NJ_Mark
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Steel Would Be A Welcome Addition to the Villeret Line
It certainly would be refreshing to see a steel villeret as an option. That is not to say that it should be applied broadly to the line but certain models in steel, offered in limited quantities, would not devalue the villeret brand in my opinion. The fact that the Rieussec was offered in steel was factored heavily in my decision to purchase one and in all honesty I would not have become a first time Montblanc owner if it was only offered in precious metal. Now wouldn't it be nice to add a steel villeret to complement my Riussec!!
POLL: What do PuristS think about a stainless steel model for the Villeret Collection
Will there ever be a stainless steel model for the Villeret collection? I've asked this question to management but so far the responses I've received have been lukewarm at best. Why? Because the Villeret collection represents the best that Montblanc has t...
If Patek can do it...
PP has demonstrated that a carefully curated collection of high-end steel pieces does not reduce the overall value of a product line, in fact the older simple Patek's in steel are far more valuable than the gold ones. I would say MB should make a steel pi...
On the subject
On the subject of "if" I think they should offer stainless steel models my answer is yes, they should. However I believe it needs to be done a proper manor, that is to say, a model such as a classic vintage style chronograph, using a dial taken from their...
Well, they existed under the late Minerva times...
and here is an example: with lacquered dial, but everything else as elaborate as the version in precious metals. Bring them BACK! Best, Magnus...
The question is ...
... does it devalue the watches in precious metals? I am not one of them, but I have heard people say that they would only buy watches made solely in precious metals. Any steel watch in the same range would turn them off the purchase. I wonder how prevale...
Steel Would Be A Welcome Addition to the Villeret Line
It certainly would be refreshing to see a steel villeret as an option. That is not to say that it should be applied broadly to the line but certain models in steel, offered in limited quantities, would not devalue the villeret brand in my opinion. The fac...
Thoughts...
I sometimes think it's almost as though the watch companies are saying to themselves that they are enlightened, knowledgeable watch experts who understand and appreciate the intrinsic values of a fine movement, but that as the peasantry in the stores coul...
Yes but...
1. The Patek analogy doesn't really seem compelling to me. They make, at a guess, about 50 watches for every watch that Villeret makes, and, as such, have much more room to accommodate a variety of constituencies in their product line. 2. Many of the Vill...
That's a thoughtful response . . .
. . . and, regrettably, it's difficult to argue the point. I've written on a few occasions of the desirability of a steel Villeret, but that's from an entirely selfish perspective. A Retour-à-Zéro with no changes other than case material would be an odd d...
Your thoughts mirror my own...
" I still think lower-cost steel models make sense from a marketing perspective in the short term, but I suspect that Montblanc has decided on the path of exclusivity for the long term success of the brand. " Exactly my thoughts. I couldn't agree more.
Thanks, in regards to #3 I remember a similar argument
used by Jaquet Droz. Recall J*D had a annual production of 2500. This is about the figure Villeret wants to get to from its current production level. "We will Never use steel"... "The Grande Heure Minute will be the only model in stainless steel"... Funny...
Those are fair points...
... though I will say that the original JD collection nodded sufficiently toward historic designs that were originally executed in precious metal to leave a JD buyer's preference for steel back then more clearly seem a pricepoint-driven decision than a pa...
To Wear or Not to Wear?
Each case material has it's own set of characteristics that detemines 'fitness for use'. Precious metal has it's place as has stainless steel..or...titanium...or Kevlar. If I wish to wear a more robust watch for daily use, I may look for steel cases. If I...
Sorry, Anthony, I can't answer any of your questions.
1. None of the above. 2. Depending on pricing. 3. Only Montblanc can answer that. It depends on their perception on whether stainless steel will compromise the prestige image of Villeret collection. Regards Ling
An analogy, the Lange One In Steel...
What do PuristS think about a stainless steel model for the Lange One from the venerable German watchmaker? Some PuristS know that there are steel Lange One models that exist, but were never made available for sale to the general public. In fact, only a f...
On the other hand, steel models can make high horology accessible for not so wealthy fans
Just think of Glashütte Original: Most of its movements can be had in steel cases as well. The reason for GO's Senator perpetual calendar to be one of the most popular and best selling perpetuals on the market is - I am convinced - solely due to the fact ...
For everyday wear, I always grab my stainless steel watches
and leave my gold watches in the safe deposit box. I wear the stainless steel models with just as much care as my precious metal ones but I know the steel ones will hold up a bit better. Best, Mike
Agreed.
The entire reason why steel watches would be considered for the Montblanc Villeret timepieces would be to allow for increased sales to a wider clientele. And in all honestly, I would consider acquiring a Montblanc Villeret in steel because I am just that ...
I would vote, but do not agree with the statements! More....
Will there ever be a stainless steel model for the Villeret collection Do you think that the concept of casing movements in precious metals is: A marketing trick to make a larger profit margin A real tribute to honor the workmanship involved behind the mo...
great response! Yes, loaded questions meant to get an answer
but as always there is no right answer to be had. Obviously if there is a point to be made there would have been many more questions but I think a lot less respondants Like you have pointed out, and so many others in the thread as well, the key is for MB ...
Yes but I have a personal preference for precious metals
with PT being my favorite. I like the weight and the stealth "I know its PT" factor. Some may say since others can;t tell visually, why pay more for WG or PT... to each his own.
I hadn't realized, but I am a convert ...
... to the weight of platinum. I have been wearing a Pt Journe for the last few weeks and marvel at the balance of the watch on the wrist and the subtle enjoyment that little extra weight in a demure 38mm case brings. Unfortunately horology just got more ...
My answer is no.
Because at the end, it would not change a lot the price due to the exclusivity of the calibers. So I prefer a gold case than a SS one. Fr.Xavier
Stainless or Not to Stainless
At this point of early development I would think stainless is not a reality. Perhaps years from now we might see it offered but as others have reported I think everyone will still have to save their dollars. Even if stainless i would not expect it to be a...
Difference between stainless vs platinum vs white gold
Forgive my ignorance, I'm fairly new to the watch game, but other than price what are the main differences between stainless vs platinum vs white gold? If someone showed me a watch made from each of these, I would have a hard time telling the difference. ...
Hi philpro, the differences are soley based on the material properties
of these three metals. The material properties are important because they are being used in the construction of a watch case which is meant to protect the movement inside from the environment and the daily stress of wear. Also to take into consideration, ...
New Ideas of gold...
Mike, in my opinion Philpro really brought out a PuristS-type question. Why would a PuristS member value the case material when we ultimately care about overall case design and the excellence of the movement? I think many PuristS members don't think of wa...
I beg to differ
" I think many PuristS members don't think of watches as status symbols and probably not even as jewelry." Perhaps I'm too pessimistic but I think your description only applies to a small percentage of watch enthusiasts. Even amongst PuristS members, I th...
"Montblanc: manufacturer of safe queens"?
Let's see if I've understood: - for everyday wear, most people seem to favour stainless. - top-end movements need to be cased in precious metals. So, the business of Montblanc becomes the manufacture of fantastic movements cased in precious metals, that l...
Don't we already wear watches with "average" movements 95% of the time? :-)
- for everyday wear, most people seem to favour stainless. - top-end movements need to be cased in precious metals. This applies to my personal approach, not sure if it can be generalized. cheers, Mike
Probably...
...but what a shame to condemn top-end movements to be rarely, if ever, worn just because they're cased in a precious metal. nick
That's the conundrum, Nick . . .
. . . and key to Mike's query. One of the reasons I'm drawn to Glashütte Original is their willingness to offer top-drawer movements in steel cases. The Panograph was available in steel for three-fifths the cost of a precious metal counterpart. While I oc...
Thanks Art, much better than I could have ever summarized
and it echoes MarkNJ's thoughts. Best, Mike
Old ideas of Gold...
I think that you are exactly right to discuss traditionalist values as a reason to prefer precious metal cases apart from status or jewelry. At least for me, a sense of tradition makes a gold watch much more important for a dress piece than for a technica...
You and Mike are both correct...
You and Mike are both correct. And yes, I was taking my point to a more extreme position than I ought to have. Gold is a material that is extremely traditional and appropriate for mechanical timepieces, which are objects of a long lost tradition themselve...
Yes, I may have some traditional thoughts about the status assigned to precious metals
but like you all my watches get worn. I don't necessarily wear my nices watches to work as much as I want too because of "occupational hazards" MIke