Montblanc has reacted fast to the advent of smart watches. The e-Strap is a small, discreet device that slides onto a standard watchstrap and pairs to a smartphone. It offers functions that include an activity tracker, notifications for incoming communications, remote controls for the phone’s camera and music player, and a system that allows you to find your mobile phone by getting it to play a melody. The e-Strap is haptic, so that it vibrates when there is an incoming notification, and it can display text messages and social network updates. It can provide reminders about upcoming calendar events. Its lithium ion battery gives it 5 days battery life. You can download the accompanying e-Strap app directly from the Google Play and App Store websites.
Montblanc launched the e-Strap last year paired to a TimeWalker timepiece, which is logical because the TimeWalker range has the most modern and dynamic styling, appealing to a younger audience. This year the e-Strap is presented with the TimeWalker Urban Speed UTC providing a second time zone function. The watch is entirely mechanical, and so the timepiece with e-Strap combines the fascination of traditional watchmaking with the latest advances in wearable technology.
The case of the TimeWalker Urban Speed UTC is 42 mm in diameter and 11.65 mm thick, water resistance 3 bar (30 metres, no showering or swimming, resistant to splashes and rain only). It is made in micro-blasted stainless steel with a black DLC (diamond-like carbon) bezel with high scratch resistance. The dial is in various shades of black and grey, with clear hour and minute markings, and red details on the second hand, the home time hour hand and the SuperLuminova dots on the chapter ring. The solid anthracite grey hands with SuperLuminova show the local time, while the second time zone is shown by a skeletonized hand. The home time is shown on a 24-hour scale on a flange divided into night and day areas. The local time hands can be set normally using the crown, and the watch also enables the hour hand to be adjusted one hour at a time using another crown position. While you are doing this, the watch keeps running and so time precision is not affected. This is useful while travelling, when you move to a new time zone.
MB 24.05 movement
The self-winding Montblanc MB24.05 movement runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hertz) and it has a power reserve of about 42 hours. It can be seen through the transparent caseback, with a rotor personalized with the Montblanc name. It is probably based on the Sellita SW300, with a dual time zone module developed by Montblanc, consisting of just 21 components. This helps keep the case slim.
Montblanc Extreme Leather strap
The strap was developed by Montblanc Pelletteria in Florence, the brand’s leatherworking unit. It is in leather that has been fully impermeabilized and reinforced by a “total permeation” treatment. Its surface appearance resembles woven carbon fibre. The strap is resistant to abrasion, water and high-temperature. The extra wear caused by the e-Strap unit makes the Extreme Leather strap ideal. It has a pin buckle.
Reference and price
The Montblanc TimeWalker Urban Speed UTC e-Strap costs $4,200 complete with e-Strap. The watch can be bought without the e-strap at $3,875, €3,990.