The 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter Limited Edition and TimeWalker Chronograph Rally Timer Counter Limited Edition from Montblanc are two of 72 watches chosen as finalists in the 2017 Grand Prix D’Horlogerie de Geneve (GPHG) .

The Montblanc 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter and TimeWalker Rally Timer will compete with other watchmaking exemplars of high horology to win one of the 15 prizes that will reward the industry’s most innovative, best finished or most groundbreaking horological creations  including the prestigious “Aiguille d’Or”. The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) aims, in a spirit of sharing and cooperation, to yearly highlight and reward high-quality creations in order to nurture the advancement of the watchmaking art and the Aiguille d’Or or Grand Prix is the prize which rewards the best overall watch among all categories, it is also the Grand Prix’s most prestigious award.

Montblanc 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter and Rally Timer Voted 2017 GPHG Finalists

A panel of jurists will meet in November to commence final selection. Each will vote behind via secret ballot under the watchful eyes of a legal notary, a strict procedure to allay fears and rumour-mongering of the often politicised Grand Prix for watchmaking. Fans of Montblanc will learn whether their beloved Montblanc 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter and TimeWalker Rally Timer are winners of either category awards or the creme de la creme Aiguille d’Or at the award ceremony on Wednesday November 8th at the Théâtre du Léman in Geneva.

Profile of a GPHG Finalist: The 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter Limited Edition

The Montblanc 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter was a two toned 44mm limited edition in satinated bronze and titanium. The Montblanc GPHG finalist also bears polished bezel for extra depth and elegance while the champagne dial with sunray finishing and cathedral shaped hands are matched by faux-patinated SuperLuminova which further sell the vintage appeal of the classical age of motoring.

The 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter is driven by the calibre MB M16.29, distinctive for its column wheel mechanism, horizontal coupling, chronograph bridge in a “V” shape, the so called signature “Devil’s tail” and a large screwed balance wheel beating at a somewhat leisurely 18,000 vph. Montblanc’s GPHG finalist nominee bears 50 hours power reserve and is dressed with a cognac alligator leather strap crafted at the Montblanc Pelletteria in Florence, complete with a satinated bronze plated buckle.

Profile of a GPHG Finalist: Montblanc TimeWalker Chronograph Rally Timer Counter Limited Edition

Reinterpreting Minerva’s historical Rally Timer, Montblanc presents an innovative and versatile timepiece strictly limited to 100 pieces. It can be used in different ways, as it can be changed from a wristwatch into a pocket watch or dashboard clock. The manufacture calibre MB M16.29 with a monopusher chronograph was inspired by the original Minerva calibre 17-29 from the 1930s, offering handcrafted fine watchmaking finishes such as chamfered angles and “Côtes de Genève” or circular graining decorations. As on the famous Minerva Rally Timer, the chronograph’s 30-minute counter at 12 o’clock is vertically aligned with the small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock. With a tip sculpted after the Minerva arrow, the red chronograph seconds hand runs in central position along a tachymeter scale, which can be used to calculate speeds over fixed distances. The historical Arabic numerals and the precise minuterie with red accents at five-minute markings were also modelled after its predecessor. With the same dimensions as its famous predecessor, the satinated titanium case with knurled finishing and DLC coating on the flank boasts an unusually large diameter of 50 mm. For utmost reliability and performance, the timepiece has been rigorously tested by the Montblanc Laboratory Test 500.