The recipe seems simple. Take large Arabic numerals. Mix with wide “cathedral” hands. Coat everything in beige Super-LumiNova® and dress on a black dial. No extra garnish required. Put the assembled components in a large case and serve the archetype for an aviator watch. Easy? It may be but, like any recipe, it all depends on the chef, his knowledge and personal touch. In this case, Montblanc has a feast for the eyes. The Montblanc 1858 Small Second blends all the ingredients to ensure readability at any time, be it day or night, and the added luxury of an elegant small seconds function at 6 o’ clock. The slim bezel frees up the dial so the information has lots of space. The 44mm steel case has a surprise core: the manual wind BM 23.03 movement. The watch comes with a choice of a calfskin or steel strap. Price: 2,990 CHF leather strap, 3,290 CHF Milanese mesh strap. Dan Diaconu
montblanc.com