Montblanc

patrick_y
[PuristSPro Moderator]
28400

• Show profile
• Show other posts

Report: PuristSPro Montblanc San Francisco Event 2012

PuristSPro Montblanc San Francisco Event 2012

Earlier this week, Montblanc San Francisco and PuristSPro hosted a cocktail party specifically catered to watch aficionados.  Despite the tremendous amount of rain, it was especially pleasing to see the boutique filled with so many recognizable faces, watch loving locals, and esteemed PuristSPro members. 

There are many skeptics in the world who are asking the question; “I think of Montblanc as a writing instruments manufacturer, why should I buy a Montblanc watch?”  

And when I hear such a question, it becomes apparent  the individual asking the question places other brands on a pedestal, thus not qualifying a Montblanc watch based on merits alone. Our very own Dr. Thomas Mao, the keynote speaker, addressed this question, dispelled common industry marketing myths, cautioned consumers not to take opinions of others but to formulate and realize their own opinions based upon their own values, and even presented several thought-provoking questions of his own. 

Dr. Mao’s Keynote Speech Paraphrased Quotes

“Montblanc is very successful in the pen industry, however their biggest success is their biggest burden [towards emerging as a credible watchmaker].”

“I commonly see a dilution of the original brand integrity, especially when the brands expand into different product categories.  In the 1970s many brands over-licensed their brand to shoddy products destroying the brand value [and became undesirable brands].  Montblanc during its expansion into high horology has not done so at the expense of compromising their legitimacy and brand identity, and today Montblanc continues to be a highly regarded brand.” 

“For the past hundred years, the two most universal accessories every proper gentleman has are; his watch and his pen.” 

“Montblanc [Villeret] is one of the few manufactures that actually manufactures their own hairsprings and cuts their own hairspring in-house – when the last of these craftsmen and craftswomen retire, it will truly be a lost art.” 

“Cold enameling, or lacquering, is a marketing term created to confuse.  Fired enamel is the only true enameling.” 

The Montblanc Timepieces Collection

The Montblanc Timepieces Collection comprises of three key collections; (1) the Classic Collection which comprises of the TimeWalker, Star, and Lady Profile collection; (2) the Rieussec Collection of chronographs; and (3) the Montblanc Villeret collection the pinnacle of high horology. 

The Montblanc Classic collection features watches with quartz, ETA, or Valjoux movements that offer tremendous value in very interesting and uniquely designed cases.  This core collection offers a broad range of products to suit a wide range of tastes.  For instance, the Star Collection features a classic design while the TimeWalker collection features a unique modern design that is youthful and fun, ladies are not forgotten with prominent pieces within the Star Collection and their own line of rectangular watches in the Lady Profile Collection. 

The TimeWalker collection is not only youthful and fun, it’s a serious watch in the engine room.  The Montblanc TimeWalker TwinFly boasts a modern flyback chronograph with two centrally mounted flyback hands (one for the seconds, one for the minutes).  This watch also possesses precise engagement when one activates the chronograph pushers. 

Please read our very own PuristSPro review on the TimeWalker TwinFly Chronograph by Dr. Mike Ting! 

montblanc.watchprosite.com

The Rieussec Collection pays hommage to the first chronograph that was invented by Nicolas Rieussec over 190 years ago.  The Montblanc Rieussec collection, which bears his namesake, features a Montblanc Manufacture chronograph movement with a column wheel and a friction-free vertical clutch system (the same operating principle utilized by the Patek Philippe 5960 series) as opposed to the traditional lateral clutch.  Combined with a unique design, this watch really combines history with the latest state-of-the-art chronograph technology. 

The Rieussec is available in several different versions in steel, gold, or platinum to suit all tastes. 

The Montblanc Villeret Collection offers pieces that represent the pinnacle of haute horlogerie.  All of the movements are made in the Minerva Institute Villeret factory using the most traditional methods.  Nearly every single part is made in-house, for instance the hair-spring wire is made within the Villeret factory are hand rolled.  Also, all Villeret watches adhere to traditional timing principles with low-beat balance wheels that are very large and have a high moment of inertia, this means that the balance wheel is more stable and resistant to shocks because of its size. 

The finishing on these Villeret timepieces are incredibly lavish, and in my opinion the finish bestowed upon the Villeret movements exceed some of the most highly regarded brands in the Swiss Watch industry, including those with the Geneva Seal stamped on their movements!   

An example of fine finishing.  This Infinity Balance bridge requires approximately one week’s worth of deburring, shaping, and polishing before it is able to be inserted into a watch.  Also, notice the balance wheel is extremely large at 14.6mm giving it a high moment of inertia at 59mgcm^2. 

Like this watch?  Please see Art Dakessian's On-The-Wrist Review of the Montblanc Villeret 1858 Grande Seconde au Centre Retour-a-Zero! 

montblanc.watchprosite.com  

Ladies are not forgotten in the Villeret series.  This is a beautiful and elegant lady's Villeret timepiece. 
 

A black fired enamel dial graces this beautiful mono-pusher timepiece. 

A white fired enamel dial on the timepiece above. 

A further testament to Montblanc Villeret and its adherence to tradition, all balance springs are not only made and rolled within the Villeret manufacture, but are bent, cut, and pinned by hand to the balance collet – by a single person – Monique Wyssmueller.  This is truly a lost art, most of the other highly regarded brands do not usually perform this delicate operation, and in today’s computer age, computers sort balance springs into classifications and automatically pair them with balance wheels that are characteristically suited. 

Conclusion

Montblanc is a unique company with a wide range of products.  Within pens there are pens that cost from $200 USD to $100,000+ USD!  While there is such a wide range, there is no compromise in quality in a pen that costs $200, and the brand has the legitimacy to sell pens that are $100,000+.  Few companies can make this claim and even fewer can pull it off without alienating one group within the spectrum of its customers. This attribute also translates to the Montblanc Timepiece portfolio, which has pieces deserving aspirations from all types of collectors; from young novice collectors to the most demanding consumers who value the finest in traditional craftsmanship.  

For those of you who have not discovered the Montblanc watch collection, especially its Villeret and Rieussec collection, I strongly urge you to do so.  When I discovered Montblanc watches, particularly the Villeret line, I realized that I had found MY perfect watch, a watch that combines exceptionally excellent finishing with the most traditional manufacturing process. 

Many thanks to Montblanc, especially the staff at Montblanc San Francisco!  We thank you for making this event possible! 

Thank you for reading this report!  The only thing you will enjoy more than reading this report is handling a Montblanc watch yourself. 

Site Info.