Close Up: Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Rising Hours

Today we’re taking a close up look at the Nicolas Rieussec Rising Hours which luxury watchmaker Montblanc unveiled this year at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie. This new addition to the Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Collection (which was launched in 2008) features a new twist on that collection’s famous concept of discs which turn while the hands stand still.

The Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Rising Hours features a new day/night indication in the hour display. Inside the slightly off-centre dial for the ordinary time of day is a circular aperture at 12 o’clock with Arabic numerals for the twelve hours that turns below a little triangular index. The hour numerals change colour depending on the time of day or night, from pale blue at night to black during the day.

This unique feature is made possible by its calibre MB R220, which boasts a mechanism (patented by Montblanc) consisting of two rotating discs positioned one atop the other. The Arabic numerals 1 to 12 are cut from the upper disc, which turns above the bicolour day/night disc to indicate whether the hour is AM or PM. The twelve-hour disc rotates continually, while the day/night disc turns in intervals and at variable speeds according to the necessary colour change. This complex motion is controlled with the aid of a Maltese cross “Rising Hours” mechanism comprised of two cam-like wheels. In addition to this double-disc mechanism, the Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Rising Hours features a day of the week window at 9 o’clock, a date aperture at 3 o’clock, and a two-armed bridge at “6 o’clock” with bright red ruby bearings.

The Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Rising Hours is available in red gold, platinum (a limited edition of 28) and stainless steel versions.

Photos courtesy Montblanc.