A Closer Look at The Montblanc Heritage Perpetual Calendar Limited Edition 100

Perpetual calendars are very useful, especially if you're someone that's always on the go. This type of timepiece is easily adjusted to show any combination of day, month, and year. As such, they provide information for virtually any date in the future. This is just one of the reasons we were very excited to hear that Montblanc Heritage had created another perpetual calendar. Furthermore, its solid red color makes it more visually appealing than his predecessor. For those who are interested in the newer model, the Montblanc Heritage Perpetual Calendar Limited Edition 100, costs a little over $26,000. There is also a white metal version available for about $16,000. Intrigued to learn more? Keep reading for our comprehensive (but concise) breakdown at this high-quality and affordable new timepiece.

Old versus new

As mentioned before, this is not Montblanc's first attempt at making a perpetual calendar. At the time, the watch was a great step forward for the company. Its affordable pricing gave a whole new segment of watch aficionados the ability to own a real deal high-quality timepiece for the very first time in their lives. With that being said, it's important to note that it was not a perfect watch. For instance, the old movement and its QP module looked cramped on the dial, especially since the perimeter had so much space. We suspect this is why Montblanc is making a new perpetual calendar just five years after the release of the first one.

In contrast, the movement in Montblanc's latest offering is new. It uses a skeletonized hour hand to showcase the second time-zone. Furthermore, its dial is more harmoniously arranged, despite it being a millimeter smaller than its predecessor. Lastly, it's important to note that the Montblanc Heritage Perpetual Calendar Limited Edition 100 is more aesthetically pleasing. Its balance is better as well. This may be because it's made of gold still, this adds a weightiness to it that just feels good on the wrist.

The new movement

A popular criticism of modular complications is that they are too stacked. As a result, they tend to have bigger movements and are thicker in general. We're happy to report that this is not the case here. The Caliber MB 29.22 measures just a little over 28mm in diameter and it's just a little under 5mm thick. The watch itself is a little over 12mm thick, which is a nice balance for its 40mm inch diameter. It uses an automatic movement constructed with gears instead of levers or cams. It's composed of almost 400 components and runs at a standard 28,000VPH. In layman's terms, it's power reserve last for 2 days. This is decent but, it wouldn't hurt to be more. Resetting a perpetual calendar isn't fun to do especially when you're used to wearing sports watches.

Dial up the heat

The dial of this new timepiece is a huge improvement over the original. Its many levels have alternating textures, the calendar functions are top-notch, and the vintage look indicates a watch that is worthy of the Montblanc name.

Get the strap

One of the best things about the Montblanc brand is their knowledge of leather goods. So, it's not surprising they used an alligator strap for this watch. This choice gives it a high-quality vibe that's hard to beat. Added to this is the solid red gold pin buckle which adds a vintage feel really ties everything together.

Just so you know

If its predecessor was a great deal for the price, this one is even better. Not only is it affordable, but the manufacturer also paid more attention to the design details and functionality. Still, it's important to note that the straps' color changes gradually similar to the effects seen on a smoked watch dial. For some, this may not be optimal but, it's not hard to fix. You don't have to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Sourcing another strap is an easy enough endeavor.

The Bottom Line

Montblanc's new perpetual calendar offering is even better than its predecessor. Not only is it more aesthetically pleasing, but the price point is just as great and its added functionality takes it over the top. All in all, it's a fantastic timepiece and definitely worthy of the Montblanc name.