I had the very good fortune to spend this past Monday at Institut Minerva. I walked in a happy Villeret owner, and walked out a True Believer. I am a pretty cynical guy, so that is not a very easy, or a very typical, journey for me to take.
There is a level of commitment to mission that is palpable, and particularly noteworthy because so many people in critical positions are young. Where that isn't the case, there is better succession planning in place than one customarily sees in much larger operations. The easy dialogue between Alexander Schmiedt and Demetrio Cabiddu was a particular pleasure to see, and their willingness to include a non-professional guest in the conversation was natural and generous. These guys definitely did not act like the prima donnas one reads about at other Houses.
The topic of the presence or absence of prima donna behavior naturally segues into service, which, if you have had the misfortune to read some of my other posts, is a sore spot for me. I had been having an issue with my Villeret, and wore it to the Institut. Early in the day, they called down one of the watchmakersand introduced us. He took the watch away, and returned it at day's end, problem-free, with a layman-friendly explanation of what he had done (and a new strap, which the watch really didn't need, "for my inconvenience"). In an industry plagued by broken delivery deadlines, service work pushed to the back of the line, and a radical confusion between end-users and beta-testers, this was certainly a breath of fresh air.
I should mention that I saw watches, too. I am not in the tourbillon league, dispositionally or economically, so I'll just say "wow" and move along. What I will say, though, is that the new Vintage Chronographe, particularly with the white dial, is one of the most beautiful pieces I have seen in a very long time. It is toward the bottom of the Villeret line pricewise, and, as such, should be in roughly the same ballpark as a superficially similar watch cosmetically, recently issued by a more "household name" brand. (PM me if you don't know which watch I mean; I don't like to make A to B comparisons on public posts.) I have held and fooled with that watch, too, and the Villeret, to my taste, is a hugely preferable piece. Also, for those who have complained about the thickness of the Villeret case, the Vintage Chronographe has a regular exhibition back, not an officer's case, so that issue is taken off the table.
Folks, based on my ownership experience, I thought that Villeret belonged on everybody's radar screen BEFORE this trip. Having had the chance to view the commitment to excellence, the craftsmanship, the preparation for longevity, and (since I'd rather pay a friend than a fool) the evident decency operating at Villeret, I am entirely convinced.
Thank you to everyone at Institut Minerva for a memorable day.