Famed for its wide catalogue of luxury products, one could say that at the core of Montblanc’s identity is a spirit of tenacity and purpose that drives the brand’s artisans to constantly refine their craft. And it’s exactly this mindset that their Bohème collection aims to embody. This line of exquisitely made women’s watches can be described as a feminine distillation of the manufacture’s tenacious spirit, celebrating the confidence, creativity, and elegance of the fairer sex. This year, Montblanc continues this tradition with the introduction of two new models and their latest Mark Maker.

The newest member of the Montblanc family is none other than Chinese actress Xin Zhilei. With her captivating performances in films and TV series such as Crosscurrent and Brotherhood of Blades II and Candle in the Tomb, Xin has captured the hearts of audiences all over China and is becoming a fast-rising icon in the world of fashion. Already one of the most acclaimed personalities in Chinese film and fashion, Xin shows no sign of stopping, constantly pushing herself to excel and breakthrough personal barriers and age-old stereotypes, making her stand out from the crowd. These qualities perfectly match those of Montblanc and make her a perfect choice for their new Mark Maker.

As Montblanc’s CEO, Nicolas Baretzki remarks, “Xin is the embodiment of the Montblanc woman – powerful, determined and confident, I am certain that Xin’s values will resonate well with our customers, and those rewriting the codes of success for the 21st century.”

Since 2014, the Bohème collection has been Montblanc’s flagship line of women’s timepieces, finding their way onto the wrists of powerful and influential ladies. In keeping with the tradition of elegance and inspiration, Montblanc has released two new models which feature the same feminine elegance we have come to expect of this collection.

The first of these timepieces is the Montblanc Bohème Day & Night 34mm. This model combines traditional techniques from the worlds of watchmaking and jewellery-making and mixes them in with contemporary appointments and sensibilities. Its most notable feature is the Day & Night complication which has an interesting geometrical pattern inspired by Art Déco style and allows the user to track the transition from day to night and vice versa. The hour indicators were a combination of time-honoured guilloche and gem-setting techniques which resulted in elegantly applied floral Arabic numerals and eight large diamond markers which enhances legibility and provides the timepiece with a sense of understated grandeur that is hard to match.

The polished steel case and sculpted crown with mother-of-pearl insert add to the refined aesthetics and is rounded off with a blue calf-leather strap with alligator-style scales. The Montblanc Bohème Day & Night 34mm even comes in a bi-colour version with an 18 K rose gold bezel set with 72 Top Wesselton Diamonds or a 30mm version for those with more petite wrists.

Complication seems to the name of the game with the Bohème collection this year and Montblanc delivers with its second model, the Montblanc Bohème Perpetual Calendar Limited Edition 88. As its name suggests, it features a perpetual calendar powered by the calibre MB 29.22 and a patented design which requires an adjustment only once every 122 years. Such complications are notorious for being extremely complex to craft, but Montblanc has upped the ante here by applying a unique design which uses only 259 cams and wheels, omitting the use of levers. This does two things. Firstly, it allows the user to adjust the watch using the crown in a bi-directional manner. Secondly, it acts as a safety feature, preventing time and date setting between 6pm to 12pm, a period where manipulation traditionally damages the watch’s movement.

In addition to all that, the Montblanc Bohème Perpetual Calendar Limited Edition 88 boasts a range of decorative features crafted using traditional artisan techniques. The 38mm case is composed entirely of 18 K white gold and is masterfully set with 58 Top Weselton diamonds on the bezel. The sculpted crown is similarly crafted from 18 K white gold and is set with a single diamond, cut into the shape of Montblanc’s emblem. Behind the domed sapphire crystal sits an azure Aventurine glass dial that shimmers like a starlit sky. The enchanting Aventurine was first produced in the 15^th century Venice when Italian glassmakers blended copper particles into molten glass, giving rise to its deep blue hue and star-like appearance.

The Montblanc Bohème Day & Night is now available from physical Montblanc retailers and their website, ranging from S$5,300 to S$5,400 depending on the exact model. The Montblanc Bohème Perpetual Calendar Limited Edition 88 is however limited to just 88 pieces worldwide, with each costing a whopping S$50,000. The number 88 was chosen for its intrigue and association with good fortune in many cultures.

To celebrate the spirit of feminine tenacity and find out more about these luxurious timepieces, head over to Montblanc’s website.

By Abram Yum