Montblanc Timepieces for the Modern Traveler – Part Two: 4810 Orbis Terrarum
jrwong23 (aka watchthebin)
Continuing
from Part One, which featured the Montblanc 4810 TwinFly Chronograph 110-Year
Edition, in Part Two, I will be sharing more details on the new 4810 Orbis
Terrarum – both the regular production wrist watch as well as the ‘Pocket Watch
110-Year Anniversary Edition’.
In summary, this is a very useful watch for the modern traveler as it is a true world-timer with a very legible (and pretty!) dial design. The dial is similar in construction to the Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum, a watch that I have owned for almost a year. They both have the same multi-layer sapphire dial construction, which allows for another disc to indicate day and night. The world-time complication was developed in-house by Montblanc, with the North Hemisphere continents in the day displaying a colour gradient (cooler colours towards the north and warmer colours towards the equator). The continents in the night time zone showing dark blue. The local and world-time is super easy to adjust with a pusher at 8 o’clock. The watch comes in a 43 mm steel case with the lugs and case design in line with the other watches in the 4810 Collection.
The watch name in Latin – Orbis Terrarum – translates as “globe”, “earth” or “world”. This timepiece tells the time in 24 time zones in an intuitive way. As mentioned, the dial is constructed with multiple layers, starting with the main sapphire crystal disc that displays the continents as viewed from the North Pole and the names of the 24 cities representing the different time zones.
Functionally, this new 4810 Orbis Terrarum works the same way as my Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum and I reported in 2015. CLICK following URL to read the report: www.watchprosite.com
Personally, now as I write about the new 4810 Orbis Terrarum, I am moved by the new dial design with the colour gradient indicating the continents and cities in the day. The dial becomes warmer with this new design and also seems to come alive. I can see this being more appealing to those who prefer some colours on their dial and do not mind the larger 43mm case.
Which do you prefer? I am keen to hear your thoughts. I guess we are all winners as we are now spoilt for choice with both versions to consider, especially for those who have not purchased the version launched last year – you have 1 more choice now: the cooler dial or the more colourful/vibrant dial? As both are regular production watches, the good news is you don’t have to rush and can take your time to decide.
The pocket watch, with the stand extended, can also function as a nice table clock.
Setting the time is exactly the same as in the 4810 Orbis Terrarum wristwatch, except that the pocket watch crown is at 12 o’clock and the time zone pusher is between 5 and 6 o’clock.
Cheers
CLICK
following URL to read the Part One report: www.watchprosite.com
In summary, this is a very useful watch for the modern traveler as it is a true world-timer with a very legible (and pretty!) dial design. The dial is similar in construction to the Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum, a watch that I have owned for almost a year. They both have the same multi-layer sapphire dial construction, which allows for another disc to indicate day and night. The world-time complication was developed in-house by Montblanc, with the North Hemisphere continents in the day displaying a colour gradient (cooler colours towards the north and warmer colours towards the equator). The continents in the night time zone showing dark blue. The local and world-time is super easy to adjust with a pusher at 8 o’clock. The watch comes in a 43 mm steel case with the lugs and case design in line with the other watches in the 4810 Collection.
Now, let’s explore more details on the world-time
complication.
The watch name in Latin – Orbis Terrarum – translates as “globe”, “earth” or “world”. This timepiece tells the time in 24 time zones in an intuitive way. As mentioned, the dial is constructed with multiple layers, starting with the main sapphire crystal disc that displays the continents as viewed from the North Pole and the names of the 24 cities representing the different time zones.
The continents are cut out from the rest of the
disc that displays the oceans in a light blue colour. A second sapphire crystal
disc indicates the passing of day and night, with dark blue for the night and a
gradient of yellow and green for the day. This disc also includes the 24-hour
ring that indicates the different times in the 24 cities. The illustration below
shows how this works:
Functionally, this new 4810 Orbis Terrarum works the same way as my Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum and I reported in 2015. CLICK following URL to read the report: www.watchprosite.com
To adjust the time, the local time city first
needs to be positioned in front of the red triangle at 6 o’clock via the pusher
at 8 o’clock. Keep pushing till your local city (or a city in the same time
zone) is aligned with the red triangle. Next, adjust the hours and minutes
(which are always linked with the day/night and 24-hour time zone disc) via the
crown, to set the correct local time. Once this is done, the time in all 24
time zones will be simultaneously displayed around the dial.
When I first travelled with my Heritage Spirit
Orbis Terrarum across multiple time zones (Singapore to Frankfurt and New
York), I experienced how easy it was to set the world time was. When travelling
to another time zone, the new destination city (new local time zone) simply
needs to be aligned at 6 o’clock. This adjustment is again done through the
pusher at 8 o’clock, which automatically turns the hour hand, continents,
cities, day/night disc and 24-hour time zones along with it. The hour hand
jumps in one-hour increments without affecting the precision of the minute hand.
Once this easy regulation is carried out, the local time of the new
destination, as well as the 24 time zones, are fully synchronized. Just make sure
the day and night indicator for the local city time zone is correct too (use
the pusher to turn one more cycle to change from day to night and vice-versa).
Personally, now as I write about the new 4810 Orbis Terrarum, I am moved by the new dial design with the colour gradient indicating the continents and cities in the day. The dial becomes warmer with this new design and also seems to come alive. I can see this being more appealing to those who prefer some colours on their dial and do not mind the larger 43mm case.
For comparison, let’s see my 41mm Heritage
Spirit Orbis Terrarum below. The dial is also very handsome but definitely cooler
than the new 4810 Orbis Terrarum without the colour gradient of green, yellow
and orange.
Which do you prefer? I am keen to hear your thoughts. I guess we are all winners as we are now spoilt for choice with both versions to consider, especially for those who have not purchased the version launched last year – you have 1 more choice now: the cooler dial or the more colourful/vibrant dial? As both are regular production watches, the good news is you don’t have to rush and can take your time to decide.
Now, speaking of limited editions, the 4810
Orbis Terrarum Pocket Watch 110 Years Edition is limited to only 110 pieces. This
is the first time Montblanc has created a pocket watch, and what better
occasion than their 110th anniversary to introduce such a new
timekeeper. The Montblanc 4810 Orbis Terrarum Pocket Watch 110 Years Edition
not only harks back to the beginning of the 20th century when pocket
watches were the timekeepers of choice, but also features a very useful world
timer function – the perfect complication for the modern traveller.
This pocket watch has a highly legible world-time
dial, thanks to the 53 mm “Lépine” style steel case and large fonts used for
the cities. The watch has a case-back engraved with the ocean liner
‘Deutschland’ and is equipped with an integrated stand so it can function as a
table clock as well.
The pocket watch, with the stand extended, can also function as a nice table clock.
The watch has the same world-time complication
as the 4810 Orbis Terrarum wristwatch mentioned above. It comes with a refined
steel chain that has been crafted like a ship’s rope, a very interesting
feature that pays homage to the old days when inter-continental traveling was
only possible by sea. It is limited to 110 pieces.
An illustration of the case back below:
Setting the time is exactly the same as in the 4810 Orbis Terrarum wristwatch, except that the pocket watch crown is at 12 o’clock and the time zone pusher is between 5 and 6 o’clock.
In Part Three, I will be covering the most
exclusive watch in the current collection related to the travel theme, i.e. the
Villeret Tourbillon Cylindrique Pocket Watch 110 Years Edition.
Cheers
robin
Comments:
dr.kol August 14th, 2016-07:28
Please, don't even try! Chronograph first... Best, Kari
jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) August 15th, 2016-04:51
Haha ok Kari the worldtimes are way lower priced than the Villeret chronohtaphs though
utcpluseight August 14th, 2016-08:07
Really appreciate your post, Robin! I really hope they will come up with a full in-house base movement that the Orbis Terrarum and other Heritage/4810 series can model upon, and just add a reasonable premium. I am not too sure if it is economic or not to do so, but having the Minerva manufa...
jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) August 15th, 2016-04:52
Thank you Tony! i'm so happy you found my post useful Thank you for your encouraging words Maybe one day, we will see an In House Movement ! I am hoping Villeret create some magic beyond Chronos and Tourbillons into other complications or just Time Only Cheers Robin
amanico August 14th, 2016-12:29
I would love to have the colorful dial of the 43 mm in the 41 mm case. Very pleasant watch. Zero pretention, just fun and friendly. Best, Nicolas
jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) August 15th, 2016-04:53
Actually that will be a killer Nico That will be a perfect combination I have tried the new 43mm 4810 Orbis Terrarum on my small wrist though - it may not be that big if the lugs and case are designed to wear smaller Once I get to try I will post a wrist shot live pic Cheers Robin
MTF August 14th, 2016-14:45
I changed my mind On paper, the extra colours version seemed a better choice; "more is better". But, looking at both in your report, I changed my mind. The blue monochromatic gradient version is Better and more coherent. Regards, MTF
jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) August 15th, 2016-04:54
Thanks for your input MTF Let me try to do a side by side pic next time. Now I tend to feel the more colorful newer version is more lively amongst the 2 Cheers Robin
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jrwong23 (aka watchthebin)
Montblanc Timepieces for the Modern Traveler – Part One: 4810 TwinFly Chronograph
jrwong23 (aka watchthebin)
Last month, we covered the refreshed Montblanc 4810 collection, a relaunched collection to celebrate Montblanc’s 110 th anniversary (the original Star 4810 collection was launched exactly 10 years ago to mark the maison’s 100 th anniversary back in 2006). As I was learning and sharing the new 4810 collection, I can’t help but relate to the theme of the collection emotionally as I am a frequent business traveler. The collection was inspired by the trans-Atlantic travels of Montblanc ’s entrepreneurial founders, and the new watches in the collection focus on reading time of different timezones. They strike a personal chord with me as I like to travel with well-crafted and designed luxury lifestyle companions, such as a nice pen, accessories and most importantly, a nice watch or tw o.
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