Montblanc

Mark in Paris
[Purist]
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The reason imho is not about finding a link between the size of the case and the movement

but how the size of the watch supports its shape, what is the spirit behind its look (dressy, sporty, pilot watch, casual etc...) and especially how it works with the dial: a 3 hands watch will not work the same way a chronograph or QP dial will with for instance a 40mm case.

I can have a big movement taking 90% of the room in the case, this doesn't mean the watch is good looking or nice in any terms of watchmaking. Of course, a movement filling the case is better, but this is really not the main concern to care about.

The case of this MB is not big because the movement is and they had to. But they decided to make it like that because of the Pilot inspiration. A small case would have been weird for a Pilot watch. After that choice, they decided to put the right movement (it would have been ridiculous with the caliber of the first 37mm Villeret).

This MB could have been smaller and MB would have made an as good caliber in a smaller size. They weren't pushed to make the big case because of the movement. There was no real reason, technically or in temrs of finishing for imposing such a size, thus leading to a 44m case.

So the case size of MB for this Pilot inspired piece is more, imho, being truth to what it is related to: a Pilot watch, thus bigger size for legibility and commands manipulation (with gloves). This is why I think this MB piece is totally coherent (with the addition of fine finishing compared to original Pilot watches which were not made that way, of course).

Also, there is a demand for bigger case and this is good to provide the offer as well (what we saw in the big Tachydate in the past). This is also for commercial matters, like every brands.

The 5070 for instance was made to fulfill a demand for bigger cases at a time when brands also had to ask themselves if they should not be evolving with their world, people asking for that as well. I don't think a 37mm 5070 would have looked as good and the chrono dial would have been impossible to make the same way (not enough room). And making a brand new movement just for that watch was not possible either for obvious reasons.

A world of watches were the size of the caliber should always fit the case would look very bad on the dial side... Of course when it fits, it's better but way further in the priority list.

Cheers, Mark

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