MTF
[PuristS]
13383
Evolution not Stagnation
Mike,
Much as we romantasise about mountain elves hand-cutting every gear tooth of our micro machines, the reality is that watchmakers have always used the latest tools and technology available at the time.
Georges Auguste Leschot's work on the pantograph at Vacheron Constantine made interchangeable parts possible. Otherwis, the Swiss elves would still be hand-filing tolerance variability to fit each piece to its mates.
The 'parachute' by A.L.Breguet and later Incabloc really made timepieces 'portable', without fear of jolts and shock.
The automated micro-pipette for lubricant precision reduces human error to nil. We saw similar machines at Audemars Piguet in 2008 that could place different oils and greases in different quantities to all th correct points on a basic movement.
I feel much more confident in machines than humans for some jobs.
I'm not saying which........ 
Regards,
MTF
A Quick Visit to Montblanc Le Locle
Not long ago, spent a day to visit Montblanc's two manufactories. I was pleased with the Le Locle plant as the preparations and processes are systematic and organised. After witnessing the assembly of the Montblanc Star Nicolas Rieussec series which are p...
Thanks for the report on the visit, the best part was the DLC testing...
Thanks, the best part was the 'Scratch' testing of the DLC vs PVD, very cool! -MW
Its not seeing is believing, its doing :-)
Hey Ming We will wait for Mike to do something after his mother nature test. Kong
Thanks PP ...
still has one more plant working on it. Hope you will join the next etour Thanks for reading. Kong
Thank you for the visit to MB
Great pics and background information on the visit to Le Locle. Thanks Kong! I enjoyed the mentioning of the scratch test. Regards, ED-209 This message has been edited by ED209 on 2010-03-12 19:35:38
One of the highlights ....
Hi Ed Replied to MW, doing it, really give another level of confidence. This test was one of the memorable moments for plant visits Kong
Wow Kong! There was A LOT to digest in your post
The whole process seemed so "robotic", a little too "sterile" for me on one hand, but on the other I feel like these Montblanc watches get assembled with very tight standards because of all the computerized analysis involved. I wonder if this will minimiz...
Evolution not Stagnation
Mike, Much as we romantasise about mountain elves hand-cutting every gear tooth of our micro machines, the reality is that watchmakers have always used the latest tools and technology available at the time. Georges Auguste Leschot's work on the pantograph...
Yes, I drank the Swiss
marketing potion and it is having its desired effect Guess the money that I'm paying is for access to the Swiss "know-how" which the MB tour gives great insight too. I'm all for utilizing the latest machines to verify assemble and correct for tolerances. ...
I like the 'sterile' part you mentioned ...
Hi Mike The self-contained 'Rieussec' room is good, in my opinion, for mass manufacturing pieces. The process is controlled and the learning experiences of the same group of watch-makers are focused and 'cumulated' within a cluster, thus forming a knowled...
Wow! Excellent Photo Tour of the Montblanc Le Locle Facility!
That was a great experience. Thank you for putting all the captions on the photographs so I could actually understand what was going on. Very impressive; from the very beginning, the Montblanc facility, the historical Mont-Blanc watches, the bedroom in th...
Thanks Patrick_Y ...
for reading. One more pic for you : Understand from the staff, the above Montblanc watch was created modeling after a 'squashed down' Meisterstück pen. Kong...
fantastic report...
hi Kong, tell you a funny thing, you know when i was reading this post, i did not notice who is the reporter. i just read! after reading through till end of the post and saw your name under signed at the end there. then realized, felt no wonder the style ...
Think you need a bigger monitor ...
to view our forum, Stefan Thanks for the kind words, and read till the end. Kong
DLC vs PVD scratch test! Oh! Oh! Oh!
Thanks Kong for the detail report. Yes, Montblanc Le Locle factory is indeed systematic compact, and well organised. I love the "5-star" room and it would be nice to stay just one night there. The DLC vs PVD scratch tests are indeed very educational and i...
Hmmm ...
The Villa Room is really nice. Probably, collectors of Montblanc may be invited to visit and stay before. Next round, if being offered to scratch the DLC, will do it more elaborately. Thinking what abrasive to carry with me Reminded me of Mr Spock too Kon...
WOWly amazing
Faisal Such an amazing , detailed inc such a very light way to understand and to digest, beside my deep appreciation for the people in mont blanc I would love to thank you a lot KONG and tell you I truly appreciate your detailed work, to come out with thi...
Excellent report. Thanks.
Very informative. Thanks for the insights. I really enjoy watching how every manufacture works. Vte
Super post, Kong! Top marks.
Thanks for sharing the great pics and vids. I really enjoyed the inside look.
Fantastic read!
Kong, Thanks so much for the wonderful photos and report chronicling your visit to MB. I'm really excited to see how their watch portolio expands. I greatly admire their Villaret collection, and wonder if they will ever be able to capture my imagination i...
Finally had time to read your post Kong
Awesome report and thanks for giving us a virtual tour of the Le Locle factory. The below DLC video you shot is amazing! Cheers, Anthony