New Video! Montblanc Fine Watchmaking: 500 Hours Quality Certificate

Jul 04, 2014,09:03 AM
 

Following Mike's post on the technical details of the 500 hours quality certificate from Montblanc, here is a very interesting video produced by Montblanc (this video is fresh from the oven and Montblanc is sharing with Montblanc PuristS here first!).


The video showcases the assembly of the Meisterstuck Perpetual Calendar movement and the casing of the watch as well as some key highlights of the 500 hour quality tests. Some highlights from the video on the 500 hours quality test:

Test 1 - Winding performance and assembly control - 4 hours
> Exposition to strong rotary motions

Test 2 - Continuous accuracy control - 80 hours
>  Continuous acoustic control

Test 3 - Functions control - 336 hours
> Simulation of wearing and of non-wearing of periods

Test 4 - General performance control - 80 hours
> Temperature test between 6 and 45 degrees C
> Verification of the watch's rate at 0h and 24h

Test 5 - Water resistance control - 2 hours
> Humidity test
> Under water pressure exposure

Final Control
> Aesthetical and final functions control


Here are some pics I took of the 500 hour quality certificate (it was for a Nicolas Rieussec watch but the same cert will be given for the Meisterstuck Heritage Perpetual Calendar). More details of the various steps of the 500 hour tests are included in the quality certificate.



















Information from Montblanc's Le Locle manufacture: Each Montblanc Meisterstück Heritage Perpetual Calendar wristwatch is subjected to a comprehensive 500-hour quality test at the manufacture in Le Locle. It simulates the first year’s lifecycle of a timepiece. Developed by Montblanc, this rigorous examination verifies the accuracy of the watch’s rate, the water tightness of its case, the timepiece’s overall performance and robustness, and the functionality of the individual displays. Only after its examiners are convinced that a watch upholds Montblanc’s strict quality standards do they release it for subsequent delivery. Each watch that passes the 500-hour test is individually issued a test certificate.




Personally, I am very happy Montblanc is extending this 500 hour test on the Meisterstuck Heritage Perpetual Calendar, one of the flagship 2014 novelties of Montblanc watches. It is a watch I personally like, being an extremely good value high complication watch with good looks and craftsmanship. Also, I think the tests are very important as it is a new high complication movement for Montblanc with a Sellita base and a Dubois Depraz perpetual calendar module. Being an outsourced base movement with a high complication module, Montblanc is wise to extend the tests to this watch to ensure its reliability to owners. It bodes well for the new Meisterstuck Heritage collection in my view, a collection that will become a key pillar in Montblanc's watch category.

Hope you enjoy the video of the 500 hours quality tests. Let us know what you think about the quality tests and if there are any areas of a watch or watch assembly you think are important for manufactures to look out for - I believe our feedback can be useful for Montblanc too.

Thank you Montblanc for sharing this video with us on PuristSPro first!

cheers
robin




This message has been edited by jrwong23 on 2014-07-04 09:11:01 This message has been edited by jrwong23 on 2014-07-04 09:12:12 This message has been edited by mkt33 on 2014-07-16 08:46:04


More posts: Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph AutomaticNicolas Rieussec Collection

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Comments: view entire thread

 

Very impressive....

 
 By: cmclee : July 6th, 2014-07:16
... makes me want to own a MB ..Thanks for sharing Robin !.

Thanks for dropping by and glad you found the tests impressive!

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : July 6th, 2014-08:47
Any Montblanc watch you like currently ? ;) Cheers Robin

Al these tests certificates and booklets... kind of ..

 
 By: cmclee : July 6th, 2014-23:39
reminds me of something (LOL). Mmmmmm... what I like to own ? As mentioned to you previously, its their signature Nicolas Rieussec Chrono.. if only they make in 40 or 41mm ! I'm pretty sure it will be a sell out !

Agree Charles

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : July 7th, 2014-09:24
I also hope for a smaller Nicolas Rieussec in 40mm or 39mm even. Apparently they have launched a 39mm Timewalker so I am hoping they will create a smaller Nicolas Rieussec watch soon too Cheers Robin

Thanks

 
 By: dylan61 : July 6th, 2014-07:38
Thanks for the interesting vid Robin. Opens my eyes to all the thought and effort into producing an MB piece. Cheers..

Indeed Montblanc is putting a lot of efforts these days

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : July 6th, 2014-08:50
Not just in marketing efforts which Montblanc has traditionally been doing well but more importantly on their watch design and manufacturing. The new Meisterstuck Heritage line is a good step forward and having the flagship piece, ie the perpetual calenda... 

Wow.. I am impressed

 
 By: ianny : July 13th, 2014-18:56
with the efforts they are putting in to ensure solid quality. Thank for sharing. Regards, Ian

Great to hear you are impressed Ian

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : July 14th, 2014-15:12
Glad you enjoyed the video Cheers Robin

Nice, but how does this add value to me? And how long does that value addition last?

 
 By: patrick_y : July 22nd, 2014-13:40
Did anyone notice at 1:48 in the video the moonphase disc was advancing almost like a second hand? First of all, yes, testing is very important. No consumer likes to put on their brand new watch and right away it fails. That'd be awful. That has certainly... 

Thanks for your thoughts and feedback Patrick

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : July 27th, 2014-06:28
I do agree on the assurance of initial quality. As mentioned, esp for 3rd party movements/new modules combinations and even more so for high complications like a perpetual calendar, the initial quality assurance does matter to me. As for whether the same ...