Following the release of the “Glacier Blue” and “Space Gray” color schemes, Montblanc launched three new Star Collection Burgundy Red Limited Edition watches, each limited to 1,786 pieces worldwide, in tribute to Jacques Balmat’s successful climb to the top of Mont Blanc in 1786.

The legendary story of Jacques Balmat

The feat of the first climb to Mont Blanc fully demonstrates humanity’s fearless courage, persistent belief, and spirit of exploration. Since the origin of human civilization, the majestic and steep Mont Blanc has always been awe-inspiring and fascinating. According to local legends, the brave beasts occupied the dangerous mountain roads and prevented people from climbing to the top of Mont Blanc at 4,810 meters. Interest in climbing Mont Blanc grew in 1760 when naturalist Horace-Bénédict De Saussure offered a bounty for the first climber to find a route to the summit.

After several failed attempts, ambitious young hunter and crystal collector Jacques Balmat and Michel-Gabriel Paccard, a physician passionate about botany and minerals, teamed up to climb Mont Blanc.

Glacier Blue, Space Gray, Burgundy Red

To commemorate Balma and his companions, Montblanc released the Star Collection Glacier Limited Edition in 2022, with a unique dark blue “glacier pattern” dial, just like a dark blue shadow falling on the glacier at the top of Mont Blanc at an altitude of 4,810 meters at dusk, showing the mysterious charm of the “Heure Bleue” (Twilight Blue Hour) between day and night. In 2023, Montblanc released the Star Collection Space Gray Limited Edition watch, drawing inspiration from the mountain rocks on the south slope of Mont Blanc and using the gray “glacier pattern” dial to show the unique natural scenery of this mountain.

This year, Montblanc once again drew inspiration from the magnificent natural scenery of Mont Blanc, using Burgundy red as the primary color of the new Star Collection watch replica. As a gold digger and crystal collector, one of the purposes of Jacques Balma’s first climb to Mont Blanc was to explore treasures, including Mont Blanc’s iconic minerals: pink and red fluorite. Rich red symbolizes strength, courage, and maturity, and it was a necessary quality for Jacques Balma and Michel-Gabriel Packard in their journey to climb Mont Blanc.

The new Montblanc Star Collection Burgundy Red Limited Edition includes three exquisite timepieces: an automatic watch, a moon phase watch, and a clock. The dial’s center is decorated with a “glacier pattern” pattern, and the dial’s outer ring presents a unique sfumato effect. The watch is paired with a burgundy-red crocodile-grain calfskin strap. The vertical gradient ink effect is hand-dyed by Montblanc artisans in the leather workshop in Florence, Italy, and complements the dial. The three new imitation watches are all made of stainless steel cases and are limited to 1,786 pieces to commemorate Jacques Balma, who became one of the first pioneers to climb Mont Blanc on August 8, 1786, successfully.

New Montblanc Star Series Automatic Burgundy Red (1786 pieces worldwide)

The new Montblanc Star Series Automatic Burgundy Red (1786 pieces worldwide) is equipped with rose gold-plated hands and Arabic numerals, the second hand is decorated with the Montblanc hexagonal white star logo, and the burgundy red “glacier pattern” dial is presented in a filet sauté effect, giving the overall design a new look. The 39mm case is stainless steel and comes with a replaceable burgundy red ink rhyme crocodile pattern calfskin strap.

New Montblanc Star Series Moon Phase Burgundy Red (1786 pieces worldwide)

The new Montblanc Star Series Moon Phase Burgundy Red (1786 pieces worldwide) inherits all the design highlights of the same series of automatic winding watches and is equipped with a moon phase display complication. The watch uses a 42mm stainless steel case and is fitted with an MB 24.31 automatic winding movement with a power reserve of approximately 50 hours.

New Montblanc Star Series Chronograph Burgundy Red (1786 pieces worldwide)

Inheriting all the design elements of the series, the black clock subdial and small second-hand dial of the new Montblanc Star Series Chronograph Burgundy Red (1786 pieces worldwide) are located at “3 o’clock” and “9 o’clock” respectively, and the outer edge of the burgundy red “glacier pattern” dial is equipped with a precise railroad minute scale circle. The watch uses rose gold-plated hands to indicate hours, minutes, and seconds, and the chronograph function uses rhodium-plated hands to indicate, fully demonstrating the star series’s classic and elegant design specifications. The watch’s 42 mm case is made of stainless steel. It is equipped with an MB 25.13 automatic winding movement with a power reserve of approximately 56 hours, which can easily cope with various occasions.

A model of aesthetic design

The new Montblanc Star Series Burgundy Red Limited Edition watch follows the classic and elegant design specifications of the Star series. It draws inspiration from Minerva pocket watches from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, with a pebble-shaped case and an onion-shaped crown, paying tribute to the classic pocket watch shape. The crown decorated with the Montblanc hexagonal white star logo and the rose gold-plated willow-shaped hands make the new watch more recognizable.

The three new Montblanc Star Series Burgundy Red Limited Edition watches are all water-resistant to 5 bar (approximately 50 meters) and equipped with a self-replaceable Burgundy red ink rhyme crocodile pattern calfskin strap. There are also styles with stainless steel bracelets to choose from.

As always, the Montblanc Star Series watches draw endless inspiration from mountain exploration journeys. They vividly demonstrate the brand’s fearless spirit of exploration and passion for advanced watchmaking, endowing timepieces with a distinctive and timeless style, professionalism, and ingenuity.