Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Montblanc Heritage Automatic, c. 2019
- Maker / attribution
- Montblanc (maker)
- Date
- c. 2019
- Historical period
- Contemporary Horology (2010 – Present)
- Country of origin
- Unrecorded in source
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- Case 40 mm
- Stock no.
- 40990583
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Analog/Shift (40990583)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Montblanc Heritage Automatic (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Analog/Shift (dealer), New York (stock number 40990583), this is a wristwatch by Montblanc, dated c. 2019. The Atlas places it in the Contemporary Horology period (2010 – Present) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 40 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Analog/Shift
You might know Montblanc as a pen-maker, but that’s not the entire story. World famous for its writing instruments and leather goods, Montblanc began making watches in 1997. In 2006 Richemont — Montblanc’s parents company — purchased the historical Minerva manufacture, which Montblanc then took over in order to profit from its horological expertise. Since then, the maison has been churning out some of the finest modern timepieces available. This particular Montblanc watch is a Heritage Automatic. Dating to circa 2019, it features a 40mm stainless steel case with a sapphire crystal, a signed crown, a polished bezel, and a striking, textured and sunburst salmon dial with a matching dauphine handset. Paired to a grey Montblanc alligator strap with a signed pin buckle, it’s powered by the automatic Cal. MB 24.26 with 38 hours of power reserve. Well-proportioned, handsome and unique, this Heritage Automatic is in good overall condition and comes with much of its ephemera. For the money, there are very, very few watches that come even close to what Montblanc has done with this model. Don’t think twice!
Historical context
Contemporary Horology (2010 – Present)
Silicon components, connected watches, optical-lattice research clocks and a thriving independent scene.
Smartwatches became the world's best-selling watches, while mechanical watchmaking focuses on craft, innovation (silicon components, new escapements) and independent makers.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Mechanical Renaissance
Atlas type guide
Automatic (self-winding) watches
Self-winding watches use the wearer's motion to wind the mainspring. Abraham-Louis Perrelet and Breguet made 'perpétuelle' pocket watches with oscillating weights in the late eighteenth century, but the principle only became practical in the wristwatch. John Harwood patented a bumper automatic in 1923; Rolex's Perpetual rotor (1931) winding in one direction, and later bidirectional rotors (Eterna, Felsa Bidynator), established the modern form. Micro-rotors (Universal Genève, Buren) and peripheral rotors made automatic watches thinner.
What to look for
- A semicircular rotor turning 360° over the movement, or a 'bumper' weight that rebounds between springs.
- 'Automatic', 'Perpetual' or 'Self-winding' on the dial.
- A sealed screw-back case, since automatic watches are wound less often by the crown.
Dating clues
- Bumper automatics: 1923–c. 1955.
- Full rotors: from 1931 (Rolex); widespread after c. 1950.
- Micro-rotors: from 1954–1958.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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