Montblanc

I am totally unfamiliar with the Montblanc model range.  Watching the recently released videos seriously piqued my interest in the brand, however.

Can anyone give me a few line spiel on where to start and highpoints of the lineup from a WIS-sense?  For example, is there anything short of the Villeret series with in-house movements?  Are there any particularly intriguing family design elements, etc.?

Some of the cases are quite striking, but I am think more about the movements, the quality of finishing, clever design elements, etc.  I've read some of the in-depth reviews of the Villerets, to get started, but I wondered how much of that continued down into the other models.  I've done the normal thing of combing the Montblanc website, and with nothing against it, the content for most the model descriptions is a little light on meat for the watch enthusiast.

here at PuristSPro.

Only because these words mean different things to different people.

I think the MB 75th Anniversary would be important for anyone trying to collect Montblanc watches.  Its worth would be much higher to this collector.

For other watch enthusiasts, it may be only worth the value of any Kurt Schaffo work...even discounted because it is a Montblanc and not a VC or example.

Try a search on auction houses.  AFAIK, I haven't seen one up for auction but I could be wrong.

Someone tried selling it one on Eb before...I don't think it sold, and of course IMHO it was way overpriced.

Mike

Telackey,

About 4 years ago Montblanc, with its new stewardship of Minerva, decided to make a major move into the watch world.

The reason for this was simple:  MB execs saw their VIP clients make major pen purchases and they were wearing very expensive timepieces.  When asked why the watches were also not MB, they got very shocking answers.  MB execs decided to rectify this situation.

The establishment of Minerva Insitut was built upon the advances which its previous owners started but could not continue.  The new movements were highly finished but designed on the basic principles of classic watchmaking.

Now we are starting to see Minerva shaping its own identity.

The Grand Regulateur Chronograph with its "double" hand power reserve is an example.

The Tourbillon Bicylindrique with its double nested helical hairspring is an interesting interpretation/solution to some basic issues surrounding flat hairsprings.

At about the same time,  MB released its Rieussec calibers.  The Rieussic movements have been in development for over a decade.

An integrated double barrel chronograph utilizing a vertical clutch, a monopusher, and a the two revolving chronograph disks took many industry insiders by surprise.  They didn't think that Montblanc could ever achieve such a novel movement.  The base version was also priced very aggressively.  Since its original release we have seen upgrades: skeletonized specimens, automatic winding versions, upgraded silicon escapement components.  I think the Rieussec models will continue to surprise.

Seriously, this is the line that most WIS should be excited about....at least those of us with modest pocketbooks!

 Now we are seeing the Timewalker line also expanding with new in house movements.  The Timewalker Twinfly chronograph is the first with a novel flyback mechanism and time display all around a central axis.  I have no doubts that we will see more examples of in house movements from Montblanc.  Stay tuned for an interview with MB's movement designer.

The remainder of the MB watch family: the Star and Sport will continue to get aesthetic upgrades and perhaps new case coatings.  I wonder if the advances from the Timewalker line will trickle down.

Otherwise I DO NOT expect Villeret to share with the Rieussec and neither to share with the other MB lines.  This way each model line will retain its own individual characteristics.

Best, Mike