To celebrate the 150th anniversary Minerva manufacture, the Montblanc Villeret 1858 Grand Chronographe Émail Grand Feu was released in 2008. The production of the timepiece was limited to 1 unique piece in platinum, 8 pieces in 18K white gold and 58 pieces in pink gold, referencing the year of 1858 when Minerva was founded in Villeret. The present pink gold example features a magnificent white Grand Feu enameled dial, created by dusting enamel powder onto a gold disc and heating it at very high temperatures repeatedly in successive layers. The present watch is the perfect combination of exquisite traditional craftsmanship and fine watchmaking technique.
The Montblanc Villeret calibre MB M16.29 is inspired by the original Minerva caliber 17.29 made for wristwatches and pocket watches from the 1930s. The plates and bridges of the movement of the present watch are made in accordance with the highest standards of traditional watchmaking. The circular-grained baseplate is made up of rhodium-plated German silver, and the beautifully hand-chamfered bridges are embellished by circular-graining and Côtes de Genève. Every single component of the column wheel chronograph movement is carried out meticulously by hand and is aligned to enable tolerances of a hundredth of a millimetre.
The present watch further bears the signature of master watchmaker Demetrio Cabiddu on the inner surface of the hinged cuvette, with the winding crown is adorned by the Montblanc symbol set in genuine mother-of-pearl. Numbered 04 in a limited production of only 58 pieces, and offered with its Certificate of Origin and presentation box, this present example is without a doubt an extremely well-executed timepiece of true haute horlogerie.