Montblanc Heritage Spirit Perpetual Calendar Stainless Steel (110715)

To design a collection that bears the name of such an incomparable and unforgettable celebrity is both a challenge and a source of enduring pride for Montblanc's designers and jewellers, who were inspired by the grace and preferences of this European-American style icon to create a palette of new models that pay homage to the memory of Princesse Grace de Monaco.There aren't many diamond-studded wristwatches that a lady can wear equally well with casual dress, everyday business attire, a sophisticated cocktail dress or a lavish evening gown. The Montblanc Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco Red Gold Automatic is one of these rare exceptions that perfectly suits each situation in life as though it had been custom-tailored for this specific occasion. The delightfully warm hue of its 18 K red gold case elicits nostalgic feelings and emanates distinguished elegance. The fire of 126 brilliant-cut diamonds, set in one and two rows along the oval bezel and weighing a total of circa 0.618 carat, needn't fear comparison with even the most exclusive soiree, yet simultaneously preserves the understatement demanded by discreet elegance. This is beautifully matched by the gentle shimmer of white mother-of-pearl on the dial, which not only bears brilliant-cut diamonds weighing a total of circa 0.54 carat, but also boasts a rose-shaped pink sapphire (ca. 0.02 carat) and an applied numeral "12" plated with red gold. This watch's face is simple, beautiful, prestigious and outstandingly legible with a date window at "3 o'clock", a feuille hour-hand and minute-hand plated with red gold and, at the dial's centre, a slim second-hand bearing Montblanc's logo as a counterweight. This world-famous symbol is also present on the finely channelled red gold crown, where it appears in the form of a patented 43-facet Montblanc Diamond cut into the shape of the brand's emblem and weighing 0.055 carat.Though it's surrounded by so much exterior beauty, the inner life of the Montblanc Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco Red Gold Automatic needn't shyly hide because this is a mechanical automatic movement of the finest Swiss quality. This watch will never need a battery because motions of the wearer's wrist automatically wind its mainspring. If treated with appropriate care, it will reliably continue to perform its timekeeping duties decade after decade. The aesthetic of its mechanisms - a freely rotating winding rotor, a shiny golden balance and gleaming red rubies - can be admired by peering through the screwed sapphire crystal in the back of the case. This noble timepiece is affixed to a white alligator-leather wristband secured by a pronged buckle made of 18 K red gold.Traditional artisanal professions such as those practiced by watchmakers, casemakers, cadraniers, chainsmiths and jewellers have been closely interrelated for centuries. Creative collaboration among these metiers repeatedly results in unique artworks with an aesthetic that evokes every bit as much enthusiasm as the fascinating mechanical clockworks that control the motions of timepieces' hands. The newest examples are two one-of-a-kind specimens of haute horlogerie in the Montblanc Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco. Outstanding craftsmanly skills created the "Petales de Rose Motif" in 18 K white gold with 810 diamonds weighing a total of circa 6.763 carats and the "Petales Entrelaces Motif" in 18 carat red gold with 360 diamonds weighing a total of circa 8.1571 carats.The appeal of this unique timepiece derives from its masterful combination of opulent luxury and discreet elegance. Its precious materials are absolutely lavish: 18 karat red gold, white mother-of-pearl and 360 diamonds in various cuts. Simplicity and understatement, on the other hand, distinguish the clear shapes of the case and wristband, while strict discipline is preserved by the arrangement of the diamonds. The bezel is encrusted with 44 baguette diamonds that have been precisely cut to conform to the oval contour and that continually taper from the "3" to the "12" and from the "9" to the "6". The bracelet is composed of interlaced (entrelaces) links: each is shaped like a rose petal and together they form a horizontal figure-of-eight, i.e. the mathematical symbol of infinity or, when considered in the context of timepieces, a signifier of eternity. This provides the perfect allusion to the bevy of 173 everlasting brilliant-cut diamonds on the bracelet of a wristwatch that one gives as proof of eternal love. An additional 130 brilliant-cut diamonds adorn the flange around the dial. The crown is topped by a patented 43-facet Montblanc Diamond shaped like the brand's emblem. Last but not least, the twelve hours on the white mother-of-pearl dial are marked by a dozen diamonds, each of which is encircled by a red gold rose petal contour. This watch's face is a gorgeous example of the art of the cadranier (dial-maker), for whom processing hard but fragile mother-of-pearl ranks among the greatest challenges. As if this weren't difficult enough, the dial on the "Petales Entrelaces Motif" model has two levels. Creating the slightly inset inner circle in this fragile material is extremely demanding, but gives the face an impressively sculptural appearance. The outer circle boasts a complex pattern of mother-of-pearl intarsia, each element of which is painstakingly hand-cut and polished to fit closely alongside its neighbours in a seamless mosaic. The result is a fantastic stage for the inexorable passage of time, which flows in synchrony with the steady ticking of a Swiss mechanical movement. The calibre draws its energy from the activity of its wearer's wrist, which causes an oscillating weight to rotate: the weight's motions tighten the mainspring. A transparent pane of sapphire crystal in the back of the case invites the owner to view the rotor's motions and the tirelessly regular "breaths" of the little balance.  The "Petales Entrelaces Motif" from the Montblanc Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco thus unites the skills of many specialists in a petite masterpiece that's crafted both as a one-of-a-kind artwork and for all eternity.The exclusive and unique "Petales de Rose Motif" (rose petals) is dedicated to the noble blossom which ranks among the most beautiful expressions of love in our climes and which was also the favourite flower of Princess Gracia Patricia. The shape of the rose petals determines the design of the refined wristband, where invisible joints connect individual petal contours to create floral loops that conjoin to form an exquisite linked bracelet. The entire ensemble is made from 18 karat white gold artistically set with 555 brilliant-cut diamonds. The play with delicate petal contours likewise adorns the dial, where the fire of 80 brilliant-cut diamonds scintillates across an expanse of white mother-of-pearl. The face is surrounded by 130 brilliant-cut diamonds that are meticulously set by hand along the flange around the dial's periphery. This masterpiece of the jeweller's art is surmounted by a bezel that proudly bears 44 baguette diamonds. A most exclusive diamond thrones upon the crown: this superlative gem is cut with 43 facets and embodies the emblem of the Montblanc brand. Connoisseurs who peer behind this opulent foreground of 18 karat white gold and 810 diamonds weighing a total of 6.763 carats will discover a mechanical SWISS MADE self-winding movement that functions entirely without a battery. Its mainspring is automatically wound by a rotor which is visible through a pane of sapphire crystal in the case's back. The rotor transforms each motion of the wearer's wrist into a paragon of Swiss precision timekeeping. If this wristwatch has been left unworn long enough for the movement to exhaust its reserve of power, its mainspring can be quickly and easily wound by manually turning the crown. A masterpiece of the jeweller's art, this wristwatch is an utterly unique piece of jewellery that has been crafted for eternity and will never be repeated..