Nicolas Rieussec Rising Hours Timepiece will be available in the Montblanc boutiques in November

By observing the evolution of the Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec chronographs, it can be concluded that the time - it is a disc. At first, the company Montblanc used instead of the usual hands rotating discs for counters to sixty seconds and thirty minutes. Then another rotating disc was installed on the hour second time zone pointer. And now the manufacture Montblanc demonstrates Nicolas Rieussec Rising Hours - the chronograph, which consists of two discs, located one above the other, and shows not only the twelve- hour on the dial, but the time of day, which is the hour. The hour dial of Rising Hours is revolutionary new, but other elements are typical for the Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec collection: these are typical rotating discs and fixed hand, which, thanks to its innovative image brought in 2008 a grand success to the first chronograph from this collection.

The Montblanc technological revolution is how the Nicolas Rieussec Rising Hours watch shows hours. As in the other models in the collection, the dial of the "usual" time on the watch is a little off center up. But instead of the hour hand there is a opening on the dial at the 12 o`clock position, in which, under a small triangular pointer, Arabic numerals are appearing on the 12-hour rotating disc. True fans have probably seen similar dials before, but the developers of the Nicolas Rieussec Rising Hours watch went much further: depending on the time of day the numbers change their color. At night, they are pale blue, and at the day - black. On closer examination it appears that this curious feature allows you to correlate the hour and the time of day, that promotes the right to set the date: it is always changing exactly at midnight, not at noon.

The new manufacturing caliber Montblanc with a patented mechanism of day and night

The unusual dial appeared with a new manufacturing caliber MB R220, which has a patented improved mechanism of the two rotating discs, one above the other. In the upper disc are carved Arabic numerals from 1 to 12. This disc rotates on top of another two-color discs of day and night, one half of which has a pale blue color, and the other - black, so that, depending on the time of day, in the recesses of numbers appear light or dark color. Twelve-hour disc rotates continuously, and the day and night disc rotates with breaks and variable speed for the slots in the digits in time appeared right color (light blue and black for the night to the day). Such a complex rotation is controlled by the Malta mechanism consisting of two disc-shaped links. One unit is set to the screw that rotates the disc with the change of day and night, and the other is attached to the projecting portion of the hour disc.

Manufacturing caliber MB R220

Each link has a profile of a special form, so that from 9:00 to 15:00 (and from 21:00 to 3:00) the link with hour disc rotates without touching another level. Accordingly, the day and night disc in these intervals are stationary. Coupling units occurs at 3:00 (and 15:00). After the clutch, the disc of day and night begins to spin, picking up speed until the two teeth on each link does not engage with each other and do not synchronize the disc rotation of day and night time with a speed of the disc. It is from 4:30 to 7:30 (and from 16:30 to 19:30). Then, from 7:30 am to 9:00 am (and from 19:30 to 21:00), the rotation of the disc of day and night is slowing, while the teeth are not completely disconnected, then the disc stops.
Twice a day, the Rising Hours watch is almost self-explanatory: at 6:00 am, when the left half of the figure "6" painted in pale blue, and the right - black as a sign of the end of the night and the beginning of a new day, and at 18:00, when the black day gives way to night color pastel blue.

Manufacturing caliber MB R220

The Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Rising Hours watch revolves not only the mechanism of the two discs, but also other indicators of the chronograph disc. The pointer of the day of the week is in the box at the "9:00" and the date indicator - a window at the "3:00". Naturally, the chronograph function works according to the same faultless circuit of the manufacture: one disc counts sixty seconds, while the other - the time period of up to thirty minutes. The technical base with integrated chronograph caliber is very similar to mechanisms of other watches from the Nicolas Rieussec collection. Similar to other models, the new chronograph has only one start button, which is located in an unusual, but the ergonomic position" 8:00" and easy to press with your thumb. Traditionally, the chronograph is controlled by a column wheel, which is engaged and disengaged by a very modern and reliable manner by means of a vertical clutch. It should also be noted innovative profiles on the main gear teeth, which optimizes power transfer and minimizes the wear and energy consumption. The course is regulated by the balance of massive screw with a diameter of 10 mm, which makes regular oscillations with a frequency of 28 000 pc / h (4 Hz) due to the high moment of inertia (12 mg / cm ²). Regularity of course also contributes to double barrels, which accumulates a 72-hour power reserve and for a long time, maintains a constant level of the spring. The mechanical movement with automatic winding movement maintains a constant reserve until the watch is on the hand.

Tradition and Aesthetics

The Rising Hours chronograph design undoubtedly declares its belonging to the Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec collection and immediately proved its uniqueness. Characteristic features of the chronograph - are spinning wheels and fixed hands to count minutes and seconds, as well as two-arm axle with bright red rubies, which is located at the "6 o`clock" and is similar to a smile. Above them is a dial up off-center, which displays the time using skeletonized minute hand and disk indicator. The pointer of the day of the week is located in a semi-circular window to the left of the dial and date display - in the same window on the right. Free space around the dial is guilloche in the Grain d `Orges technique, one of the most traditional decorative techniques of watchmaking.

Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Rising Hours - day and night chronograph

A miniature universe of time is enclosed in a classic round case with a diameter of 43 mm 18K rose gold. The brown strap is made of leather. The strap is equipped with a triple-folding clasp in rose gold. The tooth crown is also made of 18 carat rose gold and inlaid with mother of pearl Montblanc`s logo. The domed sapphire crystal over the dial has a double anti-reflective coating. The second sapphire glass is attached to the back cover with the screws and opens the view of the pink gold rotor.
The Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Rising Hours chronograph is also available in models of 950 platinum or stainless steel. The platinum model is limited edition of 28 items, each of which is equipped with a gray alligator strap and folding clasp in white gold. The stainless steel model has a black alligator strap with a folding clasp.

Tribute to the Invention of Nicolas Rieussec (1781 - 1866)

The Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec collection has enriched the world of watchmaking with the brand new design, inspired by a watch for measuring short time periods, which invented by the brilliant watchmaker and creator of the first proprietary chronograph Nicolas Rieussec. In 1821, Nicolas Rieussec experienced in "chronographe encreur", and in 1822 he received a patent for it. Innovative "ink chronograph" could mark the period in minutes and seconds by rotating dials, covered with white enamel, and fixed hands at the end of which are moving the needle over the ink tanks. When you press, the needle quickly passed through the tank and put on the dials of small ink dots. Because of this, it was possible to measure several consecutive short periods. Time is literally written down on white enamel, so the name "chronograph", invented by Nicolas Rieussec, ideally suited for the device: from the Greek "chronos" means "time" and "graphein" - "to write." Once the level of each interval of time was no longer needed, the dial just wiped, and it was once again ready for the next measurement interval. In 2008, Montblanc has released the Nicolas Rieussec chronograph collection with rotating discs and hands fixed in the memory of the watchmaker, an inventor Nicolas Rieussec and his pioneering invention today is one of the most popular watch complications. Discs that are literally recorded time, today, are the link of the Montblanc watch manufacture with Montblanc writing instruments manufacture.

Official site of Montblanc.

Press release