The new addition features a date complication, designed and developed by the firm's own master watchmakers.

With the SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie) fine watchmaking trade fair, which opened January 18, now in full swing in Geneva, Switzerland, Montblanc has added to its "Heritage Chronométrie" collection with a new watch designed and developed in-house featuring a date complication. 

Launched at the SIHH 2015, Montblanc's "Heritage Chronométrie" range is a line of precision timepieces inspired by the travels of the illustrious Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, and by the "Pythagore" watches made under the Minerva name in 1948 in Montblanc's workshops.

The collection has been graced with new complications all year long, including the patented ExoTourbillon mechanism with chronograph, plus dual-time and annual calendar features. Now, Montblanc has a new model on show at SIHH 2016, designed and developed by the firm's own master watchmakers -- the "Héritage Chronométrie Date by Hand," featuring a date complication.

Date by dial

The watch has a mechanical automatic movement with a power reserve of 38 hours. Instead of showing the date in a traditional window, this Montblanc model stands out with a date dial at 3 o' clock. With its blue steel arrow hand, this feature promises an easy-to-read date scale. A second subdial with a matching blue steel hand counts seconds at 9 o' clock.

Vintage design

While the "Heritage Chronométrie" range is generally based on Minerva "Pythagore" watches, this new model also draws on the Minerva chronograph watches of the 1950s, which also had a twin subdial design.

The watch's 40mm case is made from polished stainless steel with a polished bezel. It has a silver-white dial with a subtle sunray motif, faceted indexes and two Arabic numerals -- 6 and 12 -- all plated with red gold. The watch comes with a stylish black alligator leather strap and a triple-folding stainless-steel clasp.

More from SIHH2016: Piaget brings its first ladies' complication watch.