Since the first time I saw it, furtively in 2015, then on pictures at the end of 2015, it was love at first sight. I knew I had to get it. 

What I didn't know was that it became one of the watches I would wear the most! We even had a contest a few years ago about the watch we would wear in the longest time, and I had it on my wrist for 4 months! 

Here are some wrist shots taken all over the places I had the pleasure to go to:

Italy 2016: 

Normandy, Honfleur 2017: 

Valencia, Spain, 2018: 

Morocco, Summer 2018: 

Geneva, SIHH 2019:

Corsica, Summer 2019:

This 1858 Tachymeter is a big watch, with its 44 mm case, but here there is a good reason: The movement size, which couldn't fit in a much smaller case. 1 or two millimeter smaller, yes, but not more. And the movement, the Cal 16.29, certainly is the biggest reason to fall in love with this Montblanc watch. 

Look at this generous balance wheel, at the high level of finishings, admire the chronograph lever with its arrow at the end of it. It belongs to the high horology segment, it is one of the finest chronograph movement currently produced, in all simplicity. 

The other detail which is sublime... The pear shaped crown with the chronograph mono pusher. Sublime, discrete, it contribute to the purity of this watch. The pusher is very pleasant to play with, smooth as silk. 

In contrast, the blue dial is more " cool " than fine, I must say. Its very classic design, enhanced by the cathedral hour hand and syringe minute hand, reminds us that its roots come from the 30's and 40's. A design which is not the monopole of the Minerva Chronographs, but a kind of code of what were the chronographs at that time, all brands included ( Longines, Minerva, Patek, Vacheron, Jaeger Lecoultre, Girard Perregaux, Ulysse Nardin and so on ). 

The case is the weak point of this marvel. Ok, it is brushed on the side, polished on the top,   but I regret Montblanc didn't give the lugs some nice bevelings. This case is a bot too " ordinary ".

You get my point. There are many details to enjoy with the 1858 Tachymeter, and so few to not like. 

After 4 years of ownership, I can only say that it is one of my best horological addition, a chronograph which gives me a lot of pleasure and pride.

Some fresh photos to celebrate this new birthday:

And this is with this last point I want to end this " birthday party ": In total honesty, I regret the fact that people is buying more a name than a watch. BUT I was not that different from them since I considered that it would not be that easy to buy a Montblanc watch, just because of the name on the dial. 

This 1858 Tachymeter just reminded me that the most important is the watch, not the name. Montblanc gave me a lesson on that matter... 

Best,

Nicolas