This year is the tenth anniversary of MontBlanc Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher chronograph collection. Nowadays, it has been one of the most representative models. I wish to take the chance to review its fascinating history, because it determines MontBlanc’s status and development direction in the watchmaking field.
Nicolas Rieussec And Louis Moinet, Abraham-Louis Breguet
Nicolas Mathieu Rieussec was born in Paris in 1781. Early watchmaking experiences were seldom known except that experience that he worked on watchmaking in Str. Marché-Palu located in Cité of Paris. Abraham Louis Breguet once ran his store in this area. It’s possible that they never worked together. Mr. Rieussec invented a chronograph, while Louis Moinet invented a chronometer, and Mr. Breguet chose to concentrate on the later. Later, Mr. Rieussec became a watch maker for royal courts, while Mr. Breguet became a watch maker for the Nacy.
Relationship with Royal Family
Nicolas Rieussec was famous for the “Monograph chronograph” in 1821, but the contribution he made to the watchmaking field wasn’t widely recognized. Later, he was arranged to go to Garde-Meuble de la Couronne (furniture preservation), and to manage and to look after timepieces was his job. In that period of time, he made some luxury clocks for Duck of Bordeaux and St. cloud castle, and he got a promotion soon. As a result, he became a royal watch maker of Louis XVIII of France, Charles X and Louis Philippe I, seeing the changes of dynasties.
Horse Racing
Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher chronograph was invented in 1821 and used for horse racing. It’s hard to believe it in today’s world, but four games were held every day at Mars Square. New bourgeois was crazy about the sport, and they bet on every game. Therefore, an accurate chronograph was necessary then. Mr. Rieussec realized the importance, so he did it successfully.
Long History of Chronographs
Throughout the history, Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher chronograph is one of innovative fruits. In 1777, Jean Moïse Pouzait finished a pocket clock whose second hand worked in cease, telling time and rebooting, but the chronograph device didn’t bear “Reset”. A heart-shaped part Adolphe Nicole invented made the second hand reset, and the invention was patented on October 14, 1844. The great invention wasn’t put into use by Henri Féréol Piguet until 1962. Meanwhile, Mr. Rieussec was devoted to automatic equipment in small size.
MontBlanc Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph
The first MontBlanc Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher chronograph was released on April 7, 2008, limited to 300 pieces, including 25 pieces in platinum, 75 pieces in white gold, 75 in yellow gold and 125 in pink gold.
From MB R 100 to MB R 200
The first MontBlanc Nicolas Rieussec chronograph was equipped with in-house MB R 100, hand-wound mechanical movement. MontBlanc was preparing for another self-winding movement in the following 2-3 years. To 2010, new generation of MB R 100 was fitted with silicon escapement. One year later, MB R 200 with self wind came out, but the silicon escapement wasn’t used in it. Today, MB R 100 is not in production.
