Fastwong
1652
I have been interested in a Montblanc but have had a hard time with the idea of spending real money for one, not because of the watches, but because of everything else
Apr 16, 2022,16:28 PM
My thoughts are overwhelmingly negative so let me make the disclaimer that none of the following has anything to do with the actual product, it is because the product seem so compelling that I really made these considerations:
1. Resale as you mentioned is terrible but I don't see that as inherently bad, maybe even an attractive opportunity, it just means the watch needs to be bought at good discount to msrp. While resale has firmed up a bit, I think that's more the market as a whole lifting all ships, I don't see any Montblanc specific positive trend above market.
2. Montblanc doesn't care about the Villeret watches. There's no mention of this model or any of the exotourbillons or really any watches from Villeret on the website. There's no catalog of past or present watches, no specs, nothing but content from 3rd party watch media to show these even existed. If you go to the website you wouldn't even know these watches are in production.
3. Montblanc doesn't actually care about any of their watches. For the lower end non-Villeret models service in the US is outsourced to a 3rd party. I'm not saying the watchmakers in Villeret don't care, but Montblanc corporate puts watches after pens, stationary, and leather goods, just ahead of headphones (didn't even know they made those) and then the Villeret model are even then a niche within a 4th tier category.
4. Richemont
I've not seen many brands that seem to at least outwardly care about their watches less. The watches seem like great deals, a little inside baseball bargain for those in the know, so if you love the watch all of this is maybe just noise, or lack of noise actually. For me, spending over $100k does require a some rationalizing and even with a great product, I can't spend that much with a brand that doesn't care to even promote the thing on the website because they are too busy selling pens.