bigdave
104
The soup was too hot, now it's too cold
When Montblanc began producing the Villeret line, it was commonly criticized for having too big a gap in its pricing. Now they are trying to find a way to bridge that gap, and people are moaning about identity. Folks, I'm really sorry that they are known as a pen company. I don't even like their pens. But credit them for what they have done by bringing a quality movement down to a significantly more affordable price point in a watch that doesn't look like the new kid on the block but which remains plenty handsome. That is an achievement in and of itself, whether the watch screams Montblanc DNA or not from across a crowded room I am unlikely to buy it for myself, because of other things that I already own, but I would be enthusiastic about recommending it to a friend interested in a chrono at the relevant price.
More posts:
Montblanc SIHH 2014: A quick view on Meisterstück Heritage Pulsograph.
Montlblanc is an universe I discovered not a long time ago... Horologically speaking. It all started with the Monopushers I had the pleasure to see it in the flesh during the IGOTT II in Las Vegas... It was 3 years ago. PuristS P10 LE: My vision of Montbl...
Looks good! But that's a little bastard if you ask me...
.... for many reasons. 1st because it feels like a 5170J had sex with a 5170G, a duometre ( for the case ), a 5205 (for the hands) and the diamond on the side is like a 3rd eye on the front of that alien. The dial is clearly inspired by the 5170J, pulsome...
Honestly, I much prefer this dial to the 5170.
I really don't like the way the 2 subdials are located on the Patek, Under the 3 / 9 line. Therefore, the subdials on the Patek eat the pulosmetric scale, which is an aberration for a " doctor's Watch "... To end, are you sure Patek didn't find the " insp...
Agree Nicolas, especially in those hard times...
... we need a dial that cheers up, not sad lower sub-dials :) Now on the other hand, Patek is clearly inspired by her own vintage models, 130, 530, 1436.... Which is the logical when we have a long heritage. Its all legit here, its in every new Patek, alw...
The Montblanc roots, now that they bought Minerva, is not necessarily linked to pens.
They have two ways to take. The roots of an horological brand such as Minerva, with some very interesting things, and the mad way... They have to work on, but I am pretty confident Jérôme Lambert and the whole Montblanc Team will reach the identity point ...
I hope you will be right but I doubt..
Dear Nicolas, I wish you were (or will be) right but when you see that Mr Lambert already introduced an "Extreme Lab" design at Montblanc and even uses Villeret movements for it, I am not sure we can be so confident... Come on, how can you make a so-calle...
It is a long, passionate and interesting debate, Goldenlutin.
Was it all good during the last 13 years at JLC? Certainly not. Was it good to see diversity back to JLC? Without doubt, yes. Do brands have to stick with their past? I don't think so. First because most of the brands have to do some " commercial " watche...
It verges on Trollism...
for people to post on the Montblanc watch forum a challenge to their very existence :-( Besides, its also getting tedious...
Thanks for bringing your point of view, tick talk.
You are more than right to support the brand. After all, the most interesting pages aren't those which are to be written? Best, Nicolas
So true Nicholas
Everything begins somewhere. Those WIS friends of MB have the opportunity to shape that future through thoughtful discussions and constructive criticisms.
The critics will always be around
I'd much prefer the comments out in the open than in the dark. You have to admit, like it or not, that similar opinions are rampant. However, the fact that they feel comfortable about sharing their thoughts on the forum is actually good imho. Good for MB ...
Agreed! I am a converted critic!
Totally agree with Mike. I still remember debating with Mike here on MB Villerets and whether I should take the plunge... I got a VC, PP, Lange, Breguet and I still dream of the MB Villeret!! Meanwhile, I was a strong critic in many sense. And now, after ...
The soup was too hot, now it's too cold
When Montblanc began producing the Villeret line, it was commonly criticized for having too big a gap in its pricing. Now they are trying to find a way to bridge that gap, and people are moaning about identity. Folks, I'm really sorry that they are known ...
and pretty soon it will be just right?
Just teasing... You just cannot satisfy everyone. MB will always have detractors. Let's see what they have in store for SIHH 2015. I'm sure it will be interesting. As long as they keep some things exclusive to the Villeret range, they will continue to att...
You are right the Duometre refers to so called captain watches which where produced..
and were in fashion long before JLC was even founded (see the pics below). I think you are totally right about the fact that Montblanc has no roots to build on. But I think they do make things even more complicated by offering watches in at least 3 differ...
Or to this one, in 1881.
Cal 1920 RMSMI... Most all of the brands have different segments, even the most prestigious. Nothing wrong with that. The main goal is to get a status, an identity. Not easy to do, and to keep! Best, Nicolas ...
I got answers for you...
It was a few years ago, at a lunch with Jerome Lambert, i made some critics about the dial of the duometre Chrono. Mainly, that nothing pops out of that dial, no "waow effect", not even a difference of texture between the dial and the 2 sub-dials… Jst tha...
Another example which shows that Patek didn't invent nothing, here;
U.G Medico Compax: Much better looking than the Patek 5170, and much more coherent, don't you think? ;) Best, Nicolas ...
Add that Universal to the orgy ;)
... its a huge party! But still, i feel that the 5170 is the main inspiration of the MB chrono
A pen is a pen? ...
... and a plane is a plane and a pepper mill is a pepper mill and a car is a car? So glad that BMW, Mitsubishi, Peugeot and others never decided to build cars and sticked to what they did from the beginning ... Marcus
i agree with you...
… reminds me that porsche did something really exceptional with Porsche Design. Fantastic products from such a wide variety of functions, without focusing a precis domain…. And it works! Perfect example of expanding your products line making a smart use o...
Counterpoint - I see the new Heritage Collection as an emancipatory statement...
which in my view drives a much welcome wedge between the Meisterstück pen collections and the watches. If you compare the older MB watches with this new collection I think one can sense the desire of the brand to take away from the watches this - somehow ...
That's a good point, a big effort has been made...
... and that forces respect. We are criticizing strategies, branding and marketing, weird naming, etc... but in the end, a team has done a big effort to come up with this collect. As always, its much easier to be on the other side and make critics. When y...
A very good move from MB.
Funny as I also thought the case looks like the Duometre. Which is of course, here, a compliment. As you did, I could also handle a Villeret not long ago and could then really understand what these timepieces represent and where they stand in the Chronogr...
A very interesting newcomer, indeed. You have to see it in the real.
Thanks for your input, Mark. Nicolas
It seems unanimous this watch is a top novelty of SIHH 2014
It's beautiful. The case is not to be underrated. I really like the size and proportions. Is the caseband brushed? I cannot quite tell but I think so; another detail I very much enjoy. I kind of like the pusher where it is instead of in the crown. There i...
I think the side of the case is brushed, yes.
It is really time to disconnect Montblanc from pens and leather products. Yes. I am pretty sure Montblanc will get a strong image,in the years to come. Thanks for your input, Michael. Best, Nicolas
Extremely compelling, and the connoisseur's choice...
I haven't seen this watch in person. Still need to see if the dial and the case (size and thickness) are as appealing as they are in person as in the photos. The Good: Nonetheless, the statistics speak for themselves; basically better than Patek Philippe ...
Well, the reason behind the short production number was not necessary, IMO...
90 pieces, such as the number of years since the Meisterstuck fountain pen was born ( 1924 )... But a very interesting offer, from Montblanc, in my opinion. Thanks for your input, Patrick. Best, Nicolas
What about the finishing of the movement?
Is there any difference regarding finishing of the movement between HP and Villeret ? Thanks, Constantin
Meisterstuck...
means Masterpiece in German. I personally am ok for MB to call their watches masterpieces or in this case to have a line called Meisterstuck Heritage. So long as they are real masterpieces and so far I think they are from the 3 hand piece to the perpetual...
Thanks for your valuable input, Robin.
I too think that this last opus doesn't have the same taste than the Villeret offers, which are hard to beat in terms of appeal. But as Jérôme Lambert said when In asked him the quesrion of the coexistence of this Heritage Chrono with its Villeret brother...
I am confused
By some of the posts here. Sorry I am still quite a newbie but if MB has no history to build on and hence considered by some here to be horologically without merit, then what about the independent brands? They have even less of a history to speak off. Sho...
Hi benlee, welcome to the MB forum...
Glad you feel comfortable enough to express your thoughts here. Montblanc, and its artisans in Villeret, have been transparent for the collectors to decide. No brand worship here, just an appreciation for fine watchmaking. You can find excellent watchmaki...
Welcome to our Montblanc PuristSPro forum bro!
Sorry I was supposed to send you the links here but they didn't work from my Android whatsapp for so reason... You know how much I love this calibre :) Good points you raised Ben on intrinsic value of a watch vs just for the sake of brand recognition. Bra...
The whole watch is pleasing my eyes
I love chronographs and this is top tier, no doubt. It is just that the name on the dial prevents me from spending nearly 30K on it, the same way I won't spend 100K on a Bvlgari, be it a Daniel Roth Collection. I would have loved a stronger Minerva with a...
So, Radone, what is the most important? The financial value, or the horological value?
Would you spend more for a Vacheron Patrimony Chrono, or even more for a Patek 5170, rather than the retail for this one? Is the name on the dial the most important? Or the horological content? That is exactly the question this Chrono from MB raises... Be...
Horological value
It's the horological value, no doubt about that, but I would have rather spent 27k on a Minerva than a Montblanc. They are entering a dangerous price range that, by tradition, would be much more accessible to a Minerva than a Montblanc. We have the old La...
Well, the GP is a close contender, but the movement is way too small.
The 1815 Chrono, in its first version, is cool, but lives in the shadow of its iconic brother. As for the Duometre, in the same metal, it is not at the same price ( even if I prefer the Duometre, to say all, for its concept ). As for the Patek, well, when...
Balance spring is inhouse, I believe...
... which would be for me the strongest sale point for this watch. The design is so la la, but plated is a term that I do not accept in this category of watches, although Lange has also one or two watches that have got a plated element. It would have been...
