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