Montblanc IGOTT2 Watchmaking Demonstration — WatchProSite Forum Digest

ED209 · 2011-07-22T18:47:51Z

Explore Montblanc's watchmaking demonstration at IGOTT2, featuring Monique Wyssmuller assembling hairsprings and balance wheels. See macro shots of tiny parts and learn about the precision involved.

ED209

WPS member · Montblanc forum

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ED209's report from IGOTT2 highlights a fascinating Montblanc presentation, focusing on the intricate world of watchmaking. The post captures the essence of a live demonstration by Monique Wyssmuller, showcasing the delicate assembly of a hairspring and balance wheel. This article offers a rare glimpse into the precision and skill required in haute horlogerie, making it relevant for anyone interested in the craft behind luxury timepieces.

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One of my favorite events during IGOTT2 was the watchmaker demonstrations and we all had a fun experience on Day 3.
After our lunch break, we returned to the Wynn conference room for the presentation by Montblanc. Our Moderator Dr. Mike Ting joined Montblanc North America President Jan-Patrick Schmitz for the opening session to talk about the history of Montblanc and also about the plans for their watchmaking future.
The second session of the Montblanc presentation was hosted by Dr. Ting along with Florian Broussard from Montblanc Villeret for the worldwide debut of the Montblanc PuristS P10 Vintage Chronograph (I posted the video and pics a few weeks ago, Please click here for the report)
And finally Monique Wyssmuller also from Montblanc Villeret demonstrated traditional watchmaking skills by assembling the hairspring and balance wheel. When the presentation concluded we were all able to get a closeup view of Monique's workbench to inspect the balance wheel, hairsprings, and other tiny intricate pieces that go into the watch.

The pieces that I was very interested in was the balance wheel and screws. Here's a few macro shots from my point and shoot camera which make it look huge:

And a picture with a penny to give you a perspective of the small sizes of the parts:

An assembled hairspring (more on this in part 2) that was done during the presentation:

On the opposite side of the conference room was a display of the current Montblanc collection.

Regards,
ED-209

Key Points from the Discussion

Assembling watch movements, even larger pocket watch components, is extremely difficult, requiring immense patience and precision, as demonstrated by personal attempts at Lange and Omega events.
The hands-on session at IGOTT2, particularly working with the balance wheel and screws, underscored the challenge of handling tiny parts and the surprising tactile feedback even with miniature components.
The demonstration by Monique Wyssmuller on hairspring assembly emphasized the critical sequence and direction required, proving a humbling experience for attendees despite their perceived hand-eye coordination.
The patience and encouragement from Montblanc staff, Florian Broussard and Monique Wyssmuller, were crucial in helping participants overcome initial hesitation and successfully attempt the delicate watchmaking tasks.
The precision required for watchmaking tasks is comparable to, or even exceeds, that of surgeons, highlighting the extraordinary skill of master watchmakers.
Montblanc's efforts to engage and educate collectors through such presentations are effectively enhancing its brand perception and standing within the luxury watch community.

The Discussion

ED209

Jul 22, 2011

IGOTT2 Montblanc presentation part 2

Now here comes the fun part where we were all allowed to try our hands at being watchmakers. Monique Wyssmuller first starts out with a demonstration on how to assemble the hairspring into the balance wheel. The sequence and direction were critical to successfully assembling this part. The first volunteer was our TimeOut moderator DRMW: The parts are so small even when viewed through the loupe. Joining us for the fun was Florian Broussard who provided the translation and was very patient with al

ED209

Jul 22, 2011

IGOTT2 Montblanc presentation part 3 So how did he do?

No DRMW, it's the OTHER WAY LOL We all had a good laugh and even let DRMW try it again. After two attempts we had to let someone else try. Our fellow moderator Daos stepped up to the plate and also tried her hand at inserting the hairspring. Regards, ED-209

DRMW

Jul 22, 2011

it was a awesome experience!

One of the highlights of the event was this hands on portion by Montblanc. It was truly amazing to see the specialized skilled hands of Monique Wyssmuller in action and Florian was such a gracious host during the presentation. You could tell how much passion and pride they have in MB Villeret. Honestly I thought my hand eye coordination was good but working on these complicated watch pieces was a humbling experience. -MW

ED209

Jul 23, 2011

You did well

I agree with your comments DRMW. Thanks for checking out this report. Regards, ED-209

ED209

Jul 22, 2011

IGOTT2 Montblanc presentation part 4: My turn!

So my turn to try being a watchmaker. Instead of the hairspring, I worked on the balance wheel and screws. This also was very difficult due to the small parts. I almost couldn't see the screws and on my first attempt I forgot to insert the washers first. Here's a video of me inserting the screws into the balance wheel. The crazy thing is that I could easily feel the tension on the screwdriver while I'm turning the screws in. I thought I would have problems accidentally cross-threading and ruinin

Davo

Jul 23, 2011

Well done, Ed

Great post! You did all right, mate. Thanks for posting.

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