The word chronograph is now inseparable from the world’s most exclusive watches, but its origins lie far from the modern wrist.
A Parisian Beginning
The story begins in Paris, in 1821, when watchmaker Nicolas Rieussec created a timing device for horse races. Ingeniously, it used ink to mark the precise moment a horse crossed the finish line.
The Académie des Sciences de Paris christened this invention the chronograph, drawing from the Greek chronos (time) and graphein (to write). This moment in horology would inspire generations of watchmakers, including Montblanc who reimagined it as the Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph.
Montblanc's Tribute
This modern tribute carries subtle Parisian references. The striking green dial is adorned with the Clous de Paris motif, evoking the city’s cobblestone streets, while the inscription Académie des Sciences de Paris 1821 pays homage to the chronograph’s official naming. Beneath the dial, an automatic mechanical movement powers an hour and minute hand, a second time zone, a day–night display, and a date window at six o’clock. The chronograph function uses 60-second and 30-second counters displayed on rotating discs—a direct nod to Rieussec’s inking mechanism.
Housed in a 43mm stainless steel case, finished with Montblanc’s emblem on the crown and paired with a formal leather strap, the watch celebrates the history of horology in a revamped avatar.
Icons on the Wrist is Robb Report India’s video-led series dedicated to the world’s most legendary timepieces—watches that have shaped horological history, defined eras, and continue to inspire collectors today. Each episode puts an icon under the spotlight, revealing the story behind its creation, the innovation it represents, and why it remains a benchmark in fine watchmaking.
