Watches And Wonders 2024: Montblanc Recreates Jule Verne’s Literary Masterpiece As The Star Legacy Orbis Terrarum Around The World In 80 Days Limited Edition
Watchmaking has sought inspiration and a creative impetus from almost everything perceivable to man. Sure, a lot of it revolves around the elements which exist as tangible entities across our revolving planet, and some seek stimulus from what lies beyond this spherical mass. But never before has a timepiece been inspired by a literary masterpiece that translates the captivating tale of words into a mechanical opus, serving as not only an artisanal foreword to the penned down wonder, but as a petite horological masterpiece to honor the classic lore. This is what Montblanc achieves with the introduction of Star Legacy Orbis Terrarum Around The World In 80 Days Limited Edition at Watches and Wonders 2024 - a timepiece inspired by Jule Verne’s famous thriller of the same name.
The World at Your Fingertips
The Star Legacy Orbis Terrarum Around the World in 80 Days features a stunning multi-layered dial. A world map, depicted from the North Pole, takes center stage. Key cities along the route of Phileas Fogg, the intrepid globetrotting hero of Jules Verne’s story, are marked with gold dots, and the entire journey is traced with 80 gold dashes - a subtle nod to the novel's title.
The dial also boasts a worldtime complication, displaying 24 time zones at a glance. City names are inscribed in white, with London, Fogg's starting point, highlighted in gold. Classic hands, reminiscent of 19th-century pocket watches, complete the elegant design.
The Adventure Continues
The homage to Verne's masterpiece extends beyond the dial. The titanium caseback features a captivating 3D laser engraving of Kiouni, the majestic elephant that transported Fogg in the story. Further engravings depict iconic landmarks from Fogg's journey, including the Allahabad Fort, a Mongolian steamboat, a Japanese temple and a locomotive.
The spirit of adventure even reaches the strap lining, embossed with Chinese coins and Boteh leaves - subtle reminders of Fogg's global travels.
Technical Prowess
The Montblanc Star Legacy Orbis Terrarum Around the World in 80 Days is powered by the MB 29.20 automatic caliber, boasting a worldtime complication and a 42-hour power reserve. Reading time zones is a breeze. Simply press the pusher at 8 o'clock to align your desired city with the top of the dial. The watch hands will automatically adjust, displaying the time in that location. A day/night indicator provides a further touch of functionality.
A Legacy of Exploration
This exquisite timepiece presented at Watches and Wonders 2024 is a testament to Montblanc's mastery of watchmaking. It seamlessly blends intuitive complications with timeless design, all while celebrating the spirit of adventure embodied in Jules Verne's captivating novel.