An Homage to Parisian Horse Racing, The Watchmaker to the King, and the First Inking Chronograph
The story of the Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph Limited Edition 821 timepiece began on Saturday, 1st September 1821 when Nicolas Rieussec (1781-1866) first tested his timekeeping invention at the horse races on the Champ-de-Mars in Paris. His device recorded the precise times of all the horses as they crossed the finish line, literally “writing time”, which inspired the term “chronograph”. Rieussec was not only the sixth royal watchmaker to the King of France; he was also a businessman with an eye for opportunity. Horse races in Paris at this time were big business, and being able to scientifically record the winners would be a gamechanger for the sport.
How Did Nicolas Rieussec’s Device Work?
Nicolas Rieussec’s device used a fixed nib that would place a drop of ink on two rotating counters (one for the minutes, the other for the seconds) each time a horse crossed the finish line. His invention was a success and a few weeks later, he presented it to the Academy of Sciences in Paris, whose members were fascinated by the timing device and named it a “chronograph,” taken from the Greek words chronos for time and graphein to write. The word chronograph was born and Nicolas Rieussec became the inventor of the world’s first inking chronograph, marking the history of fine watchmaking.
A Complicated Monopusher Chronograph
At the heart of the Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph Limited Edition 821 is the in-house manufactured Calibre MB R200. This movement includes a precise monopusher chronograph, as well as full dual-time functionality with a Day & Night indication and date complication. The movement offers automatic winding of dual barrels for a full 72 hours of power reserve.
Visible through the sapphire caseback, the MB R200 is a uniquely symmetrical movement with elegantly curvaceous bridges supporting the gear train and escapement, each bridge adored with visible pivot jewels, large blued screws and Geneva striping. The skeletonised automatic-winding rotor features the Montblanc emblem and Clous de Paris engraving.
The Stainless Steel Case
The fully polished stainless steel case measures 43mm across. The curving lugs feature a "stepped" architecture, and an onion crown adds a traditional touch harkening back to the era of pocket watches. A satinated bezel completes the visage and allows the elaborate dial to take center stage. The sapphire case-back affords a full view of Calibre MB R200.
A Dial with a Story
The dial vividly portrays Parisian horse racing, featuring a recreation of a 19th-century illustration inspired by Victor Adam's 1829 work, "Four Jockeys storm with their horses", depicting four jockeys atop their mounts at the Champ de Mars course. A beige sfumato finish enhances this scene, lending the dial depth and color. The tonal flange is inscribed with "Rieussec" at 12 o'clock and, at 6 o'clock, a tribute to the Academy of Sciences in Paris, acknowledging Rieussec's significant horological accomplishments.
The Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph Limited Edition 821 takes Rieussec's 1821 chronograph as its design inspiration. The watch's two chronograph sub-dials (a 60-second counter at 8-o'clock and a 30-minute totalizer at 4 o’clock) feature rotating domed discs. Between these discs sits a horizontally oriented applied bridge that acts as a pointer, a configuration that accurately recreates the layout of Rieussec's original chronograph of 1821.
The dual time zones are displayed on the non-concentric main dial, with a Day & Night indication in the 9 o’clock position and a skeletonised hour hand that can be set independently of the main hourhand or neatly tucked behind it when operating in a single time zone. Luminescence in the main dauphine hands assures legibility in all lighting conditions. The date is indicated in the aperture at 6 o’clock.
A Strap Celebrating Paris and Ink Marking
Designed by Montblanc Artistic Director Marco Tomasetta, the brown calf leather strap matches the dial and tapers down to a point, imitating the distinctive shape of a Montblanc fountain pen nib. This subtle detail also recalls the nib used in Rieussec's inking chronograph of 1821.
The underside of the strap features a map of Paris, on which one can locate a number of significant sites. These include the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Seine River in the centre of the city, as well as 14 Rue du Marché-Palu, where Rieussec had his workshop between 1805 and 1817, and 13 Rue Neuve des Petits Champs, where Rieussec worked during his patent application for his chronograph. On the top portion of the strap, one can see Le Champ de Mars where the famous horse race of September 1, 1821 took place, as well as the L'Ecole Militaire, France's central military school.
