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mkt33 revisits Montblanc's 500-hour Quality Certification, detailing its expansion to all Rieussec chronographs and the new Heritage Perpetual Calendar. This post provides crucial insights into Montblanc's commitment to rigorous testing, offering reassurance to collectors regarding the performance and durability of their movements, even those with outsourced components.
About 6 months ago, Montblanc announced that they were expanding the 500 hour Quality Certification process to ALL Rieussec chronographs.
Now, we are told that each example of the new Heritage Perpetual will also be subjected to this testing protocol and issued with the Quality certificate as well.
Here is an official explanation and description of the testing protocol from MB headquarters.
The movement ( MB 29.15 ) is a Sellita base with a Dubois Depraz module which has to pass this test...while fully encased.
So for those of us who may doubt the capabilities of a Sellita movement or the durability of a superimposed perpetual calendar module versus an integrated design, I think the 500 hour Quality Certification process should provide some reassurance.
Now this is what I consider a " Value added" benefit because the Heritage Perpetual is already a very decent proposition and to have it undergo this testing process really shows the effort MB is putting forth trying to shock and awe watch collectors and the established industry.
Perhaps not the prettiest movement to admire via the display back...but to reach that level of affordability I'm glad that MB sacrificed looks for performance.
Thoughts?
Best, Mike
Hi, Did Montblanc mention their acceptable margins of performance for watches undergoing the test? Is it something like the ISO3159 or COSC guideline? Best, Tim
80 hours – accuracy in all positions; -6.0 to +4.0 required (COSC standard). 336 hours – "Cyclotest" (14 continuous days); simulates real-life wear including wrist motions and laying overnight. For chronographs, two cycles are run; one with chrono running and one with chrono off. 80 hours – General performance; includes instantaneous rate (not average as per COSC) in positions and temperatures, functions in all positions, power reserve, date switching, additional complications, push-piece functi
Thanks for sharing Mike! When you said that Montblanc expanded the testing to all Rieussec models 6 months ago, which ones were they previously untesting? Were they only testing handwind models and not the automatics or something like that? THanks.
process that only checked 2% of the Rieussecs which were selected randomly. Best, Mike
Gotcha! Thanks for the clarification :)
that a manufacture is doing these comprehensive tests and issuing a certificate to confirm that. I appreciate JLC for the same. I initially thought Montblanc will only do these tests on their LeLocle manufactured movements (Timewalker Twinfly and Rieussecs) - it's good news to hear that they will apply these tests to the Meisterstuck Heritage Perpetual Calendars too with a Sellita base and a Dubois Depraz perpetual calendar module. Probably even more important to tests these outsourced movements
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