biowatch
11
don't worry
Hi Mike,
don't worry. I don't take your comments personally 
Minerva is one of my favourite watch brands. I own 4 Minervas's (two Chrono's with the wonderful 13-20 and two Pythagore from the late 90/early 2000 with the calibre 49) and for me they produced wonderful and timeless pieces till end of the Frey era. I had a lot of concerns when the Gnuti group took over despite the fact that they continue to made wonderful watches but now with a complete new target group. When the Riechemont group took over a couple of years later I was optimistic that they will re-launch Minerva as an "independent" brand. I believe that the brand would have the potential to survive. So I was disappointed when I heard the news that Riechemont will use the movements for high end Montblanc watches. I would never by a Montblanc despite the fact that the movement is from Minerva. From my point of view Montblanc has no real expertise in watchmaking. Don't understanding me wrong. They have some nice timepieces and they did an excellent job over the past years. But they bought the expertise with the money from Richemont respectively the money they earned with their pens and build up a new business. That's so far ok but it is now big business and has nothing to do with the charming small company from the past.
So my view is an extremely emotional one. In general you are absolutely right with your Montblanc comment and they have my respect that the name Minerva is still on the movements (good marketing ).
Kind regards,
biowatch
Montblanc Villeret 1858 Grande Seconde au Centre Retour-à-Zéro - an "On-The-Wrist" Review
An on-the-wrist appreciation of the Grande Seconde Au Centre Retour-à-Zéro begins with an overview of the watch itself. The R-à-Z is an immaculately executed three-handed watch equipped with a flyback re-set mechanism that allows the owner to accurately a...
Big watch, big movement, and big interest.
Thank you Art for not only the perfect review, but perfectly agreeable review. I say agreeable because I share the exact same sentiments as you regarding the undeniable qualities of this Montblanc Villeret timepiece. Regarding the case size, your thoughts...
That the aesthetics are, as you say, "a bit too delicate . . .
. . . despite its large size", is precisely the reason why the R-à-Z succeeds aesthetically, even on my slender wrist. Thank you, Patrick, and hope to see you soon at one of our gatherings . . . most cordially, Art
Beautifully crafted review Art, really a great read and quite a
captivating watch. I liked your comparison to a pocket watch, very true indeed. Thanks for real quality writing and great photographs. Best, Tim
Thank you, Tim . . .
. . . it was a pleasure to "borrow" the R-à-Z for a spell, partly because it exudes a pocket watch aura . . . cordially, Art
Thanks for the review Art
Wonderfully written. After wearing this 47mm refined beast on the wrist for an entire month, has your view on large watches changed at all? Do you think you are more tolerant of watches of this size? Cheers, Anthony
There have always been a few large watches that . . .
. . . skirted the "invisible barrier", and this particular R-à-Z is probably the most successful due to, as Patrick points out, its aesthetic delicacy. Still, when all is said and done, my instinctive preference would be for the standard model in a 4...
Nice on-the-wrist review
Thanks Art for the in-depth on-the-wrist review. The 47mm case size is huge, but I'm glad to see that Montblanc designed the retour-a-zero with a proportionate sized movement. Regards, ED-209
Indeed, that was a cardinal reason . . .
. . . that explains why I felt so comfortable with it. It isn't a large watch for the sake of being large, rather, it's large because its form follows its function . . . cordially, Art
Despite its size, that model really does look good on your wrist Art!
Thanks for the wonderful on the wrist review. The two second deviation is impressive. Perhaps the proprietary mainspring wire The inhouse created balace wheels, escape wheels, the anchors and the chrono column wheels. Each one custom mated to its partner ...
No doubt, Mike, the Villeret cal 16 - 18 movement . . .
. . . has the goods in spades! Cordially, Art
it's a Minerva!
Great article and pics. But from my point of view this is a truly 100% Minerva and not a Montblanc watch. Minerva was acquired by Richemont some years ago and integrated into Montblanc. What a pity :-( The watch would be more attractive with the name Mine...
You are right!
and wrong at the same time. Biowatch, Since your first post on 11/5/2008 you have said the same thing. In the last year and a half, has Montblanc not proved itself a capable partner with the financial resources to allow Mr. Cabiddu and the other wonderful...
don't worry
Hi Mike, don't worry. I don't take your comments personally Minerva is one of my favourite watch brands. I own 4 Minervas's (two Chrono's with the wonderful 13-20 and two Pythagore from the late 90/early 2000 with the calibre 49) and for me they produced ...
Thanks for this great review Art.
This watch is also my fav from the Villeret line, but I am still disturbed by the excess and unnecessary text on the dial. I think a small change there would increase the enjoyment several-fold. Don
Thank you, Don . . .
. . . coming from the moderator's Moderator, your kind words are deeply appreciated . . . most cordially, Art
The Claytons Regulateur
Thanks Art, It has the feel of a Regulateur, which I like, but with greater legibility. Emotionally I like the idea of Regulators: the separation of hours, minutes and seconds to facilitate the accurate reading of time. But in practice I find them difficu...
* Claytons
People have asked me what "Claytons" refers to and I have now realised that the description has not translated well internationally. Claytons is a non-alcoholic mixer that had a successful advertising campaign in the 1970's in Australia and New Zealand wi...
Now you tell me! I spent a quarter of an hour . . .
. . . researching "Clayton's regulateur/tor" and all I could find was a hydraulic project in South Australia!! I can be elliptical at times, but dam, that was a stretch ;-) . . .
A Perfect Diagnosis
--and prescriptive from Dr. No. Thanks for the personal travelogue with the watch. I think you know I'm a fan of the MB Villeret line. m
i've always
loved your ... allow me to call it watch reading DR.NO , a watch with its own atmosphere.. i like. Faisal
Thanks for this great review Art
I would like to see it in the metal one day but I suspect 47mm is too much for me. Do you think that the upholstered section between the lugs adds anything to the aesthetics of this watch? As you state, you may only use MB straps with this piece. Regards,...
Glad you asked, Richard. Strictly speaking, I wouldn't . . .
. . . consider it an enhancement per se. My sense is that it's the an artful solution to the problem of concealing the latch. If the Grande Seconde didn't have a hinged back and there was no latch to conceal, then the gap between the lugs would be caverno...
Great write-up, Art!
Having seen the watch in person on more than one occasion now, I would have to agree that it's not a watch for the family beach outing or running around town getting groceries. It's a watch to wear with a suit or on more elegant occasions. There's a serio...
It would've been even better if . . .
. . . my planned action video of wearing the R-à-Z while surfing hadn't been interrupted ;-) . . .
Thank you Art for the excellent review...
...What an elegant watch! The alligator covered bridge between the lugs is a small detail that makes such a huge difference in my opinion in contributing to the watch's elegance with smooth continuous lines. Sorry for the delayed feedback. Great review!
Candy for the eyes.
I have just fallen on this superb article, Art, and I must say that I was delighted to read it. I am not shocked at all by the size. Minerva made some big watches, and why not seeing them nowadays? The movement is just superb, the dial is great looking, a...
Hey, you can blame me . . .
. . . if one ends up in your collection, Nico. "I couldn't help myself, Amalie - the Devil in So Cal made me do it!" :-)
I will try to catch the So Called Devil in So Cal, then. :)
There is no place for a second Devil... ;) Best, Don Nico.