bigdave
104
The Numbers Game
Mike,
As Robin's post below suggests, the numbers anticipated may have changed over time, which at least lets me feel old instead of ready for the room with mattresses instead of wallpaper. That said, it is hard to get 50 pieces a year to work with the 1858 (1 platinum plus 8 white gold plus 58 rose gold) editions contemplated for several of the original models, unless more of those have already been sold than anecdotal evidence would suggest.
On another note, one man's trickle down is another man's deterioration of product line distinctiveness. At the risk of testing an already embarassed memory yet again, I thought a big reason that Montblanc refers to the Villeret facility as an Institute is that this sort of trickle down was always anticipated. It is true that they will have to manage Villeret's distinctiveness (to tie in to some other posts below, this is a job that Chopard has really missed the boat on with LUC), but it doesn't seem like an insurmountable task.
Best,
Dave
Available on the marketplace
60 Montblanc listings are live on the eBay market and 32 collector listings on the WatchProSite marketplace.
Some important news given by Jerome Lambert
In an interview of the French newspaper Le Figaro published today, Jerome Lambert brought some important news about the future projects of Montblanc and gave some hints about the 2014 collection. The full interview can be found here (sadly, in French): ww...
A monopoussoir chronograph with a movement by Villeret at a price of 27.000 euros...
It sounds very exciting! :) Can't wait to discover it! Fx
50 Pieces a Year!
I am blown away by the 50 pieces/year datum. I don't remember where the idea got into my head, but I thought that the number was more like 200. This is an important fact to keep in mind when folks start talking about a steel Villeret, or other ideas to "g...
Not limited.......more like NEVER
bigdave, That is the point about Villeret. People whinge that they want cheaper watches from Villeret. Its NOT going to happen because they only make 50 pieces a year. Villeret portfolio is the pinnacle of the Montblanc product line and will be kept very ...
The Numbers Game
Mike, As Robin's post below suggests, the numbers anticipated may have changed over time, which at least lets me feel old instead of ready for the room with mattresses instead of wallpaper. That said, it is hard to get 50 pieces a year to work with the 18...
Can't wait to see Mr Lambert in Geneva. We'll certainly have a nice interview!
As for the Choton Monopusher, I am impatient to discover it... Best, Nicolas
Exciting news indeed
Obviously clearly marked targets and very competitive prices Thank you for info dear FX Damjan P.S. Sadly I didn't listen to my mother ;)
Your mother gave you the advice to learn French?
Yes you should have listened to her... French is the watchmaking language! :) Fx
You know too much
about me :) It always seemed to me that there is something I miss regarding watchmaking now I know it's language ;) Best D
It´s nice to have someone ...
with a clear strategy and defined goals. Promising activities and mouthwatering products. Congrats and I am looking forward to see the first results in a few weeks. Thanks a lot FX, for the translation! Oliver
To motivate the audacity of creation, is the title
What a big challenge this is. Sounds as though there is a lot of room for for growth in watches, and leather. Writing instruments may be more about carefully managing this near monopoly, but being less reliant on it. Great to be looking at Montblanc under...
Interesting, but also suprised
By the 50 pieces thing. I also thought it was higher than that. I made an interview of M. Adé (MD MB FR) last week (to be published in Le Point / Argus des Montres in a few days I think). He confirmed me what rumors said for a couple of months : MB's qual...
Thanks Olivier for this interesting comment from Michel.
I would have expected also a "watches only" boutique from Montblanc, at least to reinforce the image of Montblanc on this field. Because being a global player has a lot of positive impacts but sometimes, it can also give the feeling of not being a special...
Indeed
Hi, Montblanc is like Cartier on the distribution side. Boutiques show a universe of products. That doesn't bother me, as long as it remains a boutique and not a supermarket. It is also an advantage when you want to make come your better half in the shop,...
Interesting comments Olivier!
I too was also under the impression that Villeret produced some 200 pieces a year or so. The Montblanc concept is what I call "ecosystem" marketing/sales. Apple does it with technological products. All technology that a normal person uses from day to day ...
That was the recipe he used at JLC. No doubt that there will be interesting
Things to see... All well, my friend? Coming to the SIHH? Best! Nicolas
I have to confess that we can already find audacity in the current collection..
I'm not speaking about the ultimate watches from Villeret but the Hemispheres and some other TimeWalker watches have, in my mind, a quite daring design. At least, in my point of view! :) Fx
Very interesting
But above all, Montblanc needs to protect and build its brand image. For me, seeing Montblanc pens and wallets etc for sale in duty free catalogues on planes really dilutes the brand image of the watches ! They are in danger of becoming a Pierre Cardin. V...
You are right Dean. You are talking here about "consistency"
And Montblanc needs to improve on this field. Fx
Good point Dean...
What I find here in at least the United States, Montblanc advertises its normal products, be it pens, watches, leathergoods. However, if you see other brands in the US, they advertise their halo products, the ones that few can afford to buy, but they thin...
All sounds very exciting!
Thank you dear Fx for the translation of key points! Mr Lambert seems to be setting very structured directions for the brand. I heard about the 50 pieces from Villeret recently too. I think initially back in 2008 or so, it was said it could be around 200 ...
Btw, as I am patiently waiting for sihh 2014...
I am still dreaming of the Twinfly Greytech!!! Went to collect some jewelry I ordered from MB's flagship boutique in Singapore along and I had to resist looking at the Greytech they had on display prominently. .. I quickly put on a 4810 white gold ring I ...
I like the Greytech too!
The Greytech is a cool watch. Also, the Twinfly movement has good push-button feel with the start/stop and reset button. Any picture of the new ring?
Mike said only watches are allowed here... but...
Here are shots of both the MB watches and my new 4810 MB ring. Excluding my MB belts, cufflinks, a leather briefcase and pens... think Mike will delete my post if I showed all of those here haha. I started watch collecting. Then fell in love with MB Ville...
You had watches in the photographs...
You had watches in those photographs, so you're totally forgiven! Thanks for sharing those photos. I've never seen the ring in my local Montblanc stores.
Thanks a lot Robin for your comments and explanation!
About the monopusher, the mouvement won't be housed in a Villeret case but I don't know more! I can't wait to discover it! Fx
Oh Dear
I hope this hybrid concept doesn't signal the beginning of the end of the independence presently accorded to the Villeret atelier! The news overall sounds very exciting but with such a broad range of offerings, doesn't the brand run the risk of diminishin...
I don't think you have to worry about this...
The monopusher is a LE watch and I'm sure that Jerome Lambert will preserve the exclusivity of the Villeret manufacture. Fx
I think Chopard...
Has the same range from 2k to above 200k. Probably trickier for Montblanc with $300 or so products like mainstream ballpoint pens or steel cufflinks all the way up to millions of dollars potentially with their bespoke Villerets. But personally as a custom...
Chopard or...Chaumet ?
Mmm, from 2 to 200k, I would rather have thought about Chaumet, especially with the latest pieces made for them by Hublot (Tourbillon Hortensia). Still, I'm not a big connoisseur of Chopard's range, I must admit. Nice thought about the dilution of the bra...
I did mean Chopard Olivier
Starting from the Chopard quartz range to their LUC but I may be wrong about the entry price. Maybe more like 4 or 5k for quartz Chopard? From what you described, it looks like MB may be changing their focus to good value timepieces under Mr Lambert but p...
I would rather say 5k
Well, again Im' not a Chopard specialist - and I don't want to go off topic ! - but as far as I know, the entry level at Chopard is the stainless steel Imperiale - and its smallest version (36 mm) is already at 5,2 k. Chaumet unveiled a couple of months t...
You've hit the crux of the matter Robin
A "cascade" downward transfer of skills, technology and prestige will benefit the regular Montblanc line...but a Jet d'Eau of Le Locle cases housing Villeret movements will damage the Villeret label IMHO. HUGE MISTAKE...unless they are intending to blur t...
Any resemblance is purely...
...purely what ? Your thoughts are more than welcomed ! And I know there was a Blancpain prototype on the same basis as well... Cheers, Olivier Photo deleted per embargo date ...
Is that the new MB PC??
Wow you got the picture so early! It looks great to me. Doesn't matter if it resembles the GP or Blancpain somewhat. Such a classical PC or AC dial layout is quite common I think. The GP looks classic and timeless too! Love both. Thanks for this Olivier. ...
Yes, that's it.
I should have a Hi Res one by the end of the day. Will post it so that we can see details. I agree with you Robin, the layout is great, I just always regret that brands don't look for original design. 3 PC with exactly the same look & feel (Montblanc,...
Hi Oliver. I appreciate your participation but please respect the MB embargo dates
Please do not post any photos of the SIHH 2014 novelties. The embargo date of 12/15/2013 is for print journals which needed to be printed ahead of SIHH. For everyone else the embargo date is 1/20/2014. "aucune publication avant le début du SIHH, à savoir ...
Hi MIke. Thanks for the heads up but I could not do my job if I did not respected embargos
Hi Mike, The first MB embargo was over as soon as MB decided to send and let published the QP picture in one of the biggest FR / EU business daily ( Le Figaro) . 350 000 subscribers per day. Total audience, with the website where the interview was publish...
Thanks for your understanding..
unfortunately, it would appear (as in many instances) that local HQ and corporate HQ have different messages. Eventhough some novelties has been released in print and other internet sites, I still have to oblige to the promise I made to corporate HQ...eve...
The same procedure as every year ...
Embargoes are stated and violated by the manufacturer itself almost in the same breath. It has always been the policy of PPro to strictly respect the embargo dates given to us, even if it is sometimes difficult and annoying, to say the least. Marcus
Indeed, sir...
The second breath was taken a couple of minutes ago. I just dropped a PM to Mike. End of the story here ! Cheers, Olivier
Let's wait till SIHH 2014...
And see what MB is really doing about the monopusher chronograph. I am with you on this Dean. we will have more clarity very soon. Cheers Robin