Montblanc  TimeWalker  Watches

Montblanc TimeWalker: Keeping the Spirit of Car Racing Alive

Although Montblanc has been in the industry since 1906, the German luxury brand is a relatively new player in the horology industry, releasing its first collection of watches in the late 1999s. The Montblanc TimeWalker may be one of the brand’s newer collections, but it has become a popular choice among watch enthusiasts. 

Taking cues from the 20th-century chronographs from Minerva, Montblanc TimeWalker watches are an homage to car racing. Its design is reminiscent of race cars and its features are nothing short of incredible. Add in complications like a world time zone, tachymeter, chronograph, and tourbillon and you get an aesthetically pleasing yet functional and innovative luxury watch.

Prices at a Glance: Most Popular Montblanc TimeWalker Watches

Want to know how much is a Montblanc TimeWalker watch? Here’s a helpful table of the TimeWalker watches, their prices, and notable features. 

How much is a Montblanc TimeWalker watch?

For a sports watch with a chronograph, tourbillon, and other complications the MontBlanc TimeWalker is relatively affordable. Prices range from $2,500 USD to a whopping $43,000 USD for watches with more features and complications. 

The Montblanc TimeWalker Date Automatic MB116057 is one of the collection’s most affordable models. It features a silver dial with alternative Arabic numerals and stick-type indexes and luminous hands. In addition, this Montblanc TimeWalker Date watch also features a date window at the 3 o’clock marker, although other models may have its date window on the 6 o’clock marker. Retailing for only $2,599 USD, this makes for a perfect introductory watch to the TimeWalker collection.

On the other hand, the Montblanc TimeWalker Chronograph MB118490 features a 43mm stainless steel case with a white dial and black counters. The Montblanc watch also includes a ceramic bezel with tachymeter indications and a crown coated with black DLC complete with the Montblanc emblem. Complications for the Montblanc TimeWalker watch include 30-minute and 12-hour counters, a date window, and a chronograph with a central second-hand.

For those looking for a more complicated watch under the Montblanc watch collection, the TimeWalker Automatic MB116100 is a good choice. It has a perfect contrast of silver and black accents, a clear homage to racing instruments. Aside from the date window at the 3 o’clock marker and luminous markers, the watch has a 46-hour power reserve, making it handy to use. And like most TimeWalker watches, it also comes with a chronograph with a central second-hand. Another model, the TimeWalker Automatic MB119941, has a black dial enclosed within a 41mm stainless steel case. It also has a chronograph, small seconds, 30-minute and 12-hour counters, and a date window.

Similar to the Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie collection, the German luxury manufacturer released a TimeWalker watch featuring the ExoTourbillon. The Montblanc TimeWalker ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph boasts red and silver accents on its overall black appearance. Its case is made with a combination of carbon fiber, titanium, and DLC (diamond-like carbon), a kind of coating usually seen on luxury watches. However, the main focus of the timepiece is its ExoTourbillon, making the watch appear slimmer and less complex to create. With a starting price of $39,400 USD, TimeWalker ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph is one of the more affordable tourbillon watches.

Montblanc TimeWalker — Is it a good investment?

People normally equate buying a luxury watch with investment. After all, these watches come at a heavy price tag and hold their value over time. However, that doesn’t mean that all luxury watches make for a good investment.

While Montblanc watches like the TimeWalker are famous for their superior quality, it’s best to consider other brands for watches that are better investments. Montblanc is better known as a company that produces fountain pens and stationery, unlike Rolex and Omega which are solely watchmaking brands. Its price also falls in between, so it isn’t an expensive luxury watch, but at the same time, it also isn’t that cheap. 

Needless to say, while a Montblanc TimeWalker watch has superb features and a stylish aesthetic, it isn’t the best watch to invest in. 

History Behind the Montblanc TimeWalker Collection

Montblanc may have started as a manufacturer of writing instruments and leather goods, but the German company decided to take on a new industry and released its first series of watches in 1997. They further improved their craft and acquired the Institut Minerva de Recherche en Haute Horlogerie in Villeret in 2007. Years later, the brand introduced the Montblanc TimeWalker, its collection primarily inspired by race cars and Minerva’s previously released chronographs.

In 2017, the German brand released a series of new Montblanc TimeWalker watches, with some of its models reminiscent of Minerva’s Rally Timer stopwatches. Additionally, these new watches are also powered by an MB 25.10 movement. Its chronograph watches are both eye-catching and functional, with its white counters set against a black dial, or vice versa, which became known as a Panda dial. Having a contrasting counter and dial also makes it easier for one to read the time, perfect for race car drivers and speed lovers. Other Montblanc TimeWalker watches with a fixed bezel also resemble vintage alloy wheels, staying true to its theme of vintage motorsport.

5 Reasons to Buy a Montblanc TimeWalker Watch

Still on the fence about purchasing a Montblanc TimeWalker watch? If that’s the case, here are some of the reasons why you should have a TimeWalker Montblanc watch in your collection:

1. Taking inspiration from vintage racing cars, the Montblanc TimeWalker features a sophisticated yet sporty design. All watches under the collection feature sleek and masculine elements with black, silver, and red hues. 

2. The Montblanc TimeWalker watch's design and features overall make it a versatile wristwatch, perfect for casual or formal use. 

3. Montblanc watches under this collection perfectly capture the Minerva heritage. The Montblanc TimeWalker’s design is said to have been inspired by Minerva chronographs and its caliber based on the Minerva caliber.

4. While tourbillon watches from other luxury brands cost over six figures, Montblanc TimeWalker tourbillon watches are priced lower. For example, the TimeWalker ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph MB114925 retails for only 56,300 USD while tourbillon watches from other brands would cost twice the amount.

5. Unlike other luxury watches, Montblanc's TimeWalker watch's previous models are more affordable. 

The Collection’s Famous Patrons

Because of its sporty yet sleek look, the Montblanc TimeWalker has been seen on the wrists of popular celebrities and public figures.

On the red carpet for the Cannes Film Festival in 2013, French director Michel Hazanavicius sported a Montblanc TimeWalker Northern Hemisphere. The Montblanc watch features a date window on the 6 o’clock marker and time zone complication where one can see the local time in 24 different time zones in one look. 

Captain America actor Anthony Mackie is also one of Montblanc’s famous wearers, having been spotted in numerous red carpet appearances and events wearing a Montblanc watch. For one of his public appearances at the 2013 Golden Globes, Mackie wore a 43mm stainless steel Montblanc TimeWalker Chronograph. 

In addition, Heroes actor Jimmy Jean Louis and French actor-director Philippe Lacheau have worn a Montblanc TimeWalker on the red carpet.

Montblanc TimeWalker Watches: Versatile and Sporty

Inspired by Minerva’s 20th-century chronographs, the Montblanc TimeWalker is a luxury watch that embodies the nature of motor racing. It is also functional and innovative, with designs that look similar to race car dashboards, thanks to its red, silver, and black hues. The TimeWalker also doesn’t fall short in terms of its features and complications. Some models have a tachymeter around its bezel while some models feature a chronograph. For more expensive models, they boast the Montblanc-patented ExoTourbillon.