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Mkt33's report on the Montblanc & PuristSPro soiree in Beverly Hills offers a detailed look into a unique collector event focused on the Villeret 1858 Collection. This post highlights the strategic importance of brand boutiques for enthusiast gatherings, providing an intimate setting for members to engage directly with Montblanc's high horology offerings. It captures the essence of PuristSPro's mission: fostering passion, informed opinion, and shared information within the watch community.
On June 28th, a select group of PuristSPro members gathered together at Montblanc's flagship boutique in Beverly Hills to learn more about the Villeret 1858 Collection.
The Montblanc boutique on Rodeo Drive celebrated its grand opening back on August 2009 with great fanfare. Naturally the event attracted the attention of numerous Hollywood celebrities.
Now I know we sometimes argue whether a business model based on brand exclusive boutiques is a viable sales strategy. As expensive as these stores are to maintain, flagship boutiques are the perfect venue to host enthusiast gatherings in my opinion.
Why? The atmosphere is already rich in "Montblanc" decor. Your hosts are the Montblanc staff. If you think you are not in for a sales pitch, you are being unrealistic. However, the transparency of the circumstances allow participants to honestly evaluate the statements provided and to ask questions to their satisfaction because there is no hidden agenda, everything is already out in the open!
This is PuristSPro's objective at all these social functions: Passion. Opinion. Information.
click here for the next chapter...Passion
This message has been edited by mkt33 on 2010-07-05 19:53:46The Rolex Bubble Back, reference 1858, represents an early example of Rolex's self-winding waterproof wristwatches. This reference is part of the broader Bubble Back family, characterized by its distinctive domed case back designed to accommodate the thicker automatic movement of the era. It showcases Rolex's foundational efforts in developing robust and reliable automatic timepieces for everyday wear, laying groundwork for future Oyster Perpetual models.
This particular reference features an 18k white gold case, measuring 38mm in diameter. It is fitted with a sapphire crystal, protecting a silver dial. The watch is powered by an automatic movement, specifically the Boucheron 1858 caliber, offering a power reserve of 42 hours. The fixed bezel and leather strap complete the watch's classic presentation.
For collectors, the reference 1858 holds interest as an early and relatively rare iteration within the Bubble Back series, especially in white gold. Its larger case size for the period also makes it appealing to modern tastes. The presence of a date complication adds to its functionality, distinguishing it from simpler time-only Bubble Back models and highlighting Rolex's early integration of practical features.
You only get one opportunity to make a good first impression. Everyone knows that setting the right mood is essential. Montblanc closed its boutique three hours early to set up for the evening, I think the effort was impressive. The displays were all redesigned. The Rieussec being proudly displayed Of course its more "distinguished" cousin was near by. The Villeret box is impressive. Our private dining room was the foyer of the Boutique. Three adjectives come to mind: Elegant, rich, and sophisti
As your humble moderator, I was asked by Montblanc to share my thoughts about Montblanc, its timepiece collections, and its "place" amongst more established brands in the watch world. The Beverly Hills boutique manager also prepared his thoughts. I hope my opinions were as memorable as Roger's smile But even more important were the opinions being formed and shared around the table Of course sharing our opinions took A LOT of energy. Lucky for us, Montblanc provided free flowing beverages and tas
Who am I kidding? The food was good. The companionship and conversation were even better. But really we all gathered together in Beverly Hills to see the watches! Montblanc Villeret did not disappoint us. They brought forth a collection of horological delights for everyone to see. The rose gold Retour a Zero which was recently reviewed by PuristSPro Its smaller white gold sibling Also displayed was the final production version of the Grande Chronographe Regulateur The patented power reserve indi
At the end of the evening. After the wine stopped flowing. After the information has been presented. Final opinions were individually formed after an exclusive "compare and contrast" test What was the final consensus opinion of these fourteen PuristS? We're not going to tell you! Take the time and go see a Montblanc Villeret timepiece in person. Form your own opinion. A special thank you to the Beverly Hills Boutique and Villeret staff for hosting such a wonderful evening Author's FTC Disclosure
I've now spent a good amount of time with various MB Villeret pieces on four separate occasions. I'm suitably impressed by MB's offerings. My initial reservations about the Villeret collection are starting to wane as new models are released. I was concerned at first about the watches' excessive sizes (47mm for dress watches? No, thanks.) and odd (IMO) alien-head shape of the Tourbillon Mysterieuse. However, successive releases like the Vintage Chronograph and Rieussec Open Date are indicating a
I am lazy to read long text. I love to see lots of photos. I am glad to see and recognise some familiar faces there. MB's villeret collections are really stunning. Their hospitality is evident. Recently, I visited MB boutique in Mandarin Gallery in Singapore. It is grand and identifiable 2 storey building with friendly staff and wide selection of products. I believe this is the common characteristic of MB boutique worldwide. Regards Ling
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