jrwong23 (aka watchthebin)
[Purist]
13960
Journey into Montblanc - My Story to tell
My journey into Montblanc and how I got my Montblanc Villeret chronograph grand feu enamel watch is a story I would like to share here. For Montblanc fans and collectors, everyone has a story to tell 
This week I am traveling in Europe for business. Paris was my first stop followed by Dusseldorf (where I am leaving for London now). Dusseldorf is where my Montblanc journey started and it was right at this boutique.
Before 2012, I had some Montblanc products but won't consider myself a Montblanc fan. I came to Dusseldorf for work in around Jul (or was it Sep... Can't remember exactly) and stepped into the Montblanc Dusseldorf boutique. I wanted to look for a bag and was assisted by a kind lady German staff. Got the bag and left the boutique.
Montblanc Dusseldorf got my details and started sending me emails on their events and promotions subsequently (all in German). I replied that I am based in Singapore and won't be able to attend any events there. The German office then sent my contact to Montblanc Singapore. A manager from Montblanc Singapore wrote to me to welcome me to the world of Montblanc and he was sharp to notice I am a watch lover then (I just got my first high end watch around that time). He invited me for an event in Oct 2012, I met Julien the Montblanc Villeret watchmaker, saw the calibre 13.21 and fell in love with Montblanc Villeret since.
Some of you may remember how long I took to convince myself I could purchase a Montblanc Villeret watch. From Oct 2012 to Aug 2013 I struggled. To be honest, I struggled with the brand name on the dial. I was a watch brand snob 
In the end true love prevailed (with the help of many PuristS here who helped grow me to be more pure and less of a watch snob - especially PuristS like Nicolas, Mike Ting, Fx and Patrick). I couldn't resist and got my Montblanc Villeret watch in Aug 2013 (coming a year now! Time flies!). Once i got that watch, somehow I grew to love the brand even more and got more watches, accessories and bags from Montblanc. The passion grew and eventually I took on the challenge to be a Montblanc forum moderator here.
A wristie near the boutique
Now that I am back in Dusseldorf, I knew I had to visit the boutique again - where my story began. To my amazement, when I walked in, the 2 lady staff who had attended to me almost 2 years ago recognized me! We started talking, the boutique manager Tobias joined us and I could see they were very happy and proud that my journey began in their boutique! Tobias reminded me "everyone has a story to tell and yours began in Dusseldorf, in our boutique!"
We chatted a lot about their watches and the new 2014 novelties and like what I heard in Singapore, the new Meisterstuck Heritage series is very popular amongst their customers. This is good news for the brand! I can feel Mr Lambert is injecting a lot of energy and excitement into Montblanc - all boutique staff I speak to in various markets are very excited about the new collections in 2014.
The Dusseldorf boutique has lots of beautiful decors on their watches and manufactures. There is always a large section devoted to Montblanc Villeret and the Minerva institute. Here are some pics to share.
Montblanc Villeret vintage Pulsograph in red gold and black enamel dial. LE 58
Beautiful white enamel dial on the Montblanc Villeret vintage Pulsograph - the white gold version. LE 58
Hope you enjoy the pics and my story (ok mine is not as exciting as Hugh Jackman's!). Everyone has a story to tell. What is your story? How did you begin your journey in a watch brand or generally in watch collecting? For Montblanc owners, what is your story?
Special thanks to Tobias and the staff of Montblanc Dusseldorf boutique for spending time listening to my Montblanc story yesterday and being a part of my story. I am proud to be part of your Montblanc family and definitely felt like I was family in your boutique (can't believe you guys could still remember me, a walk-in customer 2 years ago who didn't buy something expensive then).
Montblanc - I tell stories
Cheers
Robin
More posts:
Journey into Montblanc - My Story to tell
My journey into Montblanc and how I got my Montblanc Villeret chronograph grand feu enamel watch is a story I would like to share here. For Montblanc fans and collectors, everyone has a story to tell This week I am traveling in Europe for business. Paris ...
Great story!
I can definitely feel the emotional connection that you have with the brand and the Dusselforf boutique. Those staff are great ambassadors of Montblanc; they know and show and share the passion with existing and potential customers. By the way, I just fle...
Agree the boutique staff at Dusseldorf
Were just fantastic! The boutique staff do make a big difference to our passion for brands to be honest. The service quality, warmth, product knowledge are all important. Think there was indeed a brief overlap with both of us in Germany. I arrived on thu ...
An amazing story
.. it is such a friendliness and treating you like an good old friend NOT "pushy" attitude that makes me want to go back and back again to the brand or boutique or AD. After all, as is often said, you buy the seller, not the watch :-) Business is done bet...
definitely agree with you Ken
Montblanc boutique staff in every city I have visited do make me feel very much at home and like family. Many of them have become my friends now :) Such a relationship does encourage me to like the brand and products more. Cheers Robin
Very inspiring story !
got me interested to know more about the Montblanc Villeret vintage Pulsograph - the white gold version. LE 58. Well done Bro.. had just PM you with some questions.. Cheers ! Charles
Thanks bro for your kind words
Indeed the Montblanc Villeret vintage Pulsograph is a very rare and lovely watch. Will respond to your pm Charles Cheers Robin
Nice write up, Robin...
This article : helped me understand more about this piece and it's an understated watch to many at first look. And you had No. 1/ 8 ! Congrats.
Thank you for your kind words
Indeed it is an understated watch. Many of the Montblanc Villeret chronographs are very understated. Beyond the watch, it's the journey into the brand that I treasure a lot too. Friends from PuristSPro, friends from Montblanc boutiques all over the world,...
Great story !!!
Hey Robin, i was in Dusseldorf a couple of weeks ago. I was amazed to see quite a lot of watch boutiques and i recall the MontBlanc shop :-) . As for the time you took considering to buy your Villeret, i don't think 10 months is a lot ... IMO the longer y...
Ah maybe next time we can all meet in Europe :)
Thanks for your kind words and sharing Filip. Agree with you we definitely feel good when boutique staff recognizes us especially years later (also good to see the brands retain their staff). 10 years in the Ferrari showroom?? Wow very impressive. Hope to...
fantastic and honest journey...
... enjoy reading it and thanks for sharing very much, my friend. everyone has different start of their watch collection journey, reading this reminds mine what, why, how and what of my journey started. cheers, stefan
Thanks Stefan
I am glad you enjoyed this story How about you? Would love to hear your story too next time we meet Cheers Robin
That's an amazing story
You must have made an impression on the nice Dusseldorf boutique staff for them to remember you. Thanks for sharing your story. I enjoyed reading it a lot. Regards, Ian
Thanks Ian! you and I agreed before
That customer service is more important than price The montblanc boutique in Dusseldorf definitely has my vote as one of the best boutiques worldwide Cheers Robin
customer is king
Robin, Great point indeed. This past weekend I took my wife to our local Montblanc boutique for the first time. And while she holds some resentment against the brand because I spend a lot of my money there she was impressed at how the staff knows me and t...
Good to hear Todd!
I am always happy to hear brands assisting their customers well. Glad your wife and you are happy with your local boutique's service as well as the good service you received from Montblanc on your watch. Receiving good service from brands is a great story...
Great story Robin
It is amazing how we each will have a story to tell. I especially like how we each have that 'one' piece that speaks to us. It's what draws us back in to the boutique. I know I've shared my story before but one aspect bears repeating. I actually did not c...
Todd your story is a great one!
Worth telling us again from time to time for inspiration! I especially like the extent to which your Rieussec spoke to you at the boutique before you bought it. The impression it left on you that led you to research, look at it a few times, try it on and ...
Your Montblanc story
Thanks Robin for sharing your story about your journey into Montblanc. Great to hear about the customer service, it's always nice that the staff followed up and still remember you from prior visits. Regards, ED-209
Yes we all value customer service
Especially in a warm and family sort of way. I am sure brands are reading our comments and investing in trainings and customer service. Glad you like the post and thank you for your views Cheers Robin
