Montblanc

jrwong23 (aka watchthebin)
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Montblanc Star Roman Small Second Automatic - a new model for 2015

On PuristSPro, I have observed that we traditionally have been discussing the Villeret collection, as well as the Nicolas Rieussec collection with more passion. Perhaps that is the traditional preference of us PuristS, to appreciate fine watchmaking and craftsmanship. And perhaps a few years ago, the other collections of Montblanc watches, although selling at a pretty high volume to the general public (around 80,000 watches a year, out of which easily 60,000 to 70,000 are the non Villeret and Rieussec range), are less interesting to the general PuristS here.

Things started to change more recently from around 2013 and especially 2014. The Timewalker Twinflys became popular here (Todd’s Greytech!), the Heritage Spirit Collection was widely discussed (from 2014’s perpetual calendar to the Orbis Terrarum in 2015) and even the Star collection started having more traction on our forum (1 of my colleagues and my brother-in-law who are lurkers here, both got the Star Roman automatic).  The new Heritage Chronometrie collection launched in 2015 further strengthened the collections in Montblanc’s mid and lower end tier watches.  I also believe the more mainstream Timewalkers (not the Twinflys which have the inhouse twin flyback chronograph movement which impresses watch enthusiasts more easily) with outsourced movements will be strengthened by the new eStrap launched in 2015 (I will cover this later in the year).

Here, I will focus on the Star Roman collection, which is a relatively newer collection in the Star family. The Star Roman collection was launched in 2004. It retains some of the design cues of the Montblanc Star collection, such as the case shape featuring the 3 rings of the Montblanc Meisterstuck fountain pen as well as the traditional fine watchmaking codes such as the feuille hands and the grain d’orge guilloche on the dial. For more details on the design DNA of the Montblanc Star collection, the first Montblanc watch collection which started this brand on watchmaking from 1997, you can read my post in 2014 here:

montblanc.watchprosite.com  

Evolution of the Star Roman Collection

Let’s revisit the evolution of the Star Roman collection with some examples of various models launched over the past years. Do you recognize these references?

Design elements consistent across the Star Roman collection, right from the first reference to the current Star Roman Small Seconds are the distinct classical Roman numerals as hour indices, blued hands and a central guilloche dial. The design elements on the Star Roman collection have evolved and been refined over the past 11 years (compare the Roman numerals from the 2007 model to the Small Seconds in 2015 for eg) but the fundamental codes remain consistent.

This in my view, is important if Montblanc wants to continue the Star collection and develop some iconic design cues in this collection. I am personally glad Montblanc has retained this collection and continues to develop it as some PuristS had once suggested perhaps this line is less relevant with the Heritage collection being introduced in 2014. I believe the Star Collection, which started Montblanc watches way back in 1997, is historical and symbolic to the brand, not to mention this is perhaps the one family that sells the highest volume for Montblanc watch category.

The two watches below just remind me how beautiful the Star Roman and general Star collection is and still appeals to even a PuristS like me, especially with Montblanc's distinct blued feuille hands.

Star Roman Design Elements applied on the Star Roman Small Seconds

Like the parent Star collection, I feel the Star Roman collection in general reflects Montblanc’s design DNA (which pan across Montblanc’s watches, writing instruments, accessories and leather goods categories). The picture below shows some of these design elements. To summarize, the Star Roman collection in general embraces classical design cues with revisions to update its looks to look relevant across the years.

The picture below also shows elements of Montblanc’s fine watchmaking codes. Since 2014, Montblanc has pushed to achieve its belief of sharing its passion for fine watchmaking. These means Montblanc watches with fine watchmaking elements, such as blued steel hands (not the same as painted with blue paint!) which are resistant to oxidization and look really nice under light and guilloche dials, need to be competitively priced as well (otherwise how can this passion be shared to the more general public?). 

Do you like the Star Roman collection? For me and my 2 friends who got the watch (their only and first serious watch), the blued hands from the Star Roman collection swayed them to the watch, along with the relatively good value price-quality/brand equity wise.

Cheers

robin