Introducing the Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Limited Edition for HODINKEE

Launching today at 10am EST, HODINKEE’s latest collaborative effort is a reinterpretation of a contemporary classic from Montblanc — introducing the 1858 Monopusher Limited Edition for HODINKEE. Though monopusher chronographs have been enjoying a bit of a renaissance in recent years, this isn’t just any monopusher. The engine inside the watch is the venerable Minerva MB M13.21, a powerhouse caliber based on the legendary 13-20 movement found in many of Minerva’s excellent chronographs from the 1940s and ‘50s. But with this purchase customers are getting more than just a killer timepiece — they’re also getting a three-day trip to Le Locle and Villeret to see where these watches are made. But more on that in a bit. First, let’s dig into the watch.

Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Limited Edition for HODINKEE

• Case Material: Stainless steel
• Dial: Black
• Dimensions: 40mm wide x 12.15mm thick
• Crystal: Box sapphire
• Water Resistance: 100 meters
• Movement: MB M13.21 Monopusher (55 hours of power reserve)
• Strap/bracelet: Brown sfumato alligator strap and HODINKEE Bedford strap in olive green (20mm)
• Price: $30,000
• Reference Number: 123749
• Expected Release: Available September 25, 10am EST

Some years back Montblanc purchased Minerva, and that acquisition brought along a whole lot of horological and technical knowledge. Nowhere is that more evident than the MB M13.21, a chronograph caliber that can easily go toe-to-toe with its contemporaries, of which there are truly but a few. These are hand-assembled movements produced almost entirely in-house — all parts but the jewels and some of the screws are manufactured in Villeret. The bridges are rhodium-plated German silver, and chamfered edges highlight the contrast between grained and polished surfaces. One of my favorite little details is the “devil’s tail” on the column wheel lever, a flourish derived from Minerva’s historical arrowhead logo. Functionally, the movement has a column wheel and a lateral clutch, and it features 55 hours of power reserve.

Measuring 40mm across and just 12.15mm thick, the stainless steel case boasts excellent proportions. As we all know, mechanical chronographs can get thick — even hand-crankers — so 12.15mm is delightfully svelte (as a point of comparison, my time-only Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight is 11.9mm thick). With its slim, sloped bezel and box sapphire, the overall form is rather classic, and it’s elevated with some elegant finishing where polished sections along the lugs, bezel, and pusher accent an otherwise brushed case.

The dial here is based on the dial of the 1858 Monopusher, which made its debut back in 2018 and was limited to just 100 pieces. But instead of the slightly off-beat green of the original, the dial is rendered in a deep black with cream-colored printing and vintage-style luminous paint, which looks great. To add some visual depth to dial, the two sub-registers are slightly recessed and given a matte treatment. In my opinion, one of the best changes on this edition is the handset. Gone are the cathedral hands, which weren’t bad, but I just generally find to be too ornate. In their place are pencil-style hands, which I think work well with the overall design.

Back to the trip. Each purchase comes with an invitation for a special three-day, all-expenses-paid horological excursion with members of the HODINKEE team to Le Locle and Villeret. Customers will get a tour of the Montblanc manufacture in Villeret, which includes a trip to the Montblanc museum, a look at the creation and assembly of the MB M13.21 caliber, and a watchmaking class.

The 1858 Monopusher Limited Edition for HODINKEE launches later today and is limited to just 25 units. If past releases are any sort of indication, these are going to move fast. Hodinkeeshop