Goldenlutin
261
To answer the question one should ask...
ask how many Montblanc watches actually use an in-house movement vs. a quartz or a mechanical movement from Swatch Group (ETA) or Sellita. I would guess that over 90 % of the production (at least in quantity, maybe not value wise) use third-party movements. The Minerva thing is a good marketing move but 30-100 watches per year do not change the core business of Montblanc. The same is true with the two Valfleurier movements which are not representative (though being well priced) of the actual Montblanc production. Therefore I think that it is a bite of a stretch to talk about a manufacture brand when over 90% of the production does not use an in-house movement. This is not a critic but a fact. Anyhow, the manufacture hype will soon be over as most consumers just don't care about it. Panerai became big using ETA movements and nobody complained. The bestsellers from IWC don't use in-house movements and everybody is happy (especially IWC as the margins are incredible)... What about Breitling? I could continue the list for a while. On the same note, Tag Heuer just announced that it will NOT produce its latest in-house CH80 chronograph movement, although it has been presented in Basel. Why? Probably because it makes the watches too expensive and that the normal Tag buyer just don't care / don't want to pay a premium for an in-house movement.
IMHO the real problem of Montblanc is another. As they have to buy the movements from Swatch or Sellita, they cannot compete price wise against Swatch Group brands like Longines or Tissot which offer a much better quality/price ration (value proposition) and are, in addition, long established watch brands. All this does not make things easy for Montblanc and might explain why it is struggling and Lambert has to fixe it.. Not an easy task...
Just my two cents
Is Montblanc a real watch manufacturer?
While this question has not been discussed recently on our forum, I know doubts still exist. Last week I received two emails, one from a new member and the other from a seasoned Purist. Our newbie (no disrespect intended ) stated: "There is no way in hell...
Don't forget the visit to Villeret...
But yes, Montblanc _is_ a real watch manufacturer, no doubt about it. Don
No doubt about the Villeret workshop in my mind
as well. I think PuristS have trouble with Montblanc at Le Locle...they tend to forget that all the Rieussec Calibers and the TwinFly movement are all "in-house" designs. Best, Mike
With regard your last question...
about MB falling victim to its rep as a pen company... If they persist, persevere, and i think that they are on the right track, that over time, MB will be known as a pen AND watch company... potentially on some track to becoming,eventually, a luxury good...
Thanks Echi...one observation that was made by our seasoned
Purist was that he felt Montblanc made a step back with the Heritage Collection. While he understood the need for MB to make a big move into the mid-range category, he felt the use of 3rd party ebauches soured the progress they made in the past few years ...
I can confirm...
That I have visited both the Mb main manufacture and Villeret last year and they are 100% a real 'manufacture'. My heart goes towards Villeret and the old fashioned way of making watches under the master watchmaker Mr Cabbidu, but it cannot be taken away ...
That's a beauty..the Grand Seconde Au Centre Retour a Zero
A model that we don't see very often. Thanks for your opinion and wristshot Best, Mike
Damn...
Should have bought it and sold a child to fund it! This one was a stunning piece unique with MOP... Fantastic. Cheers Andrew
I understand why some people have this prejudice against Montblanc.
The image of the brand being a pen company has been around for such a long time. But sometimes it just feels like a pre-sentenced case without a fair trial. People who look down upon Montblanc should put their impression aside, and look more seriously and...
I think the doubts arise from the intense effort put
into marketing. Our newest member felt that MB was trying to "buy the priviledge " of being a manufacture through intense marketing and the purchase of Minerva. I had to remind him that without Richemont/Montblanc that Minerva would have folded and no lon...
It is indeed true...
That many of my friends make comments like Montblanc makes pens and wallets and hence they do not want to buy a Montblanc watch. They may understand and acknowledge that Montblanc is a watch manufacture with 2 manufactures in Villeret and LeLocle, but the...
To answer the question one should ask...
ask how many Montblanc watches actually use an in-house movement vs. a quartz or a mechanical movement from Swatch Group (ETA) or Sellita. I would guess that over 90 % of the production (at least in quantity, maybe not value wise) use third-party movement...
Who cares?
Really, this obsession with how much of a "manufacture" one brand is vs another denies the very heritage of Swiss watchmaking. The current dialogue suggests the cabinotiers, repasseurs, and etablisseurs of the past were somehow deficient. A visit to a hor...
I think Goldenlutin is making a valid point....
"Really, this obsession with how much of a "manufacture" one brand is vs another denies the very heritage of Swiss watchmaking. The current dialogue suggests the cabinotiers, repasseurs, and etablisseurs of the past were somehow deficient." I think this i...
Well, I did not ask the question, I just tried...
to give an educated answer based on a quantitative (objective) view. I have not stated that MB should or not be a manufacture. This is indeed another question and I think there is no "definitive" answer to it. Only the economic success of the brand will t...
Sizzle and Steak
Does anybody seriously think that the corporate boys who own Montblanc permit a workshop the size of the Villeret facility to stay open and produce 50 pieces annually out of a desire to permit staff table tennis tournaments? I have had the privilege of vi...
Well,...
We'll, I have visited Villeret too and I am quite convinced that MB makes no money with Minerva. The factory is made to be visited (you even have the visit schedules on the walls in each department) and good looking. You will not find any similar setting ...
No Illusion of Charity
I have no material disagreement with you. I agree that there is no way that Villeret can be turning a profit, and that its continuing operation is not motivated by a simple gesture of goodwill. I'm just glad that its output is a collection of worthwhile w...
Was Minerva a real watch manufacturer??
I don't care for Montblanc or modern watches so........ "I have no dog in this fight". Would you consider Minerva a manufacturer?? If you do... you should consider Montblanc a manufacturer. Minerva used Valjoux movements for many years. They often used th...
Was Minerva a manufacturer??
I don't care for Montblanc or modern watches so........ "I have no dog in this fight". Would you consider Minerva a manufacturer?? If you do... you should consider Montblanc a manufacturer. Minerva used Valjoux movements for many years. They often used th...
Nice vintage Minerva snail dial chronograph
and thanks for sharing both your wrist shot and your observations. Cheers, Mike
Beautiful vintage Minerva!
Thanks for sharing. I also like the vintage Minerva pocket watches but they are so difficult to find now! cheers robin
Montblanc is a manufacture for real and one to admire
In 2013 I visited both Montblanc facilities in Villeret and Le Locle. While both are at opposite ends of the spectrum with respect to the design and manufacturing process (purely hand-made including making hairspring vs. assembly line with most parts made...
Hello Again
I had not expected to be rejoining this thread after so long an absence, but, on re-reading the posts, one thing did occur to me. Why is it important to talk about the relative numbers of manufacture vs. off-the-shelf pieces, so long as the house is makin...