Review: Montblanc TimeWalker Automatic Chronograph

Jan 06, 2011,21:11 PM
 

The Montblanc TimeWalker Automatic Chronograph

 


When I was offered the opportunity to wear the TimeWalker Chronograph for a few weeks I thought it would be an interesting experience. The chronographs I wear regularly are based on designs that are more than 40 years old, and it was time I tried something more modern! As for all PuristS reviews, this is very much a hands-on evaluation. I hope you take away something useful and it prompts you to look at the Montblanc range anew.

 

Packaging

 

The watch was delivered in a simple black, lined box with a date correction tool with MB white star logo. Nothing special here, but most of my boxes end up in storage in the closet, so not really an issue.













An instruction manual is supplied in nine languages introducing Montblanc products and their philosophy, namely: the careful selection of quality materials, functional beauty, tradition and durability. The manual includes pictures of the manufacture at Le Locle, which may well be the first introduction that many owners will have to Swiss watchmaking. The operating instructions include diagrams and are very clear. The watch comes with a 2-year international guarantee and the International Service Centres and Boutiques are listed.

 

The watch




The TimeWalker Chronograph has a very familiar dial layout with 30-minute and 12-hour chronograph counters at 3 and 6 o’clock and a continuous seconds subdial at 9 o’clock. There is a well-sized date window situated at 4.30. So many watches have tiny date windows that are almost illegible, but I liked this one very much, and legibility is accentuated by the distinctive white on black font.


The watch I road-tested had a steel case, black dial and rose gold (RG) accented hands and indices. There is, however, a wide range of metal, dial and color combinations available for the TimeWalker Chronograph, including RG or steel cases; white, silver or black dials; and steel or RG hands. The watch comes on either a bracelet or strap. There are even versions with ceramic or diamond encrusted bezels and I would direct you to a Montblanc Boutique or their website to see the range. There is really something to suite all tastes.




The stainless steel case measures 43x14.3mm. I particularly liked the bowl-shaped case supported by short, gently curved lugs. The skeletonized lugs and the contrasting brushed and polished surfaces all add to the modern elegance of the watch. The Montblanc Star on the knurled crown tops off a thoughtfully designed watch. The crown, by the way, is quite easy to grip and wind when you want to get the automatic movement started from ‘cold’.







Protecting the dial is a gently domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.  A flat sapphire exhibition caseback provides a view to the movement with its freely spinning automatic rotor. In fact the rotor is so heavy and spins so well that you can feel it on your wrist, which was a new experience for me.


The movement is the Montblanc 4810/502, which is based on the ETA-Valjoux 7750 movement, an integrated chronograph movement with hacking seconds that has been around for decades and is a widely used and very well established workhorse. There is no information on what work is done on the movement apart from adding a monogrammed rotor. Several blued screws throughout the movement also add a touch of color and catch the eye. The movement has a power reserve of 46 hours, 27 jewels and beats at 28,800vph.








The strap is 22mm at the lugs, tapering down to 20 mm at the tang buckle. The strap is made of fine grained calf leather and has a lovely copper/brown stitching that matches the rose gold accents on the dial. The strap is quite thick at 4mm and tapers slightly towards the buckle. The buckle itself is nicely designed with a wide rectangular pin that engages reliably and carries the skeletonized theme from the lugs.







The watch is water resistant to 30m (3 bar). The manual offers a useful table indicating the types of activities that the watch can withstand - such as exposure to rain and submersion in water, but not diving.

 

On the wrist




On paper the 43x14.3 mm case sounds quite sizable, but the short sloping lugs and the thick wide strap help the watch to sit very comfortably on the wrist. I don’t like my watches, particularly the larger and heavier ones, to flop around and there is plenty of adjustment in the strap.







The coppery-gold on black with white printing is very legible and the centre chronograph seconds hand precisely reaches the seconds track marked out in one-quarter second intervals. The hour, minute and subdial hands have a thin superluminova strip (and the hour markers are also luminous), but this is not particularly bright, perhaps fitting for a dress chronograph rather than a sports chronograph. The subdial at 6-o’clock nibbles the top off the “6”, but otherwise I liked the dial layout with the oversized numerals. I also enjoyed the way the rose gold accents caught the light which is demonstrated in many of the photos.










The chronograph buttons are comfortable to use, with a distinct notchiness on actuation that I like, although not quite as smooth as some column-wheel chronographs. There was no appreciable lag or backlash and the chronograph hands all reset accurately.

 

Performance

 

I wore the watch approximately 10 hours per day and observed the following daily variation. I also repeated the exercise with the chronograph running, but this did not appreciably influence the chronometric performance. You can see that the consistency was good, and greater accuracy could be achieved by regulation if desired.

 

Daily variation (chronograph not running): +6, +9, +18 (worn for 4 hours only), +9, +11, +10, +10 seconds. Average=+10.4 seconds per day.

 

Daily variation (chronograph running): +7, +8, +18, +10, +10, +15, +11 seconds. Average=+11.3 seconds per day.

 

I am not a particularly active person at work (and take my watches off for sport) and the watch would run for 17-24 hours after taking it off my wrist. Your mileage will inevitably vary on this aspect.

 

Conclusions




I see the TimeWalker Chrono as a modern interpretation of a chronograph for the young professional. It is versatile and slightly dressy and is a good entry-level timepiece from an established maker of luxury goods; it would also make an appropriate accompaniment to your first Montblanc pen or other accessory. I certainly remember buying my first Montblanc fountain pen when I graduated from University and started working. That pen still remains a special part of my collection, and this watch would fill a similar niche.




And as an entry-level watch in the Montblanc collection there is plenty to move on to with the Rieussec Chronographs, through to the Villeret range. This is not a bad place to start.



AndrewD




Three chronographs: 38mm Zenith Prime; 43mm MB TimeWalker; 42mm Speedmaster

 


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Comments: view entire thread

 

nice review

 
 By: cuibono : January 7th, 2011-07:51
very nice review. i appreciate the straightforward, practical approach. it's a good looking which with a decent quality movement, which, at the end of the day, is good enough to consider giving it a look. although, compared to your zenith, i think it come... 

Thanks Chris ...

 
 By: AndrewD : January 7th, 2011-20:43
As you can see, I tend to wear historically significant / traditional pieces. The Zenith is small by modern standards. The TimeWalker was therefore quite a departure for me. But I found it surprisingly comfortable and versatile at work and at play. And a ... 

Another comparison shot with the Zenith ...

 
 By: AndrewD : January 7th, 2011-20:56
... and Speedmaster. Very different watches. Some love the traditional pieces and others the modern ......  

Note to PPro Exec team

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : January 7th, 2011-08:16
Give more watches to Andrew!!! Great review. Pleasure to read All the best Damjan

Too nice, Damjan ...

 
 By: AndrewD : January 7th, 2011-20:45
I'm pleased you liked the review. My aim was to present it in such a way that you could imagine what it was like to wear the watch yourself. I hope I achieved that. Regards Andrew

Thank you for the review...

 
 By: patrick_y : January 7th, 2011-12:11
Thank you for the review of this nice, simple, and clean watch. A perfect watch for the young professional of today. I'm mostly surprised by the strap, the strap looks wide, a little thick, and very comfortable. Another surprise is the rate accuracy of th... 

Comfort

 
 By: AndrewD : January 7th, 2011-20:52
Hi Patrick, The TimeWalker was indeed very comfortable to wear for extended periods, and the wide strap contributed significantly to that. I liked the buckle too. Mike commented in a previous post that it tended to get caught on sleeves, and the first thi...  

it sure looks large compared to the others

 
 By: cazalea : January 7th, 2011-12:35
not having the outside bezel allows the dial to be much larger. Perhaps an ideal watch for those with aging eyes ... Cazalea

It is quite a striking watch and legibility ...

 
 By: AndrewD : January 7th, 2011-21:12
... of the time display is excellent, and even better when the shiny RG hands catch the light. The chronograph minute and hour totallisers are more difficult to read because the hands carry over the blunt end design of the main hands. But in practice this...  

Even though...

 
 By: InHavenPro : January 7th, 2011-16:27
I was never much into the Montblanc range, this watch for instance offers great finish and design and it really strikes a very positive and appealing image in my eyes. Thank you for the detailed review and excellent photos! Filip

Design flourishes ...

 
 By: AndrewD : January 7th, 2011-21:23
Thanks Filip, There are a few nice design flourishes in the watch like these skeletonized lugs (which is carried on into the buckle). I appreciate the complement on the photos, even though I wish I could do better for you. I tried to demonstrate what it's...  

Massive watch

 
 By: anaesdoc : January 8th, 2011-07:11
Hello Andrew, thanks for your very informative and lovely pictured report! Particularly the comparatative shots with the Zenith and the Speedy illustrate how hefty and bulky this watch is. Although I like the dial layout and some design elements, this wou... 

The size

 
 By: AndrewD : January 8th, 2011-21:08
I guess prospective owners will have to try this watch on their own wrists. The short lugs and wide strap really do help the watch to sit comfortably, and I have a fairly small wrist too. I didn't really have any concerns with most cuffs, but the watch is... 

Andrew, good review...

 
 By: FanFrancisco : January 8th, 2011-07:30
... like the way of your writing for this watch... the review is very fair with your humble viewpoints. among all the features of this MB TW Chrono, i like the bowl-shaped case... quite nicely designed. the gold hands and hour markers on black dial looks ... 

Great review, Andrew!

 
 By: dxboon : January 8th, 2011-08:03
I really loved reading your thoughts about the TimeWalker chrono. I think the combo of black and rose gold on the dial of this watch may make it my favorite iteration of this model. It does seem to be a solid entry into the world of Montblanc watches, alt... 

"Why cut off the ends?"

 
 By: AndrewD : January 8th, 2011-21:22
I know where you are coming from with this. The chronographs I am used to all have very functional displays. Many would say, and correctly, that this is what a chronograph is all about. But this watch is not going to spend its time at the football or the ... 

Thanks for the review Andrew

 
 By: AnthonyTsai : January 8th, 2011-09:23
The TimeWalker is a decent watch for Montblanc's entry level line. I know I enjoyed wearing the Black Ceramic TimeWalker Chonograph w/ bracelet when I reviewed that watch. There's something about the overall design of the TimeWalker which I find intriguin... 

Nice review, Andrew

 
 By: jporos : January 8th, 2011-13:14
I like the modern qualities of this watch.

Brilliant review.. and superb post

 
 By: Miranda : January 8th, 2011-14:12
thank you very very very much for that. Best Imran

Thanks for the review..

 
 By: KIH : January 8th, 2011-15:56
Interesting. Since my report on Montblanc event in Tokyo, this brand has been pegged in my mind and I was going to visit the boutique again. I am very much looking forward to the next year line-up from Montblanc, too! Ken

Another deft touch from Montblanc's design department . . .

 
 By: Dr No : January 8th, 2011-17:06
. . . is the angled orientation of the date aperture, which blends in with the dial rather than stand out . . . cordially, Art

Comments from a WIS 'Focus Group' ...

 
 By: AndrewD : January 8th, 2011-22:26
I took the opportunity when meeting with a group of WIS to pass the TimeWalker Chronograph around and get their comments. Here is what they had to say: "An aspirational watch for young Execs." "I like the buckle and lugs." "I wouldn't call it a 'dress chr... 

Great review Andrew....

 
 By: MiniCooper : January 10th, 2011-11:38
An interesting watch.... One thing though..... I think that the buckle is a tad big, almost Panerai like..... Thanks again for a great review... Cheers

Well, the buckle is ...

 
 By: AndrewD : January 10th, 2011-21:55
... not small, but I think it works well with the overall watch, which is not particularly small either. I found the buckle easy to use, and appropriate for the wide strap. It's another aspect of the design that people will have to decide on themselves. T... 

Nice Review

 
 By: Timetotell : January 21st, 2011-10:31
Very nice, Modern style especially when compared to the Zenith and Omega. Surely a timepiece for your fashion forward individual without overdoing it

Gorgeous

 
 By: mizunoboy : January 27th, 2011-15:07
Hi just to say your Montblanc is gorgeous, really nice with gold hands !!

Pilot Version

 
 By: spontiniweb : July 22nd, 2011-06:51
Here is the Timewalker Pilot, wich have only two subdials (seconds and chronograph minutes). The design of this watch is really great, it would have been perfect with a in-house mouvement. That's why I'm just waiting the timewalker Twinfly !!!...  

Excellent choice! Got one myself :-)

 
 By: mkt33 : July 22nd, 2011-07:25
Did you get a chance to read the review? click here I hope you will share some owner's insights... Glad to know that there are at least 2 pilot owners out there By the way The Twinfly review will be out real soon. Cheers, Mike...  

Timewalker Pilot review

 
 By: spontiniweb : July 26th, 2011-04:21
Hello Mike, I ve read your full review, which is great. I totally agree with you as this watch fit as well as in a business as a leisure background !! My bracelet do not have Button to open the clasp as yours. This is even more discreet. When I first Want...  

Yes I do have a pic

 
 By: mkt33 : July 26th, 2011-17:27
Sorry to hear that your watch is back in for service. I hope it returns soon. Here is a pic of the Twinfly in steel. If I recall correctly, the Twinfly will be available to the public next month. It is a good watch with Montblanc first in house chronograp...  

DLC for sure !

 
 By: spontiniweb : July 27th, 2011-01:50
Thanks Mike for the picture of the steel version. Now I'm sure that if I can't have/buy the DLC, I won't get the steel one because it's too close in design has mine.... It is said that it 's an in house mouvement (very Nice one), but I've also read that i...  

Twin Fly DLC Booked !

 
 By: spontiniweb : August 4th, 2011-08:40
After many demands, the rue de la paix Boutique in Paris suceeded in Booking a twinfly DLC with my favourite number !! Delivery in October.... to confirm if I will keep it

Congrats!

 
 By: mkt33 : August 4th, 2011-09:54
Please share your thoughts with us after seeing it in the metal! My review is soon Mike...  

Great photo and watch ...

 
 By: AndrewD : July 26th, 2011-20:45
The bi-compax dial is very elegant, traditional and symmetrical, but I also like the practical addition of the date in the unusual position at 6 o'clock. That works for me. The Twinfly - which I haven't handled yet - is a much more modern design, but I ag... 

Incredible PHOTOS! Thank you

 
 By: Mostel : July 26th, 2011-19:37
I don't know if I love this watch... the case has a certain something... perhaps MB is finding its identity in this range of its offerings... the case, while weird, seems like it is trying to express something about MB... in some way... I'm not a pen coll... 

Further thoughts on the TimeWalker Chronograph

 
 By: AndrewD : July 26th, 2011-20:57
Thanks for the comments, Mostel. It is a few months since I had that watch on my wrist, so it's nice to revisit it. I think the bowl-shaped case, skeletonized lugs and varying surfaces are one of the nice things about the TimeWalker series. It is a very c...