The Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph Meisterstück 100 Years

Montblanc celebrates the 100th anniversary of the iconic Meisterstück – a fine writing instrument synonymous with the brand. Interestingly, initially, the cigar-shaped pen with the handcrafted nib was created by Montblanc artisans exclusively for their use before being made available to the public in 1924. To mark the milestone, Montblanc released a special edition of the Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph Meisterstück 100 Years, incorporating design elements inspired by the iconic Meisterstück fountain pen; we share our impressions after a hands-on experience.

Founded in 1906, Montblanc gained widespread recognition as a maker of fountain pens before expanding its offerings to include luxury leather goods, perfumes, and, since 1997, watches. Popular at the time jokes about Montblanc watches needing ink to run, quickly gave way to appreciation of how fast the brand mastered the watchmaking craft.

In 2007, Montblanc launched a chronograph under the Nicolas Rieussec name, honouring the inventor of what was long considered the first-ever chronograph. This was until an 1816 pocket watch called the Compteur de Tierces by Louis Moinet was discovered a few years later, in 2013. However, if you delve into the true meaning of the word “chronograph“—derived from the Greek Chronos (time) and graphein (to write)—Rieussec’s claim holds firm. His “time writer” placed a mark on two rotating counters, for seconds and minutes, with a fixed nib and ink, as a horse crossed the finish line – a true testament to the original purpose of a chronograph. The Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph Meisterstück 100 Years carries many of the elements that have defined the Nicolas Rieussec series while commemorating the writing instrument and the time-measuring invention, both representing nicely the two areas where today’s Montblanc’s expertise is evident.

The Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph Meisterstück 100 Years features a polished, stainless steel case with a pebble-shaped profile and measures 43mm in diameter and 15.01mm thick. While the gracefully curved lugs visually reduce the height, this remains a sizable watch by modern standards, and it certainly wears as such. The signature fluted onion crown at 3 o’clock, adorned with the Montblanc star logo, adds a distinctive touch and is easy to operate. The single pusher at 8 o’clock controls the chronograph’s start, stop, and reset functions. A domed sapphire crystal protects the dial, and the display caseback is secured by six screws and features a series of engravings that convey various details the brand deemed essential to include, like the limited edition 1 of 500 mentions and the 50m water-resistance.

The black dial of the Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph Meisterstück 100 Years is rich with design elements that pay homage to the iconic Meisterstück pen. The dial’s base features a luminescent image that reproduces a 1920s blueprint of the pen, while the middle of the off-centred time dial reveals the dimensional table of the Montblanc star emblem through luminescent printing; both are slightly visible even in daylight. At 4 and 8 o’clock, horizontally arranged rotating sub-registers track elapsed 60 seconds and 30 minutes, with a gilded nib-like double index at 6 o’clock to mark the elapsed time, echoing the original invention by Rieussec. The domed chronograph discs feature the numbers 48 and 10 in a distinct style, symbolizing the 4810-meter height of Montblanc, the brand’s emblem.

The special Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph adheres to Meisterstück’s signature colour palette, with a predominantly monochromatic design accented by golden touches. The Dauphine hour and minute hands, filled with Super-LumiNova and rose gold-coated Arabic hour indices and chronograph index, add warmth to the dial. The second time zone’s skeletonized hand (hidden in the images) is coated in black rhodium; it shares an axis with the hour and minute hands. Completing the watch’s functions, the day/night indicator takes the 9 o’clock position on the time dial, and the elegantly framed date window sits at the dial’s bottom, fixed with two screws. The inner flange bears subtle reminders of the origins of the chronograph in the ancient Greek sense.

The display caseback offers a glimpse into the back of the Montblanc Manufacture Calibre MB R200, a self-winding integrated chronograph movement. This calibre features a column wheel and vertical clutch for smooth chronograph operation and twin barrels arranged in series, providing a 72-hour power reserve. A notable convenience for travellers, the movement allows for the rapid reset of the hour hand and date display, both forward and backward. The oscillating weight, matching the dial’s colour, features a special engraving of an endless figure eight, evoking the art of calligraphy. The movement also showcases a large, 10mm-diameter balance wheel with screws, oscillating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, and gold-coated wheels in the going train. This thoughtful design preserves the dial’s monochromatic and gold-accented aesthetic.

The watch has a black calfskin strap featuring an alligator print, secured by a triple-folding clasp. The strap is easily interchangeable, thanks to the star-logo-adorned pushers on the spring bars. Priced at EUR 8,900, this special Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph Meisterstück 100 Years edition is limited to just 500 pieces, making it a distinguished addition to the original series. However, my favourite among the Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph collection remains the 2018 edition in steel with an anthracite dial. The Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph Meisterstück 100 Years is a lovely commemorative watch that appeals to a specific audience’s appreciation of finer things and is worth visiting a store, especially if you are the Meisterstück-struck collector.

For more, visit Montblanc.com.