The night of February 25, 1745, in the resplendent Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles, heralded as Le Bal des Ifs — the Yew Tree Ball remains one of the most famous masked balls in French history, not just by the design of its grandeur, but rather the exhilarating thrill, a romantic escapade, it set in motion.
Photo: Hannah Falk | Pexels
And by implicated inspiration, three centuries later, Montblanc has duly immortalised the legendary night, through a creation as opulent as its profound resemblance: the Star Legacy Suspended Exo Tourbillon Château de Versailles. Limited to just eight pieces, this masterpiece is not merely a watch — it is a work of art, a mechanical ode to the theatre of Versailles.
The Masquerade of Versailles
The occasion was a royal one: a celebration of the Dauphin’s marriage to Maria Teresa Rafaela of Spain, with over 1,500 masked guests gracing the palace. Yet beneath the veneer of festivity lay a secret motive. Louis XV, mourning the loss of his mistress, had become captivated by a young woman he’d encountered on a hunting trip — Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, the future Madame de Pompadour. The masked ball offered him the perfect disguise to seek her out among the crowd.
Photo: Jean-Philippe Delberghe | Pexels
That evening, beneath flickering candlelight and the reflection of golden mirrors, the king — dressed as a yew tree, found his muse. And parallel to the sovereign’s paramour, Montblanc transforms the passage of time into a performance, ensuring that the spirit of the Yew Tree Ball — its beauty, mystery, and romance continues to waltz through the ages.
A Waltz Across Time
Each timepiece is housed within a walnut coffret that conceals a miniature ballroom. It is a fitting stage for this mechanical performance, and when opened, a delicate music box plays an air composed by Jean-Philippe Rameau, whose melodies once rippled through Versailles’ gilded halls.
Photo: Montblanc
Every detail is a tribute to the palace’s grandeur and the Yew Tree Ball’s allure. Its dial, crafted from 18-karat white gold, shimmers with black enamel and gold spangles that mimic the glow of chandeliers. Through micro-painting and laser-etching, Montblanc artisans recreate the Hall of Mirrors, emulating a scene of eternal festivity, captured in motion. Engraved sapphire plates depict masked dancers and the presence of Louis XV himself, their delicate forms floating beneath the glass like ghosts of the past.
Photo: Montblanc
Montblanc’s patented Suspended Exo Tourbillon Caliber MB M16.68 reveals the brand’s dedication to horological artistry. The balance wheel, elevated above the cage, appears to defy gravity, much like and synonymous to the illusionary splendour of the Hall of Mirrors itself. Traditional finishing techniques in turn, such as the Côtes de Genève, anglage, and mirror polishing, complete the movement’s poetic craftsmanship, bringing depth, brilliance, and texture to every component.
A Horological Homage to Versailles
At a time where minimalism often thrives amid the scarcity of bold, and audaciously opulent expression, the Star Legacy Suspended Exo Tourbillon Château de Versailles dares to celebrate extravagance.
Photo: Montblanc
It is not about understatement, but emotion, not utility, but the art of reliving a tale as old as time, through the miniature engineering of luxury timepieces. Montblanc’s Château de Versailles nonetheless, documents a night whereby complications fuelled by provocative endeavours and hidden behind a mask, becomes notably legendary. A meeting that explicably altered the course of the French court, and the arts pertaining to the Rococo era, as Madame de Pompadour became but one of the most influential figures of her time. A symbol of refinement and patronage, fast-forward, and now captured in its essence, by Montblanc’s horological masterpiece tribute to Versailles.
