Montblanc Continues Transformation With The Metamorphosis II
No, you are not looking at two watches. Instead, you are looking at the new “morphing” watch from Montblanc. When Montblanc introduced the first Metamorphosis watch, at SIHH in 2010, it blew watch lovers’ minds with its two completely unique faces. According to the brand, designers went back into production immediately after seeing the success of the first Metamorphosis, and four years later, are able to release a second Metamorphosis, this time at Watches and Wonders 2014 in Hong Kong.
Unlike the original’s sporty veneer, the Metamorphosis is classic and chic. The case is polished 18-K rose gold with curved and hooded lugs. What makes the watch truly unique, aside from its two faces, is its size. It’s quite huge, measuring at 52 mm wide and 15.8 mm high. The dimensions push the boundaries of what is considered formal.
The Metamorphosis II, like the original, is a regulator, meaning there’s a central minute hand and running seconds at the top of the dial, and at the 12 o’ clock mark there’s an hour subdial. But it’s face changes drastically when a slide at 10 o’clock activates the “metamorphosis” of the watch.
At this point, two mechanical curtains retract into the case to reveal a second phase, with a new function. The first face shows the time of the day, while the second face displays a chronograph subdial. A deceptively simple concept considering that the reality of the final piece reveals 100 years of carefully laid out ideas and well-executed craft.
The watch features eight different decoration techniques including the art of hand-guilloché. Guilloché is a technique in which a precise and intricate pattern is mechanically engraved into an underlying material. It yields impressive results, and the attention to detail in the timepiece here is astounding.
For this piece and others, Montblanc utilizes the Minerva Institute, a storied Swiss team of watch manufacturers famous for producing chronograph movements. The Metamorphosis II combines the ideas of young designers with the knowledge of Minerva for a mutually beneficial relationship which echoes that of its design, between tradition and innovation, timeless beauty and sporty elegance.
The Metamorphosis II, with its sliding dual faces, offers a very smart concept and a sleek design. It’s another great piece from a brand that continues to surprise watch collectors, and gain recognition from the industry. Montblanc was recently nominated four times at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, and perhaps the Metamorphosis II will put the brand in contention next year as well.
Photo credit; Montblanc. For more, please visit the official Montblanc website.
