Montblanc supports the exhibition: “Writing Time? Two centuries of Chronograph History”

In continuing its commitment to safeguard and further develop the heritage and traditional manufacturing principles of Swiss haute horlogerie, Montblanc supports the exhibition of the prestigious Musée international d’horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds on the history of chronographs.

Geneva, January 17th, 2011. An often seen watch complication, the chronograph has become a much used functionality in today’s wristwatch market. Its history, however, bears many intriguing developments and a wide range of applications in sports, science, and measuring world records. These have driven continuous innovation of this feature over roughly two centuries of watchmaking history.

From April 7th to October 2nd, 2011, the Musée international d’horlogerie (MIH) in La Chaux-de-Fonds will host a special exhibition on “Writing Time? Two centuries of chronograph history”, which will unveil this impressive development of chronograph innovations and their usage since the chronograph invention by Nicolas Rieussec in 1821. Supported by Montblanc, this special exhibition will be open to all museum visitors and display alongside the chronograph heritage both historical and more recent timepieces which were never shown to the public before.

Montblanc is very pleased and honoured to support the MIH in celebrating the history of chronograph development and bringing a better understanding of this traditional watch complication to the greater public. With its very name from Greek "chronos" for time and "graphein" for writing, the chronograph complication is very close and strongly associated to the soul and historical roots of Montblanc – it gives special evidence to this partnership and makes the cooperation with the MIH a particularly meaningful one. In accordance to the heritage and long tradition of fine Swiss watchmaking competence Montblanc is as well engaged in numerous projects which include the support of young watchmakers in creating innovative complications using traditional techniques or the engagement of watchmaker apprentices to introduce them to the heritage of haute horlogerie.

About the Institut and Fondation Minerva de Recherche en Haute Horlogerie

In 2007, Montblanc established its Foundation to safeguard and further develop the heritage and traditional manufacturing principles of haute horlogerie. As a non-profit foundation by Swiss law, its sole purpose is to “support all projects in relation with the conservation and development of know-how in traditional watchmaking” (art. 6 of the bylaws) which it achieves for example by supporting young watchmakers through internships, commissioning research on the history of traditional watchmaking, or initiating new developments with traditional techniques in watchmaking. The foundation is governed by a board of trustees and based at the Montblanc manufacture in Villeret.

About the Musée International d’Horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds

The only museum of its kind in the world, the Musée international d’horlogerie dynamically recounts the historic, artistic and scientific adventure of time measurement with over 4,500 collectors’ pieces ranging from the sun dial to the atomic clock.

Founded in 1902, the Musée international d’horlogerie is located in a building largely underground, which was opened in 1974. Over 4,500 items (clocks, watches, tools, machines and paintings) retrace man's long quest for time. Rare 17th century watches, exceptionally fine 18th century clocks, 19th century watches outstanding for their complications, and some of the most sophisticated 20th century watches are displayed in the elegant setting of the museum.

The museum contains a first space devoted to the ancient times and a Restoration Centre where the public can watch craftsmen at work; a second space illustrating the techniques used in the manufacture of cases and movement and 20th century horological products; an area featuring scientific chronometry; and a section on tools and machine tools.

In the park there is a carillon in the form of a giant sculpture, which comes alive every quarter of an hour and is coloured according to the seasons. The museum is open daily, except Mondays, from 10am to 5pm.