all you have a very thorough three dimensional arrangement of a superb movement on your wrist with this watch.

At 43mm it is not a small timepiece but that's what you need to house this caliber. However, the watch wears extremely light in this steel variant - close to TI in my opinion. Next step will be that I change the strap to the green nubuk that came along with the lime gold variant ;-)

Have a great Sunday!

Key Points from the Discussion

The distressed steel case, while initially met with skepticism regarding its 'rocks from the local area' marketing story, proved surprisingly appealing in person, offering a titanium-like feel and a compelling aesthetic.
The caliber 16.26, a flipped version of the 16.29, is lauded for its ability to display the movement's intricate finishing and large components, offering a more profound view than traditional skeletonization.
The 16 golden components added to the movement are a direct result of flipping the caliber, necessary for correct timekeeping and sub-dial rearrangement, a detail that adds to its horological intrigue.
While the Unveiled Secret is 43mm, its distinct case shape and lighter steel variant offer a different wear experience compared to earlier 16.29 Villeret pieces, which some collectors note had a slightly superior finish.
The 'faux patina' of the distressed steel is appreciated for its honest presentation as a surface treatment rather than an attempt to deceive, contributing to the watch's unique and rugged appearance.
The Unveiled Secret's ticking is notably louder on the wrist due to the unfiltered view of the movement through the top crystal, a distinct characteristic compared to other comparable pieces.

The Discussion

Chronometer (aka yacomino)

Mar 24, 2024

At that time I passed on it simply because I had 3 other watch on order so timing was not good for me…but boy I do find unique and cool! Enjoy and bravo once again

Jaseewasee

Mar 24, 2024

Stunning watch. Really like the look of the aged steel. Enjoy!

penfriend

Mar 24, 2024

your picture made me wait for it instead of some mischiefs. when I saw it in the metal for the first time it was a choice within minutes. Especially as I have already seen the next iteration which will be presented soon ;-)

penfriend

Mar 24, 2024

although you seem to prefer the steel/blue variant ;-) I must admit that I am now quite satisfied that the lime gold one never reached me...

penfriend

Mar 24, 2024

they did not try to hide that it is faux patina which is much better because for this reason it somehow doesn't look faux at all but just a surface treatment

TeutonicCarFan

Mar 24, 2024

I am happy you finally got a cal 16.26, it looks great. I know the pathway here took awhile, starting with the launch of the original unveiled secret. I love the idea of being able to see the movement in all its glory, alas so much more than simply skeletonizing the dial. I really think cal 16 is one of the best, the finishing , and the large size of the components gives a good canvas to display villeret goodness. Interesting to see what comes out this year... I have forgone a zoom based unveili

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