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Montblanc 1858 Limited Edition Automatic Chronograph
Ref. 126915
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Stepping up in Montblanc's range
The 1858 line reaches back to the professional chronographs produced by Minerva in the twenties and thirties — instruments made for military use and high-altitude expedition rather than the wrist. This limited run of 1,858 pieces draws on that lineage directly, carrying the historical Montblanc emblem, pump-style pushers, fluted crown and railway minute track that place it recognisably in that era. The number is not an accident. The MB 25.13 is built on Sellita's SW510 architecture, a cam-actuated movement chosen for durability over complication. The absence of a date function is a decision rather than an omission: it keeps the bi-compax layout clean and symmetrical in a way a date window at six would immediately unbalance. Forty-eight hours of reserve is more than adequate headroom for a weekend off the wrist. At 14.55mm the case sits higher than most wearing at 42mm, partly because of the domed box-crystal above it, but the curved lugs pull it closer to the wrist than the profile suggests. The beige-toned Super-LumiNova on the cathedral hands and Arabic numerals reads in daylight as a warm faux-patina that ties to the vintage character; the cardinal engravings on the black ceramic bezel insert carry the same treatment. The calfskin strap with contrasting beige stitching continues that coherence, and the engraved caseback — Mont Blanc, compass, crossed ice axes — is there for the owner rather than anyone else.
- Reference
- 126915
- Brand
- Montblanc
- Collection
- 1858
- Case size
- 42mm
- Case thickness
- 14.55mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Bidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- MB 25.13
- Functions
- Chronograph, Small seconds
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 48 hours
- Origin
- Swiss made
Learn more about Montblanc
Montblanc was founded in Hamburg in 1906 as a fountain pen manufacturer, and the six-pointed white star that marks its products represents the snow-capped summit of the mountain. It entered watchmaking in 1997, initially as a luxury accessory line.
That changed decisively in 2007, when Richemont transferred the Minerva manufacture in Villeret to Montblanc. Minerva, founded in 1858, was one of the great chronograph specialists — it had produced its own monopusher chronograph calibres since 1908, including movements capable of measuring to a hundredth of a second, and had continued making them by traditional methods long after the industry mechanised.
Montblanc inherited that capability along with the tooling, archives, and watchmakers. The Villeret and 1858 collections now house Minerva-derived calibres with their distinctive devil's tail chronograph bridges, screwed balance wheels, and hand-finished components — genuine high horology at a house most people associate with pens.
The volume side of the business, produced at Le Locle, covers the Heritage, Star Legacy, and TimeWalker lines, and the 1858 Geosphere with its twin rotating hemisphere globes has become the signature model.
Montblanc has also pursued smartwatches through the Summit range and remains part of Richemont.
- 1906
- Founded in Hamburg as a fountain pen manufacturer.
- 1997
- Watchmaking begins at Le Locle.
- 2007
- The Minerva manufacture at Villeret is transferred to Montblanc.
- 2018
- The 1858 Geosphere becomes the signature model.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in the Montblanc 1858 range (8), Stainless Steel Watches (3,133), Automatic Watches (1,750), Chronograph Watches (1,199), Leather Strap Watches (1,037) and Limited Edition Watches (197).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
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What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 14.55mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
- Leather does not suit regular contact with water
Montblanc 1858 Limited Edition alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 126915 | L38125539 | BM0A10617 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,100 | £4,000 | £3,950 |
| Case size | 42mm | 42mm | 42mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Leather strap | Fabric strap | Rubber strap |
| Power reserve | 48 hours | 72 hours | 120 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched | Closely matched |
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 48 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Both Goldsmiths and Mappin & Webb list it at £4,100, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
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