Montblanc TimeWalker Extreme Chronograph DLC

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Montblanc TimeWalker Extreme Chronograph DLC - Watch review
2 minutes read
After a month getting familiar with this timepiece on the wrist, here are our impressions of the watch produced to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Montblanc TimeWalker collection.

Unlike Olivier Müller’s extreme test of a Ball Watch on his holidays kayaking 200km along the coast of Greenland, my holiday test of the Montblanc TimeWalker Extreme Chronograph DLC took place in a much more relaxed setting, mainly punctuating meal times as I lounged by the pool in Tenerife.

 

Montblanc TimeWalker Extreme Chronograph DLC

 

After a month on the wrist, I can confirm that this sleek, all-black version of the TimeWalker chronograph, with its “Black 4” DLC case, is a genuine all-rounder, fitting well under a shirt cuff with a business suit or with just a pair of swimming trunks. The size (43mm case diameter) is perfect for any wrist and the hollowed-out lugs give the case a remarkable lightness, not to mention a striking design.

Thanks to a slender bezel, the dial is a model of clarity. But on closer inspection, what appears to be a single planar surface at one angle of view is in fact divided into several different segments: the inner and outer rings have a fine texture of circular striations, while the hour circle, with its distinctive Arabic numerals in the TimeWalker font, is untextured, which further improves the clarity of the dial. The numerals and double indices are coated with Superluminova that seemed to be charged better by artificial light than daylight (even the strong sunshine of a September day in Tenerife seemed to do little to awaken it) but the slender strip of the material on the hour and minute hands also does wonders for the legibility of the dial even in “normal” light conditions.

Surprisingly, however, one of the highlights of the Montblanc TimeWalker Extreme Chronograph DLC is its black strap. It looks like a cross between leather and carbon fibre, with the texture of the former but the weave of the latter. But at its base is a “Vulcarboné” core of high-quality rubber with exceptional resistance to ageing. Breakage-resistant twine is then used to sew the leather upper to this core but a subsequent stage in the manufacturing process then textures the leather, simultaneously impregnating it and increasing its strength. The result is a strap that is highly resistant to abrasion, water and fire. I can vouch for the first two claims but shied away from testing the third.

 

The Montblanc TimeWalker Extreme Chronograph DLC

 

I had the watch in almost constant use throughout the test, so the movement never had time to wind down. Without any adjustment, the MB 4810/507 calibre gained a couple of minutes over the course of a month or so, which is more than respectable for a self-winding movement and a testament to the brand’s strict quality control. Since the aim of my one-week holiday in Tenerife was to do as little as possible, opportunities to test the chronograph were quite rare. I seized the one opportunity I had and was impressed that the hotel chef took just 2 minutes and 36 seconds precisely to prepare a dish of stir-fried noodles for me.

 

 

In summary, for those who – like me – prefer discreet but reliable timepieces that show you the time at a glance and can take a dip in the pool in their stride, the Montblanc TimeWalker Extreme Chronograph DLC is a great choice. 

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