The Beauty of the Montblanc Villeret Vintage Pulsographe

It was love at first sight for me when I saw the Villeret 1858 Vintage Pulsographe and then I had to find out more about the timepiece.

I had acquired the rose gold black dial version and I blogged about it on Deployant. As you may know, the Vintage Pulsographe comes in two tones - the rose gold black dial version and the white gold white dial version. Both comes with Grand Feu enamel dials - beautifully fired enamel dials. So I had to find the white gold version.

I was told by my friend Andy that they still have one piece at the boutique here in Singapore. Enter Katharina Ueltschi at the Montblanc Boutique in Singapore at the Marina Bay Sands. I had contacted her for a private viewing of the white gold version and she was very obliging. But on the day of the appointment, a bigger surprise awaited me! Julien Miribel showed up for the appointment and with the white gold version in hand!

The Montblanc Villeret Vintage Pulsographe is one beautiful timepiece. Who can argue with something as exquisite as this? And a monopusher? That's another plus!

First the front... and then the movement side featuring the Minerva Calibre 13-21...

The more important point is this - how does one make such a timepiece? As Montblanc, they are probably more well-known as a brand of writing instruments. Their original range in their manufacturer in Le Locle churns out commercial quantities while this, and other high end pieces are done in their other location in Villeret. The Richemont group who owns the movement maker Minerva SA started that collaboration and this and a few others were the result of that collaboration.

The black and white enamel dials are forged using the Grand Feu techniques which fires the enamel in excess of 800 degrees Celcius. Enamel dials are said to be very long lasting. That delightful shine on the enamel dial is unmistakably the work of a master. It is said as much as 30-40 dials are made for one good example!

Even the hands and markers are extremely well done making the timepiece an overall handsome proposition. The actual piece in metal is even more alluring - blue hands and red chronograph seconds hands. What a package!

At the back, what a glorious sight. Expertly hand finished column wheel chronograph movement is a sight to behold. And what more the signature devil's tail. Julien tells me hours and hours of work goes into finishing the movement and adjusting it before final encasement. And the results are stunning!

And the movement is something altogether. Not just any movement but the Calibre 13-21 which is a vintage calibre from Minerva. Smaller than the Calibre 16-29 which is suited for the larger 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter (44mm timepiece), the calibre 13-21 is no less impressive in its finishing and layout. The words Minerva clearly engraved on the movement.

The timepiece is a very wearable 39mm especially for the Asian wrists and in particular, mine!

A final look at the two metals. This link will bring you to my previous post on the rose gold black dial version. Both are equally magnificent. I just happen to be lucky enough to get my hands on the rose gold piece.

But it is not too late - there is still one piece left of the white gold version and it is available at the Marina Bay Sands Boutique. Head down there and see if you agree with me that this is one classy timepiece.

Beauty is in the Enamel - The Montblanc Villeret Vintage Pulsographe

When two enamel dials come head to head, what is your preference?

Many thanks to the folks at the Montblanc Boutique at Marina Bay Sands and in particular Julien Miribel and Katharina Ueltschi. I managed to capture the beauty of the white gold, white dial Villeret Vintage Pulsographe.

Compare the black dial version in a rose gold case against the white dial version in a white gold case - which would you prefer? The dials are fired using the Grand Feu technique at temperatures exceeding 800 degrees Celsius. A Grand Feu enamel dial is said to be very durable and I can attest to that. Take a look at my Lange pocket watch which dates back to 1908 - the enamel dial is still pristine!

I had earlier written a post for my friends at Deployant featuring my experience in acquiring the beautiful rose gold, black dial piece.

A look at the handsome pair.

Subsequently, I put out my own blog on the Villeret 1858 Vintage Pulsographe. Needless to say I am extremely happy with the acquisition and definitely a keeper. Look out for more photos of the white gold version. Coming soon to a screen near you!

Monthblanc Collection Villeret 1858 - The Full Package in the Pulsographe

One feels excited when one acquires a new timepiece but the Collection Villeret 1858 Vintage Pulsographe from Manufacture Montblanc is special.

Manufacture Montblanc you say? Well back in 2007, the two heavy weights Montblanc and Minerva teamed up to form Institut Minerva de Recherche en Haute Horlogerie. Montblanc was to use the movement of Minerva in a special range the commission as the Collection Villeret 1858.

Movement specialist Minerva was founded back in 1858 in the St. Imier valley in Switzerland and their logo was an arrowhead. All Minerva movements have an arrowhead and in this case, the folks at Montblanc worked with Minerva to refine the movement and make some improvements too. Today, the manufacture is located in Villeret the historical location of Minerva and the manufacture concentrates on performing as many manufacturing and finishing steps in-house as much as possible thus limiting the number of timepieces they can produce each year.

The first collection of four watches in Collection Villeret 1858 was released limited numbers - 1 unique piece in Platinum, 8 pieces in white gold and 58 pieces in red gold to signify the year 1858. All Collection Villeret 1858 timepieces will be encased in precious metal - much like Lange & Sohne. And following in the tradition of traditional watchmaking, the balance wheels of the 1858 timepieces beats at the classic 18,000 vph (or 2.5 Hertz).

I was first acquainted with Collection Villeret 1858 in 2009 and then again in 2013 when I visited the Montblanc Boutique in Mandarin Orchard. The beauty of the Vintage Pulsographe took to me and I was sold. The finishing in the movement is top notch and the Grand Feu enamel dial was exquisite!

Black enamel as I understand is far more difficult to make than white enamel. And to fire it in the oven layer by layer in temperatures exceed 850 degrees Celcius is no small feat. From the naked eye, it looks flawless - the white and red numerals on a black background lends a nice contrast to the black enamel.

I love the beautiful contrast between the black enamel dial and the red and white numerals.

Look at the finishing on the enamel dial...

and the clear reflection...

The monopusher is located at the 2 O'Clock position starts, stops and resets the chronograph function unlike the two button chronographs.

The movement is the one that gets your pulse racing (pun intended)! A vintage Minerva movement improved and finished to the highest standard by the Manufacture in Villeret. The manually wound movement has a power reserve of 60 hours and the column wheel is visible through the sapphire case back.

Minerva Calibre 13-21 is a column wheel chronograph movement with horizontal clutch system. The complete movement is 239 parts and the plates and bridges are made in German silver.

The Devil is in the details or should I say the Devil's Tail is in the movement - Look out for the signature "Devil's Tail" on the Minerva movement and the large balance wheel.

The level of finesse goes beyond the dial and the movement. In this timepiece, the Montblanc logo on the crown is made of Mother-of-Pearl.

The 39mm timepiece is encased in red gold and the dial has a pulsometer scale. Dubbed "Doctor's Watch", the pulsometer scale allows for the users to take the pulse without going the full one minute. All one needs to do is start the chronograph and measure 30 beats of the pulse and stops the chronograph. The reading on the scale will correspond to the heart rate of that individual.

Quite the chronograph to have in one's collection. This model comes in two colour combination - the rose gold case with a black enamel dial and a white gold case with white enamel dial and blue hands. Both in my humble opinion are equally attractive timepieces.

There is such a thing as love at first sight and I chronicle that in the Deployant article. As I said it before, this is one keeper for me. Loved it when I first laid eyes on it and it was only recently that I managed to get my hands on it.

Montblanc Villeret 1858 - Chronograph Monopusher

Today, I feature the Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858 Vintage Pulsographe Watch.

A few of us were invited to a Montblanc Boutique at Mandarin Gallery some while ago to view some of the collection and I was very much taken by this particular piece. The Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858 Vintage Pulsographe Watch.

This version in red gold comes with a black enamel dial - beautifully executed and a very attractive timepiece. And the size - a very wearable 39mm unlike many other in the Villeret range which is far to big for the Asian wrist at 44mm and above. Perhaps it is also the size of the movement that dictates the case. I can't stand a brand that puts small movement into large cases to go with the trend of watches above 44mm.

The Villeret collection as I understand uses the Minerva movements of old - Richemont now owns the Minerva company and used the movements for the high-end Villeret collection. Signed Minerva and Villeret on the bridge, the movement is also another beauty in column wheel chronographs.

The watch comes with a hunter case and is also a monopusher. Also notice how large the balance wheel is.

Here is the movement on a block featuring the Caliber 16-29. Notice the arrow head on the lever? That arrow head is a signature of Minerva watch movements.

Definitely a nice "Doctor's Watch" - for the wealthy doctor that is. I love the watch - the entire package. If only I could afford it.

Watch also comes with a white gold version but this one I like more. I love the rose gold black dial combo.

P.S. (Nov2015) - I recently acquired the Villeret 1858 Vintage Pulsographe featured above (rose gold black dial) and realised that I had the wrong movement mentioned in this article. The Vintage Pulsographe features a Minerva movement and is called the Calibre M13-21 whereas the case back in the picture above is the Calibre 16-29. Apologies for the confusion.