Montblanc Summit Smartwatch launched

Mar 16, 2017,13:08 PM
 

 "Nothing compares to the sensation of traditional fine Swiss watchmaking, but in a fast moving world being able to access all kinds of information digitally has become essential." 
Jerome Lambert, CEO of Montblanc International

Montblanc has just presented its first smartwatch - the Montblanc Summit at a pre-Baselworld event in London. Montblanc's pioneering spirit that brought us the Augmented Paper in the field of writing last year, this has now been applied to the field of horology in co-operation with Google. The watch combines fine watchmaking with Android Wear™ 2.0, Google’s latest operating system for smartwatches, and the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ Wear 2100 processor— one of the most advanced and powerful wearables processors in the market for smartwatches at the moment.


Image courtesy of Montblanc

The design of the watch will be familiar to many here, being closely based on the 1858 Tachymeter, making it probably the most elegant smartwatch out there at the moment. In order to make it resemble its mechanical stablemates even more closely, a slightly curved sapphire glass has been integrated - a first on a smartwatch. Available in titanium and steel in four different combinations (black PVD coated stainless steel, bicolour stainless steel with a PVD coated stainless steel bezel, satinated stainless steel as well as a Grade 5 titanium one) , the case measures 46mm, so will fit right into the Villeret portfolio size wise. The size is necessary to accomodate the 1,39 inch AMOLED display.

All case combinations come with the classical 1858 Monopusher crown.


Image courtesy of Montblanc

In terms of watchfaces, there is a preloaded selection from the 1858 range, including the chronograph (most will probably start here), the small seconds as well as a time / date one. For a more contemporary alternative, Montblanc TimeWalker Urban Speed watchfaces are available, too. There are possibilities to personalise all of these further.

For the ultimate in personalisation, Montblanc also offers users the possibility to design their own unique watchfaces, in conjunction with the Montblanc Creative Director. It does not come cheap but the options are limited only by your imagination.

The personalisation continues with the straps, with a choice of rubber NATO in black, blue, green or red, classic black calfskin leather or brown or navy blue sfumato calfskin straps, as well as alligator options. In order to allow users to easily exchange these to match their style, quick release springbars are used. All in all, there are over 300 watch case / strap combinations available.


Image courtesy of Montblanc

Instead of a Minerva Cal 16.29 the heart beating inside is a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ Wear 2100. And the operating system is Android Wear™ 2.0, which ensures an excellent compatibility both to Android and iOS devices. This has been much improved from previous generation Android Wear and is definitely a highly necessary feature.

In terms of functionality there is a heartrate monitor, an integrated microphone for voice commands, gyroscope, compass, barometer (for altitude) and an ambient light sensor for auto-dimming. 

There is a plethora of apps to make it easier to overcome the beauty of a mechanical movement beating inside, with some being pre-installed and others available from the Appstore. Be it Runtastic, Google Play, Uber, Foursquare, voice translation apps... - the watch will have you covered for all your daily needs.

The watch will be available from May 2017 onwards with a starting RSP of €890.

So, what's the verdict? I am pretty sure you will not ditch your regular 1858s for this in droves but I also feel that Montblanc has managed to produce an excellent complement to a mechanical watch with the new Summit. It has an excellently executed design, a high level of finish and offers the practicality and functionality of a smartwatch. The power reserve of about 24h is not quite the same as your mechanical watch but is also not as bad as the first generation of smartwatches. And at the price level it is great value and definitely worth a try.



More posts: 1858 CollectionCollection Villeret

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Comments: view entire thread

 

two words only: smart move ;-) [nt]

 
 By: COUNT DE MONET : March 16th, 2017-13:12

I fully concur! [nt]

 
 By: KMII : March 16th, 2017-13:31

The strap? ;) [nt]

 
 By: amanico : March 17th, 2017-00:15

Hahaha! I have less time now on puristspro

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : March 17th, 2017-02:56
Really miss your sense of humour my dear Nico !

LOL! [nt]

 
 By: Geo : March 17th, 2017-09:59

it is certainly more a toy than a watch

 
 By: COUNT DE MONET : March 17th, 2017-00:46
But to choose MB within Richemont was a good choice: a not too traditional manufacturer but still upmarket enough to ask for 900 Eu and make 900 Eu look as a bargain for a MB watch.

I agree that the strategy is perfect for Richemont ...but ..

 
 By: moc : March 17th, 2017-01:53
It\'s not a watch, it\'s a product... I am as interested in this product as a new i phone or a new leather backpack... moderately if not at all... As a collector , I prefer my fav brands to remain watch manufacturer, but that\'s a different discussion alt... 

But here we need to be honest as well...

 
 By: KMII : March 17th, 2017-02:53
In that Montblanc was a writing instrument and leather goods manufacturer long before they added watches to the portfolio, so the fact that they continue offering products beyond mechanical watches is a natural consequence of their history and heritage. T... 

"look as a bargain"....

 
 By: Baron - Mr Red : March 17th, 2017-03:02
.....i can just hear you say this...LoL

I see bargains in many other watches too: Patek, Rolex, Lange

 
 By: COUNT DE MONET : March 17th, 2017-03:13
And some are essentially for "free", like very hard to get pieces. The watch world is full with bargains! That is my view, my friend !

I've got the same vision as you Count de Monet...

 
 By: eklektik : March 25th, 2017-00:47
... a bargain is when one pays for a watch what one considers a good price. I find this novelty interesting in term of strategy, but is is not as if Patek or JLC were producing a smart watch. Also, it is not at all for me! Best, É

Never intended to be for everyone :)

 
 By: KMII : March 25th, 2017-01:24
Thanks for your views, Eklektik! It\'s about different segments of the market

You're right! And it comes from a brand with a different history, product line and strategy than traditional Swiss watchmaking.

 
 By: eklektik : March 25th, 2017-05:56
I am just wondering what people who bought their mechanical watches will think and if they will stay faithful to the brand. It seems a bit like going left and right, past and future at the same time. All the best, É

Fully agree with you!

 
 By: KMII : March 25th, 2017-09:10
It is a difficult balancing act but still a smidgeon easier for them than pretty much any other brand from Richemont...

'Lume'-shot curtesy of Gisbert Brunner...

 
 By: Ornatus-Mundi : March 16th, 2017-13:15
so what do you Montblanc 1858 Tachymeter owners make of this? Best, Magnus ...  

Very confused. [nt]

 
 By: Thomahof : March 16th, 2017-13:30

Either the best or the worst, ever.

 
 By: Thomahof : March 16th, 2017-13:41
Is this the "quartz" era all over again? Shivering.

At the moment I do not see it being fully the same...

 
 By: KMII : March 16th, 2017-13:46
Sure, there is a part of the market where smart watches are likely to supplant mechanical ones but I do not foresee this being equivalent to the quartz crisis.

I'm digesting it Magnus . . . it may take some time.

 
 By: M4 : March 16th, 2017-13:30
I'll admit my first reaction, seeing the blue 1858 Tachy dial, was along the lines of "WTF". But, I'm open-minded and we'll see how it grows on me. M4

Available from May...

 
 By: KMII : March 16th, 2017-13:33
From May onwards one should be able to try it on / take it home

Montblanc in Basel? [nt]

 
 By: Ornatus-Mundi : March 16th, 2017-13:35

The only question is - how will the patina develop on the lume ;)

 
 By: KMII : March 16th, 2017-13:32
Thanks for adding the picture, Magnus!

that was a good one! [nt]

 
 By: COUNT DE MONET : March 16th, 2017-13:35

:D [nt]

 
 By: KMII : March 16th, 2017-13:47

Your OLED manufacturer might know ;-)

 
 By: Ornatus-Mundi : March 16th, 2017-13:36
I fear it will age... OLED is not as loong lasting as traditional LCDs - one reason why Apple did not adopt it yet (except for the Apple Watch, where its power efficiency made this move necessary). Best, Magnus

+1 ;-)

 
 By: Alkiro1 : March 16th, 2017-13:59
Best wishes Alkiro

;-)

 
 By: Alkiro1 : March 16th, 2017-13:59
Best wishes Alkiro

Even though... [nt]

 
 By: amanico : March 16th, 2017-16:10

Lol some things never change :) [nt]

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : March 17th, 2017-02:54

I hope your Tachymeter gets sorted soon!

 
 By: KMII : March 16th, 2017-13:35
I mean if you are willing to do a straight swap, I will try to organise one of the very first Montblanc Summits for it I know, I should not joke at this moment...

I would do the Dr. Kol sledgehammer routine first...

 
 By: MichaelC : March 16th, 2017-13:37
Alas, I have plenty of warranty on the watch, and trust MB can straighten it out.

I am sure they will :)

 
 By: KMII : March 16th, 2017-13:48
Do keep us posted, though!

Very true. This sort of experience does affect the enthusiasm

 
 By: MichaelC : March 16th, 2017-20:12
I had been planning on my next Montblanc purchase. Now, I will first see how this repair process goes. I expect it to go well, and things can return to normal. But if not, well, then other options exist.

A watch was working fine and then stopped. Not nice but tolerable.

 
 By: dr.kol : March 17th, 2017-00:25
But two brand new watches which never worked - that makes one upset. However, I have just now my RO QP on my wrist and it feels great. I really understand why I bought this watch on the first place. If my 15202 will feel as good and also function like a w... 

I fully understand.

 
 By: dr.kol : March 16th, 2017-14:37
I feel sorry for you because I know how such a disappointment feels. Best, Kari

Unfortunately, you do know it all too well.

 
 By: MichaelC : March 16th, 2017-20:15
I will not exaggerate - so far this is just a failure of one watch, one time. I trust Montblanc will fix it correctly for me.

Apple won again!? ;) :)

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : March 16th, 2017-13:39
Honestly I don't like this smartwatch hype at all Cheers D

+1 [nt]

 
 By: KMII : March 16th, 2017-13:49

Not trading in your collection just yet, Damjan? ;)

 
 By: KMII : March 16th, 2017-13:49
I hear you but then again it is not a substitute, more a complement...

Honestly, not my thing and I also don't understand this watch

 
 By: crown comfort : March 16th, 2017-14:03
I can see a market for smart watches, agreed, but leave that to the Apple's and Samsungs and maybe okay for a Tag Heuer, but why do we need a Montblanc smart watch that mimics a mechanical icon? What is next? A Patek smart watch that looks like a 5370? I ... 

Not so sure Patek is next in line...

 
 By: KMII : March 16th, 2017-14:08
But I do suppose that each watch consortium is trying smartwatches out in order not to 'get left behind'. There were possibly other options in the Richemont portfolio but the management probably felt that Montblanc was the best choice. I hear you in terms... 

Big +1!!! [nt]

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : March 16th, 2017-14:16

Smart watches are perfectly fine and good for a certain market

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : March 17th, 2017-02:53
But to have a smart watch mimic a mechanical icon kills it. Good point cc Cheers Robin

You are right there...

 
 By: KMII : March 16th, 2017-14:15
A very good price/ performance ratio to boot. Sure - it will not possess the longevity of a mechanical watch but then again it is not in the same price bracket, either

Not the first time Montblanc is playing with smart...

 
 By: Yanir : March 16th, 2017-14:30
First time was with the failure of the smart buckle they came up with for the Timewalker Urban Speed... Regardless, please help me here with the pricing: Tag Connected: 1,500 Montblanc: 890 Apple: 450 Samsung Gear: 250 Value of all the above when the next... 

Couldn't agree more. [nt]

 
 By: crown comfort : March 16th, 2017-14:34

Wow, April 1.st already?!

 
 By: ChristianDK : March 16th, 2017-14:49
lets say I was a tea enthusiast - with a crazy craving for drinking tea, morning, midday and night. Spending a good deal of my spare cash on exotic tea leaves. Tea is the best. Tea makes me feel good. I can't get tea out of my mind. One day someone offers... 

But let me ask a question.....

 
 By: Baron - Mr Red : March 16th, 2017-15:11
......if MB wants to be takes seriously as a high-end player, does that fit with producing a smart-watch? My own view is that this is confused marketing. It downgrades the "image" of their other watches.

It is a difficult positioning to pull off, granted

 
 By: KMII : March 16th, 2017-21:57
The watches we discuss here are often from the upper end of the spectrum. However this is often not everything offered by a brand. The annual production of Villeret pieces is a tiny fraction of Montblanc\'s total and on their own they are completely insuf... 

Patek makes Quartz watches, and I don't see the problem. MB can make smart watches, they are not for me.

 
 By: amanico : March 17th, 2017-00:07
MB has a wide family of products. Some of them may not be for collectors, except if they fall in love with a certain model. But other models can be worth some strong consideration: The Villeret collection. The movement alone is worth some strong interest.... 

Well put! :) [nt]

 
 By: KMII : March 17th, 2017-00:48

Fully agree with you my friend

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : March 17th, 2017-02:51
I'm struggling with their positioning too

Big disappointerment for me

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : March 16th, 2017-16:35
I am sure Lange and PP won't do this. Although it does make sense commercially for Richemont to use Montblanc to roll out smart watches (they already did with their smart augmented paper last year), I agree for the general lower priced Montblanc products ... 

You may be able to customise the watchface like you said, Robin...

 
 By: KMII : March 16th, 2017-22:01
However if you want something like you mentioned, Montblanc is first fully involved (i.e. deciding what goes and what not), and second of all the process has a starting price tag of €15.000. So unlikely that there will be all that many you\'ll see on the ... 

Don't worry about the 15k

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : March 16th, 2017-22:02
small amount to make a mockery of them as a customer if we choose to I think for good money , Montblanc will consider to be honest

Again I feel your frustration...

 
 By: KMII : March 16th, 2017-22:14
But they naturally want the watch to be a success. And for that they chose one of their most iconic watchfaces as a base. They most likely considered the alternatives and some - like the TimeWalker Urban Speed are offered. But I think the frustration woul... 

Agree it's trend

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : March 16th, 2017-23:45
And agree Montblanc can do it. But I will start with the lower cost models to showcase on the dial eg the basic time only 1858 or the heritage chronometrie or heritage spirit basic models all the way to mid complications like a moonphase. Having a watch d... 

They should have stopped there

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : March 17th, 2017-02:50
And not included the Tachymeter or any dials with Villeret movement imho my friend Cheers Robin

Now there I see an ethical problem...

 
 By: Ornatus-Mundi : March 17th, 2017-02:39
So, if I for example ask MB to create a custom dial face from a watch of their current collection, and I pay them the € 15.000 - who stops them to sell the same dial face to another customer for the same € 15.000? I appreciate that custom faces cost money... 

I can inquire...

 
 By: KMII : March 17th, 2017-02:43
There is that aspect in a smartwatch.

Good thinking Magnus

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : March 17th, 2017-02:49
and good question Cheers Robin

Me too

 
 By: blackthought : March 16th, 2017-22:52
I too feel quite disappointed and let down by this move. Agree with Robin that As a owner of the 1858 blue, this move dilutes my ownership experience of the watch. This is my own personal humble opinion. Sad to say that I Am now thinking of Selling the 18... 

Thanks for your thoughts Clement!

 
 By: KMII : March 16th, 2017-23:37
It is a difficult path to thread...

Good way to see it Clement

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : March 16th, 2017-23:46
Agree it's good to see it in the metal first. A Montblanc Villeret with enamel dial is to die for! Beer style's Villeret vintage pulsograph for eg is a killer ! Cheers Robin

The Vintage Pulsograph is absolutely stunning!

 
 By: KMII : March 16th, 2017-23:54
And given that it is in the smaller case, too, means that it may well be my favourite from the whole line

It's a pity but it is the reflection on the mirror of our society....

 
 By: Sandgroper : March 16th, 2017-17:24
....synthetic, cheap, greedy, consumeristic, a cheat, a lie and a very big disappointment.

+1 [nt]

 
 By: ChristianDK : March 16th, 2017-19:50

+ 2 [nt]

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : March 16th, 2017-22:04

Wrist and other shots!

 
 By: KIH : March 16th, 2017-20:32
Whatever you think, it is what it is and someone in Richemont group must do - Montblanc is the best brand to execute this, surely not for Lange or VC or even PP, I agree. For what it does, this is a bargain, IMHO. Ken ...  

Fully agreed, Ken!

 
 By: KMII : March 16th, 2017-22:02
Hard for us to turn back the time and hard for a consortium to make the decision to not at least have one option in the segment to learn.

I don't have any issue with smart watch, after all a mobile phone is also a watch.....

 
 By: Sandgroper : March 16th, 2017-22:44
.....a compass, a GPS and even a telephone. Apple and Garmin make smart watches. If the Richemont group, or Rolex for that matter, want to develop a smart watch, why not, but having the Montblanc brand on a smart watch mimicking an "iconic" limited editio... 

+1 [nt]

 
 By: blackthought : March 16th, 2017-22:57

Lol funny but I agree with you

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : March 16th, 2017-23:43
+1 !

Really? I think this is brilliant!

 
 By: KIH : March 17th, 2017-00:05
Montblanc is the only brand that fits "Smart Watch" strategy. Hate the dial selection? No problem! It can be changed to many different faces, including the nearly most affordable line of Montblanc watches. PP, Rolex - they probably do not need to make sma... 

Your definition of brilliant or smart differs significantly from mine.....

 
 By: Sandgroper : March 17th, 2017-00:26
...but hey, it's like food, we may have different taste

Don't think we have wasted time Ken

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : March 17th, 2017-01:57
I enjoyed the various posts here. Sharing passion and opinions are really what makes PuristSPro cool. Cheers Robin

Brilliant indeed Ken

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : March 17th, 2017-01:56
For the brand and Richemont's financial statements For me and my passion (ex passion) in a Villeret movements, this is a joke Cheers Robin

Exactly! [nt]

 
 By: ChristianDK : March 17th, 2017-08:06

I don't know why this matter is even discussed here...

 
 By: moc : March 17th, 2017-00:06
Only because it looks like a watch and you strap it on the wrist doesn\'t mean it is one... Discussing this on the base that the world is changing and the wearable technologies are amongst us blah blah blah, goes exactly against the spirit of why we are a... 

I like the idea... Shall we compare pictures of different bushes Mo...?

 
 By: andrewluff : March 17th, 2017-02:38
Cheer up... soon be Basel and get to see some real watches... or especially for you we could look at the new TagH Connected 45, that has a optional mechanical movement too Cheers Andrew

Haha, yes! [nt]

 
 By: ChristianDK : March 17th, 2017-03:17

It has no soul [nt]

 
 By: henryrover : March 17th, 2017-06:17

I wonder why the Industry tries to beat the Apple Watch

 
 By: Geo : March 17th, 2017-10:10
Apple has the most fun smart watch after all and it is no competition at all for the Swiss Watch industry. To me the Swiss Industry puts themselves to shame by releasing this kind of products.

That depends...

 
 By: KMII : March 17th, 2017-10:43
Simply surrendering segments of the market is unlikely to turn out favourably for the Swiss watch industry in the medium term. Smartwatches may be a fad, in which case it is a relatively cheap insurance policy to test the waters and not get completely lef... 

A very interesting thread that I'd like to contribute to...

 
 By: shortys home : March 19th, 2017-11:09
... I am not an owner of a Montblanc Villeret timepiece, so no personal emotion attached, but I think this example warrants some general thoughts. I have read that one should have some understanding for the economic needs of a watch manufacturer or even a... 

Thanks Henrik for your well argued thoughts

 
 By: KMII : March 19th, 2017-12:58
I can certainly appreciate your sentiment (and that of several other Purists). Yet sometimes running a business requires making some unpleasant choices. And I am confident that Montblanc did not make this decision in haste or lightly. I just want to add a... 

Appreciate your thoughts...

 
 By: shortys home : March 19th, 2017-13:24
... and I wholeheartedly agree that this place is perfect to discuss different opinions! Still think it would have been a smarter smartwatchthing with dials of the lower end products ;-) Cheers Henrik

Economically it makes sense for mechanical watch manufacturers to get into the..

 
 By: Ronald Held : March 19th, 2017-13:15
Smart watch business or lose market share in the under~1K market. I should not comment further.

No heads being bitten off for diverging opinions ;)

 
 By: KMII : March 19th, 2017-17:23
Or at least I hope so

So do I. I am at a loss, as PuristS use desktop, laptops, and smartphone to go about their horological business..

 
 By: Ronald Held : March 20th, 2017-12:32
But a smartwatch seems in some circles to be forbidden, even as a concept. These are extension of the smartphones we use.

Easy fix then! (nt)

 
 By: Ronald Held : March 22nd, 2017-04:41
NT

If that is what it takes... (nt)

 
 By: Ronald Held : March 22nd, 2017-12:35
Nt

A beautiful Watch indeed...

 
 By: VintageAlex (aka AlexKontiki) : March 19th, 2017-16:55
I\'m not sure if I\'ll spend all that money in a smart watch, I just don\'t think so but it\'s a beautiful watch with no doubt. All the best. Alex.

Thanks Alex! :) [nt]

 
 By: KMII : March 19th, 2017-17:22