Paying tribute to the world’s first ‘inking’ stopwatch (the true root of ‘graph’ and ‘timing’), the Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph stands as an embodiment of Montblanc’s dual heritage in writing instruments and horology. This year, the maison continues to honour Nicolas Rieussec’s original ink-marking invention with a brand-new 43mm stainless steel model featuring an elegant green dial and a matching green interchangeable calf leather strap with a vertical sfumato design.
The story of this timepiece began on Saturday, 1st September 1821 when Nicolas Rieussec (1781-1866) first tested his timekeeping invention at the horse races. His device (an example sold by Christie’s in 2012 pictured below) recorded the precise times of all the horses as they crossed the finish line, literally “writing time”, which inspired the term “chronograph”. Rieussec was not only the sixth royal watchmaker to the King of France; he was also a businessman with an eye for opportunity. Horse races in Paris at this time were big business, and being able to scientifically record the winners would be a game-changer for the sport.
Nicolas Rieussec’s device used a fixed nib that would place a drop of ink on two rotating counters (one for the minutes, the other for the seconds) each time a horse crossed the finish line. His invention was a success and a few weeks later, he presented it to the Academy of Sciences in Paris, whose members were fascinated by the timing device and named it a “chronograph,” taken from the Greek words chronos for time and graphein to write. Fast forward to the modern day and the year 2007, when Montblanc unveiled an intriguing wristwatch version of Nicolas Rieussec’s technology featuring its first in-house movement. The configuration of Rieussec’s design was interpreted with two horizontally aligned chronograph counters, one for elapsed 60 seconds and the other indicating 30 minutes. Instead of each counter being static with its own rotating hand, the counters were the ones to turn and a single index marker placed between the two counters indicated the elapsed time.
Since 2007, Montblanc has unveiled several editions of this special timepiece in a host of different materials, colours and styles. For this latest version, the Maison has chosen a 43mm stainless steel case that has been paired with an elegant green dial and a matching green interchangeable calf leather strap with a vertical sfumato design.
This new strap has been specially designed by Montblanc Artistic Director Marco Tomasetta, who found inspiration in the Maison’s writing instrument nibs for its pointed shape. The lining has also been enhanced with a map of Paris from 1821. Those familiar with Paris may recognize the neighbourhood of the Ile de la Cité, where Rieussec had his workshop, and the Champ-de-Mars horse racing track, where the story of this famous timepiece first began.