Introducing Montblanc Unveils the Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph

Montblanc first introduced the Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph in 2007, presenting an unconventional chronograph defined by its rotating counters and a deep-rooted historical connection to the origins of timekeeping. Notably, it was also the brand’s first timepiece powered by an in-house movement, a significant milestone in Montblanc’s watchmaking journey.

While Nicolas Mathieu Rieussec (1781–1866) did not invent the chronograph, he was responsible for a groundbreaking innovation in 1821. On Saturday, 1st September 1821, during a horse race at Paris’s Champ de Mars, Rieussec debuted a timekeeping device that quite literally “wrote time”. His invention used a fixed ink nib to mark rotating counters one for 60 seconds and another for 30 minutes, recording the precise moment horses crossed the finish line. 

This pioneering mechanism earned him recognition from the French Academy of Sciences as the inventor of the inking chronograph, a legacy that fittingly bridges Montblanc’s expertise in writing instruments and horology.

Today, Montblanc honors that legacy with a new green edition of the Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph, blending classical aesthetics with a modern color palette.

Encased in polished stainless steel, the timepiece measures 43mm in diameter and 15.01mm in height, offering a bold yet refined presence on the wrist. It features a domed sapphire crystal that is scratch-resistant and treated with double-sided anti-reflective coating for superior clarity. The sapphire crystal caseback, also with an internal AR treatment, provides a clear view of the intricate movement. Water-resistant to 50 meters, the case is fitted with a stainless steel crown bearing the Montblanc emblem and a distinctive monopusher chronograph pusher located at 8 o’clock.

The dial, rendered in a striking green hue, is adorned with a Clous de Paris guilloché pattern, a nod to the cobblestone streets of 19th-century Paris. At 12 o’clock, a brushed subdial displays the second time zone with a skeletonized hand. On the subdial’s right side, a visible screw balances the design, while a round aperture on the left houses the day/night indicator.

Beneath, two horizontally aligned rotating discs serve as the 60-second (right) and 30-minute (left) chronograph counters. Their contemporary grained finish contrasts with the polished silver-toned bridge, shaped like a fixed hand, that reads the elapsed time. A green-framed date window sits at 6 o’clock, seamlessly integrated into the overall design.

At the heart of the watch is the automatic MB R200 calibre, Montblanc’s integrated chronograph movement with a column wheel and vertical clutch. It features twin barrels offering a robust 72-hour power reserve, while the 10mm balance wheel operates at 4Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour). The date and second time zone are both bi-directionally adjustable via a rapid-reset mechanism. The movement is beautifully finished with Côtes de Genève on the bridges and a Clous de Paris openworked rotor engraved with the Montblanc star.

Designed by Montblanc’s artistic director Marco Tomasetta, the watch is paired with a green calfskin strap featuring a printed lining depicting a map of Paris from 1821, highlighting landmarks such as the Champ de Mars racetrack and the Île de la Cité, where Rieussec had his workshop.

This green edition of the Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph joins the permanent collection and retails for EUR 8,300 which is approximately equivalent to 35,200 AED.

For more information visit Montblanc’s official website.