jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) presents an exclusive video from Montblanc detailing their rigorous 500-hour Quality Certificate process, specifically for the Meisterstück Perpetual Calendar. This post offers a transparent look into Montblanc's commitment to quality assurance, showcasing the extensive testing protocols that ensure reliability and performance for their high-complication watches, a crucial insight for potential owners.
Following Mike's post on the technical details of the 500 hours quality certificate from Montblanc, here is a very interesting video produced by Montblanc (this video is fresh from the oven and Montblanc is sharing with Montblanc PuristS here first!).
The video showcases the assembly of the Meisterstuck Perpetual Calendar movement and the casing of the watch as well as some key highlights of the 500 hour quality tests. Some highlights from the video on the 500 hours quality test:
Test 1 - Winding performance and assembly control - 4 hours
> Exposition to strong rotary motions
Test 2 - Continuous accuracy control - 80 hours
> Continuous acoustic control
Test 3 - Functions control - 336 hours
> Simulation of wearing and of non-wearing of periods
Test 4 - General performance control - 80 hours
> Temperature test between 6 and 45 degrees C
> Verification of the watch's rate at 0h and 24h
Test 5 - Water resistance control - 2 hours
> Humidity test
> Under water pressure exposure
Final Control
> Aesthetical and final functions control
Here are some pics I took of the 500 hour quality certificate (it was for a Nicolas Rieussec watch but the same cert will be given for the Meisterstuck Heritage Perpetual Calendar). More details of the various steps of the 500 hour tests are included in the quality certificate.
Information from Montblanc's Le Locle manufacture: Each Montblanc Meisterstück Heritage Perpetual Calendar wristwatch is subjected to a comprehensive 500-hour quality test at the manufacture in Le Locle. It simulates the first year’s lifecycle of a timepiece. Developed by Montblanc, this rigorous examination verifies the accuracy of the watch’s rate, the water tightness of its case, the timepiece’s overall performance and robustness, and the functionality of the individual displays. Only after its examiners are convinced that a watch upholds Montblanc’s strict quality standards do they release it for subsequent delivery. Each watch that passes the 500-hour test is individually issued a test certificate.
Personally, I am very happy Montblanc is extending this 500 hour test on the Meisterstuck Heritage Perpetual Calendar, one of the flagship 2014 novelties of Montblanc watches. It is a watch I personally like, being an extremely good value high complication watch with good looks and craftsmanship. Also, I think the tests are very important as it is a new high complication movement for Montblanc with a S
ellita base and a Dubois Depraz perpetual calendar module. Being an outsourced base movement with a high complication module, Montblanc is wise to extend the tests to this watch to ensure its reliability to owners. It bodes well for the new Meisterstuck Heritage collection in my view, a collection that will become a key pillar in Montblanc's watch category.
Hope you enjoy the video of the 500 hours quality tests. Let us know what you think about the quality tests and if there are any areas of a watch or watch assembly you think are important for manufactures to look out for - I believe our feedback can be useful for Montblanc too.
Thank you Montblanc for sharing this video with us on PuristSPro first!
cheers
robin
