Aaaah, bronze. What watch collection is complete today without at least one model made from the copper alloy that gently patinates over time to create a timepiece unique to its wearer? This year has seen an array of new bronze cases appear in stores and one of the first to make an appearance in 2017 will be the Montblanc 1958 Automatic Dual Time (along with its siblings the 1858 Automatic and 1858 Tachymeter Limited Edition 100).
By now the story of the 1858 Collection is pretty well known. Named for the year that the watch manufacture Minerva was founded in Villeret, this family of Montblanc watches celebrates the heritage and chronometric perfection that Minerva was famed for. And, as Minerva has been in the hands of Montblanc since 2007, this family of vintage-inspired timepieces is able to call on all the design codes and watchmaking mastery that the original company excelled in.
With a 1930s military flavour, the new GMT model combines materials to create a 44mm bi-colour case with satinated steel body and bronze bezel and winding crown. The look is typical period Minerva with matte-black dial, cathedral hands and Arabic numerals featuring lashings of creamy Super-LumiNova for ultimate legibility. The skeletonised central hand representing home time is tipped with more Super-LumiNova, while the hour and minute hands are solid and entirely coated with lume. The home time day/night indicator is at 12 o’clock, while a small seconds resides in the 6 o’clock position. orper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
