Some cool precision turned elements suppliers pictures:
Montblanc Boutique 151 Bloor Street West Toronto Ontario
Image by antefixus21
Nicholas Rieussec Chronograph.
Chronograph – Nicholas Rieussec time piece.
Swiss developed.
Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph Automatic Watch Overview
WRIST TIME Critiques
20 COMMENTSJANUARY 3, 2011 BY ARIEL ADAMS
This watch overview is going to be a bit distinct than how I typically do them. Why? Just because shortly ahead of the overview I was genuinely capable to verify out the manufacture creating the movements of this watch. That expertise provided me some particular insight that permitted me to recognize this timepiece far more.
I know there is a lot of speak on the &quotmanufacture&quot movement. In reality, a recent panel discussion I had with fellow watch specialist journalists allowed me to comprehend that there is no strict definition of &quotwatch manufacture&quot or &quotmanufacture movement.&quot This definitional ambiguity hurts my capability to explain factors properly, but let it be stated that Montblanc tends to make the movement in each and each of the Nicolas Rieussec watches themselves. Of course there is some help from suppliers, but this is about as &quotin-property&quot a job as most folks want it to be. My understanding is that the elements of the movements are created at the Valfleurier facility in Buttes Switzerland. The pieces are then sent to Montblanc Le Locle for assembly and testing.
What fascinated me most about the Montblanc manufacture in Le Locle Switzerland was just how modern day day it was. I imply it is precise that numerous watch manufactures really feel like you are in some combo of a hospital and science lab, but the machinery accessible to the watch makers at the Le Locle facility was impressive. I have a larger feature length report on this subject that will come out speedily – but in fast, when it comes to the Nicolas Rieussec line of timepieces, Montblanc relies on a clever environment that combines the human strategy of watch makers with the precision assist of machines.
A few instance of this synergy in between man (or lady) and machine? Here are two. 1 of the pictures here is of a machine that robotically applies lubricant to designated spots in a watch. Such lubricant ought to be precisely applied with an precise amount. The a lot much more frequently applied the far greater. Even though a human assembles the movement, a robot is utilized to apply the lubricant far much better and with far more precision in terms of quantity than any human can do often. One much more instance is a machine that makes it attainable for a watch maker to adjust the screws on a balance wheel and test the accuracy of the price tag in true time. Fundamentally the machine combines a magnifier, laptop controlled screw driver, and a watch movement rate tester in 1. While it is operated by a individual, the machine makes it simple to adjust a normal weighted balance wheel to its most precise weight distribution in the escapement assembly.
A single of my favourite images here that illustrates the culture of the manufacture is the image of the watch tools with the computer mouse. If you appear closely you are going to also notice the presence of a Montblanc pen. Each function station gives watchmakers a computer terminal as efficiently as watch generating tools. Though I have noticed this prior to, it undoubtedly is not frequent.
With their movements all created in Switzerland by Montblanc, the Nicolas Rieussec collection at present consists of a couple of watches. My main concentrate here is on the Automatic Chronograph that also has a GMT and date complication (that I tested). The movement is identified as the R200. The two manually wound variants (with slightly diverse functions) are the R100, R110, and R120 (a restricted edition that used a silicium escapement). I am not going to go overboard with technical details, but the movements represent an fascinating medium amongst the ultra-higher finish, and mass manufactured pieces.
The R200 has a lot of impressive characteristics on paper. Notable to the watch nerd is that it has a column wheel primarily primarily based chronograph that utilizes a vertical clutch. These characteristics offer you considerably much more durability and precision when making use of the chronograph. There are really handful of European chronographs that function each of these functions. I ought to also note that some of Seiko’s larger-finish chronograph movements also function column wheels and vertical clutches, as do pieces by brands such as Patek Philippe and (the former) Daniel Roth. Why all the concentrate on the chronograph? Effectively that is the new signature complication of Montblanc. The brand latched on to the complication for good explanation (as properly as to Mr. Nicolas Rieussec). &quotChronograph&quot actually implies &quottime writer.&quot What is Montblanc recognized for? Yes, producing pens. Sound too wonderful to be precise to have a watch in your collection that is a &quottime writer?&quot So the emphasis on this complication make excellent sense. Nicolas Rieussec is guy credited with &quotinventing the chronograph.&quot Montblanc adopted him.
A despite the fact that ago Rieussec developed a device that appears like an early seismograph. It was a clock with a cease and commence function that pulled a disc of paper along a smaller sized writing tip. This device was the really first identified &quotchronograph.&quot It was meant to measure time in horse races and really &quotwrote.&quot The appear of the chronograph on the watch is taken from this early device. Montblanc keeps replicas of them about the manufacture for inspiration. Each and every Nicolas Rieussec watch uses two discs that move along stationary hands to show the chronograph time (up to 30 minutes). These are also monopusher chronographs that use a single pusher to cycle through &quotstart, cease, and reset&quot functions for the chronograph. The pusher is enormous, straightforward to find, and placed at the five o’clock position on the watch. Don’t miss the exposed synthetic palette rubies exposed on the leading of the chronograph dials.
This chronograph style is the signature look of the Nicolas Rieussec collection. The time is displayed on an off-centered dial at the prime of the face. While tiny, Montblanc really helped that dial standout and be legible. It utilizes that fancy looking font that you will uncover on most Montblanc Star watches. I genuinely do adore that font.
On the manually-wound versions of the Nicolas Rieussec, the time dial has a third hand employed for the date. On the automatic, the third had is GMT hand. Functioning just like you would assume, the principal time hour hand can be independently adjusted to alter the time when moving by indicates of time zones when traveling. To the left of the dial is a day/evening indicator linked to the GMT hand. This valuable complication help you know if it is day or evening on your second timezone supplied that it is displayed on the 12, versus 24 hour scale. Who’d a even although this would turn out to be such a helpful travel watch? Both time zones share the minute hand. I was normally impressed by the GMT functionality of the watch and feels that the R200 movement’s use of the third hand is considerably better than having it be a date indicator.
Whilst the left of the dial has the day/evening indicator, the correct has a date wheel. For symmetry Montblanc utilizes a window of a associated shape, but I don’t substantially care for &quotopen&quot date windows. It also does not appear spectacular with the upper and lowered date becoming partially beneath the dial – though that does really aid with maintaining your concentrate on the actual date. While the windows that flank the time dial appear good, I have a feeling Montblanc may function to revise or polish the style in future generations of the watch.
Coming in a couple of tones, the dial of the Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec is an intriguing creature. It took me a even though to warm up to it, but I am enjoying the style. Although completely numerous than other collection Montblanc provides, the Nicolas Rieussec does share the brand’s DNA nicely. Of course the crown has that lovely white Montblanc star, and the case is incredibly considerably inspired by the Star collection. To make visual depth, the power component of the dial is partially &quoteclipsed&quot by a plate of Geneva stripe polished metal – plus, the dial seems to be developed up of a couple of layers. The chronograph dials are covered with a sort of want-bone like bridge that utilizes blued steel screws (blued steel is also utilized for some of the hands). This is a nice element, but I had a single suggestion for Montblanc. Even although this might effectively enhance the price a bit, I feel it would be actually welcome. The bridge is created from stamped steel. What if it could be designed from milled and hand-polished steel? It would give a great visual cue and reminder that this is a hand-assembled watch. Perhaps in the future.
Let’s go to the R200 movement once more. It is an automatic version of the R100 with a handful of addition complications (as described above). You can see the rotor placed more than the movement, with the modest Montblanc star shaped hole that is produced to pass correct more than the column wheel opening window. The movement has two mainspring barrels for a energy reserve of 72 hours. The movement operates at 28,800bmp and can be adjusted to be really correct. I saw a movement at the manufacture that was adjusted to operate within considerably less than a single second of deviation a day. I enjoy that the movement combines modern day technologies and traditionalism. Like I stated, it utilizes a totally free-weighted balance spring and column wheel, enjoys assists from hugely sophisticated machinery in its assembly and manufacture.
The Nicolas Rieussec watch case is 43mm wide and 14.8mm tall. It is not a tiny watch, but it does wear like a medium 1. Its height is visually lowered by the hugely curved lugs. Front and rear crystal are sapphire (with the front crystal getting double AR coating), though it is water resistant to 30 meters.
Montblanc has assured me that their dedication to the Nicolas Rieussec collection is intense. The collection will obtain far far more focus in the future, which is aided by the reality that the watch is a advertising and advertising great final results. A single of the motives for this is the pricing. Although the watches are not low price they are a lot more inexpensive that you’d anticipate. The pieces come in gold, platinum, and steel. The gold models are in the ,000 variety. Not low expense, but Montblanc is not asking for ,000. In fact, their platinum version is about ,000 – which in the luxury marketplace spot is not that significantly for a platinum watch. In steel the watch retails for about ,200. It comes in a steel bracelet or an alligator strap (black or brown). I am told that quickly Montblanc will generate a brand new metal bracelet for the Nicolas Rieussec collection.
Common these are enjoyable watches. The Montblanc identity is a significant great, and I appreciate the visual style and functionality of the R200 movement. Even even though distinctive in its appears, this is an straightforward watch to put on day-to-day. Montblanc is not creating a mere collector’s piece correct here. Created to avert boredom but sustain utility the Nicolas Rieussec watch collection is intended for all varieties of watch lovers to worn each and every day.
