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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The Montblanc Collection Villeret Tourbillon Bi-Cylindrique 110 Years Anniversary Limited Edition is a three-watch, 2016 anniversary edition that links the brand’s writing-instrument heritage with its Villeret watchmaking. Its manually wound MB M65.63 calibre pairs a one-minute tourbillon with a double cylindrical balance spring, while a hand-engraved serpent recalls the Rouge et Noir fountain-pen line. Contemporary reporting describes a 52 mm red-gold case—an imposing scale for a run of just three pieces.
What this anniversary watch is
Montblanc introduced the watch in 2016 to mark 110 years of the company. Hodinkee and Time+Tide each reported an edition of three watches, making this a tiny, specific collector release rather than a general-production model. Hodinkee’s 2016 introduction and Time+Tide’s 2016 report both give the three-piece figure.
The design brings together two sides of Montblanc: the writing instruments for which it is widely known and the elaborate mechanical watchmaking associated with Villeret. Time+Tide reported that the watch’s tourbillon, double cylindrical balance spring and Heures Mystérieuses display were developed and produced in-house at the Villeret manufacture. That makes the model a statement about the manufacture’s ambitions as well as an anniversary object.
Why there is a serpent on the watch
The serpent is a reference to Montblanc’s Rouge et Noir fountain-pen line, whose design uses a serpent clip. Hodinkee connects the watch’s hand-engraved serpent to that pen heritage. The motif gives the anniversary edition a direct visual link to Montblanc’s writing instruments rather than serving as an unrelated decorative flourish.
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Hodinkee describes a 52 mm red-gold case and an engraved serpent integrated into the watch’s presentation. A separate contemporary French report describes a three-dimensional engraved serpent on the bezel and serpent engraving on the red-gold case back; those details are that report’s description, not a specification published here as an official Montblanc statement. La Dépêche’s April 2016 account provides that additional description.
What “bi-cylindrique” means
The name refers to the double cylindrical balance spring in the manually wound MB M65.63 calibre. WatchProSite describes the arrangement as two concentric springs of different diameters that move in opposite directions. The paired springs form part of the watch’s regulating system, alongside the one-minute tourbillon.
Rank #2
- Global warming accelerates glacial melting, causing severe ecological damage to Earth. Inspired by “Never-Melting Ice,” Agelocer's Swiss Chief Designer Etienne Ruffieux grand launch this full sapphire case free-sprung balance flying tourbillon watch, urging awareness of climate change. Honored with the 2022 German Design Award for its exceptional design, this tourbillon is globally limited to 100 pieces.
- The entire watch case is crafted from 5N (99.999%) high-purity sapphire crystal; 5N-grade sapphire crystal boasts a Mohs 9 hardness rating (second only to diamond) and exceptional transparency. Its superior hardness renders the case scratch and wear resistant, ensuring a flawless, long-lasting finish that stands the test of time. High transparency enables us to clearly appreciate the mechanical artistry of the ultimate skeletonized flying tourbillon.
- Self developed design CAL9001 free-sprung balance flying tourbillon movement, manual winding, 28,880 vibrations/hour, 25 ruby bearings. Satin brushed finish and chamfered edges with premium finishing techniques; Brand logo engraved and gold foiled. Dual mainspring series technology delivers 80-hour power reserve (twice that of standard tourbillon movements). This technology ensures more uniform and gradual mainspring release, resulting in enhanced timekeeping precision and stability.
- The CAL9001 tourbillon movement features the exclusive free-sprung micro-adjustment technology typically found only in luxury timepieces. This free-sprung system eliminates the need for a balance spring regulator, thereby overcoming the timing inaccuracies caused by regulator displacement in conventional mechanical movements. This ensures the watch delivers enhanced precision and stability in timekeeping.
- 50M water resistance for the entire watch; food-grade semi-transparent silicone strap, water/sweat/corrosion resistant, comfortable and durable to wear. Super-LumiNova luminous hands, paired with a butterfly double-press clasp. We promise a three-year global warranty service.
The configuration is an unusual technical feature, but its presence alone does not establish a measured accuracy advantage. The contemporary descriptions document the construction; they do not provide independently verified comparative performance results for this anniversary watch.
How the movement and displays work
One-minute tourbillon
The tourbillon is a rotating assembly in the movement’s regulating system, completing one rotation per minute. It is visible as a prominent mechanical feature rather than hidden behind the dial. Hodinkee reports that the calibre runs at 18,000 vibrations per hour, or 2.5 Hz, and has a 46-hour power reserve. WatchProSite also reports the 46-hour reserve. These are figures given in 2016 coverage of the model, not a present-day test result.
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- Exclusive Limited Edition Only 100 Pieces Worldwide: Each LONGIO Volcan Tourbillon is part of a strictly limited run of just 100 pieces worldwide, ensuring true rarity and exceptional collector's value
- A Tribute to Earth's Sublime Power: Inspired by the majestic force of volcanic eruptions, the Volcan blends elemental power with refined elegance for a distinctive luxury statement
- Central Tourbillon Engineering: Features a rare mechanical hand-wound central tourbillon rotating once every 60 seconds, with 16 precision screws on the cage to achieve balance
- High-Performance Hand-Wound Movement: Driven by a hand-wound mechanical movement beating at 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz), with 19 jewels and an impressive 48-hour power reserve, visible through a sapphire crystal case back
- Robust 42mm DLC Titanium Case: Engineered from lightweight titanium and finished with Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coating for exceptional scratch resistance and a sophisticated black aesthetic, ensuring durability and elegance
Heures Mystérieuses
The Heures Mystérieuses display is designed to make its hands appear to float over the dial. Specialist coverage describes an open dial-side construction that exposes mechanism behind this visual effect. That explains the impression a viewer sees; the available descriptions do not establish every transmission detail, so it is best understood here as a visually unusual display rather than a fully documented technical breakdown.
Movement finishing and component count
WatchProSite reports 284 components in the calibre and says 95 of the tourbillon components receive hand finishing. These counts belong to that 2016 report; they should not be conflated with Montblanc’s broader historical claims about Minerva or Villeret.
Rank #4
- Central Tourbillon Engineering: Features a rare mechanical hand-wound central tourbillon rotating once every 60 seconds, with 16 precision screws on the cage to achieve balance
- Limited to 100 Pieces Worldwide: Exclusivity guaranteed with only 100 units crafted for collectors who appreciate rarity and technical artistry
- 47mm Stainless Steel Construction: Robust case architecture with sharp, angular geometry and finely brushed surfaces for a bold, industrial aesthetic
- 1000M Dive Capability: Professional-grade water resistance to 1000 meters, equipped with a helium escape valve for safe saturation diving
- Premium Watch Features: Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, solid stainless steel bracelet with extension buckle, and precision-engineered rotating bezel for timing functions with Swiss Super LumiNova on both dial index and hands
Villeret, Minerva and the anniversary context
Montblanc’s official Haute Horlogerie history dates the beginning of Villeret’s watchmaking story to 1858, when Charles-Yvan Robert established himself there as an établisseur, sourcing regional components and assembling each timepiece by hand. The brand’s account says Robert registered the Minerva name in 1887. It also dates the patent for Minerva’s V-shaped chronograph bridge to 1912. These milestones explain the historical setting behind the Villeret name; they are not specifications or performance evidence for the MB M65.63. Montblanc’s Haute Horlogerie history provides the brand’s account.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Edition size, dimensions and price context
| Detail | What contemporary sources report |
|---|---|
| Edition size | Three watches, reported by Hodinkee and Time+Tide in 2016. |
| Case | 52 mm in red gold, as reported by Hodinkee in 2016. |
| Winding and calibre | Manually wound MB M65.63, reported in contemporary coverage. |
| Frequency | 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz), reported by Hodinkee in 2016. |
| Power reserve | 46 hours, reported by Hodinkee and WatchProSite in 2016. |
| Calibre component count | 284 components, according to WatchProSite’s 2016 report. |
| Hand-finished tourbillon components | 95, according to WatchProSite’s 2016 report. |
At announcement, Hodinkee said the anniversary edition’s price was undetermined. Its article also cited a $290,500 list price for a related Tourbillon Bi-Cylindrique in 18k red gold; that was not the stated price of this three-piece anniversary watch. The available reporting does not establish its current retail availability or resale value, so neither should be inferred from the related model’s figure.
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