Some important news given by Jerome Lambert

Jan 03, 2014,10:57 AM
 

In an interview of the French newspaper Le Figaro published today, Jerome Lambert brought some important news about the future projects of Montblanc and gave some hints about the 2014 collection. The full interview can be found here (sadly, in French):

www.lefigaro.fr






Some important data:

His first mission is to encourage a more daring design
Montblanc has a staff of 3500 employees with 450 boutiques in the world. It is the second largest company of Richemont.
1000 persons work on the design and making of the writing instruments
The leather activity is based in Firenze with a staff of 50 people
Watchmaking has a staff of 200 persons based in Swatzerland, the activity was launched in 1997.
2 sites as you know: Le Locle and Villeret
The after-sales service has the best (ie the lowest) rate within Richemont (I thought it was Cartier)

His second mission is to reinforce the presence of the company in geographic areas like Middle-East and South America

In november 2014, a new leather collection will be launched, l'Atelier, which will propose semi-finished products to be personalized

The turnover breakdown is:

writing instruments: 45%
leather: 25%
watchmaking 25%
others (jewelry etc...): 5%

Within 3 years, the three main activities will have the same share

Montblanc produces 80,000 watches per year and 350,000 belts

The 50 watchmakers at Villeret produce 50 watches per year


SIHH 2014:


A new line will be launched: Heritage which will be made of 5 models.

A chronograph monopoussoir with a caliber signed by Villeret in a LE with a price of 27.000 euros
A simple automatic watch with a price below 2.000 euros
A moonphase watch with a price of 3.400 euros
A PC watch with a price of 10.000 euros

The prices were set to be highly competitive in order to attract clients who have the passion for fine watchmaking. Within 3 years, the Heritage line would represent the third part of the watchmaking sales figures of Montblanc.

In Fall 2014, a highly complicated watch will be launched and also a new ladies' watch.

***********************************************

I thought that these news were very important so I decided to quickly translate the main sentences of the interview which gives a lot of interesting data about the present and the future of the company. Of course, we will follow very closely the development of the ambition of Montblanc under the leadership of Jerome Lambert.

Fx


 



More posts: Chronograph MonopoussoirCollection VilleretVoutilainen

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A monopoussoir chronograph with a movement by Villeret at a price of 27.000 euros...

 
 By: foversta : January 3rd, 2014-11:04
It sounds very exciting! :) Can't wait to discover it! Fx

50 Pieces a Year!

 
 By: bigdave : January 3rd, 2014-14:53
I am blown away by the 50 pieces/year datum. I don't remember where the idea got into my head, but I thought that the number was more like 200. This is an important fact to keep in mind when folks start talking about a steel Villeret, or other ideas to "g... 

Not limited.......more like NEVER

 
 By: MTF : January 4th, 2014-00:25
bigdave, That is the point about Villeret. People whinge that they want cheaper watches from Villeret. Its NOT going to happen because they only make 50 pieces a year. Villeret portfolio is the pinnacle of the Montblanc product line and will be kept very ...  

The Numbers Game

 
 By: bigdave : January 5th, 2014-14:28
Mike, As Robin's post below suggests, the numbers anticipated may have changed over time, which at least lets me feel old instead of ready for the room with mattresses instead of wallpaper. That said, it is hard to get 50 pieces a year to work with the 18... 

Can't wait to see Mr Lambert in Geneva. We'll certainly have a nice interview!

 
 By: amanico : January 3rd, 2014-11:47
As for the Choton Monopusher, I am impatient to discover it... Best, Nicolas

Exciting news indeed

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : January 3rd, 2014-12:08
Obviously clearly marked targets and very competitive prices Thank you for info dear FX Damjan P.S. Sadly I didn't listen to my mother ;)

Your mother gave you the advice to learn French?

 
 By: foversta : January 4th, 2014-01:19
Yes you should have listened to her... French is the watchmaking language! :) Fx

You know too much

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : January 4th, 2014-01:31
about me :) It always seemed to me that there is something I miss regarding watchmaking now I know it's language ;) Best D

A PC watch with a price of 10.000 euros

 
 By: Rubar : January 3rd, 2014-14:09
Very interesting ! Thank you for info!

Fantastic!

 
 By: Rubar : January 4th, 2014-07:30
Thank you! I noticed :)

It´s nice to have someone ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : January 3rd, 2014-14:34
with a clear strategy and defined goals. Promising activities and mouthwatering products. Congrats and I am looking forward to see the first results in a few weeks. Thanks a lot FX, for the translation! Oliver

To motivate the audacity of creation, is the title

 
 By: Guille : January 3rd, 2014-16:38
What a big challenge this is. Sounds as though there is a lot of room for for growth in watches, and leather. Writing instruments may be more about carefully managing this near monopoly, but being less reliant on it. Great to be looking at Montblanc under... 

Interesting, but also suprised

 
 By: O. Müller : January 3rd, 2014-17:39
By the 50 pieces thing. I also thought it was higher than that. I made an interview of M. Adé (MD MB FR) last week (to be published in Le Point / Argus des Montres in a few days I think). He confirmed me what rumors said for a couple of months : MB's qual... 

Thanks Olivier for this interesting comment from Michel.

 
 By: foversta : January 4th, 2014-01:26
I would have expected also a "watches only" boutique from Montblanc, at least to reinforce the image of Montblanc on this field. Because being a global player has a lot of positive impacts but sometimes, it can also give the feeling of not being a special... 

Indeed

 
 By: Dje : January 4th, 2014-02:11
Hi, Montblanc is like Cartier on the distribution side. Boutiques show a universe of products. That doesn't bother me, as long as it remains a boutique and not a supermarket. It is also an advantage when you want to make come your better half in the shop,... 

Interesting comments Olivier!

 
 By: patrick_y : January 4th, 2014-11:06
I too was also under the impression that Villeret produced some 200 pieces a year or so. The Montblanc concept is what I call "ecosystem" marketing/sales. Apple does it with technological products. All technology that a normal person uses from day to day ... 

That was the recipe he used at JLC. No doubt that there will be interesting

 
 By: amanico : January 4th, 2014-00:13
Things to see... All well, my friend? Coming to the SIHH? Best! Nicolas

I have to confess that we can already find audacity in the current collection..

 
 By: foversta : January 4th, 2014-01:22
I'm not speaking about the ultimate watches from Villeret but the Hemispheres and some other TimeWalker watches have, in my mind, a quite daring design. At least, in my point of view! :) Fx

Very interesting

 
 By: Spellbound : January 3rd, 2014-18:14
But above all, Montblanc needs to protect and build its brand image. For me, seeing Montblanc pens and wallets etc for sale in duty free catalogues on planes really dilutes the brand image of the watches ! They are in danger of becoming a Pierre Cardin. V... 

You are right Dean. You are talking here about "consistency"

 
 By: foversta : January 4th, 2014-01:27
And Montblanc needs to improve on this field. Fx

Good point Dean...

 
 By: patrick_y : January 4th, 2014-11:10
What I find here in at least the United States, Montblanc advertises its normal products, be it pens, watches, leathergoods. However, if you see other brands in the US, they advertise their halo products, the ones that few can afford to buy, but they thin... 

All sounds very exciting!

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : January 3rd, 2014-18:35
Thank you dear Fx for the translation of key points! Mr Lambert seems to be setting very structured directions for the brand. I heard about the 50 pieces from Villeret recently too. I think initially back in 2008 or so, it was said it could be around 200 ... 

Btw, as I am patiently waiting for sihh 2014...

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : January 3rd, 2014-18:49
I am still dreaming of the Twinfly Greytech!!! Went to collect some jewelry I ordered from MB's flagship boutique in Singapore along and I had to resist looking at the Greytech they had on display prominently. .. I quickly put on a 4810 white gold ring I ... 

I like the Greytech too!

 
 By: patrick_y : January 4th, 2014-11:12
The Greytech is a cool watch. Also, the Twinfly movement has good push-button feel with the start/stop and reset button. Any picture of the new ring?

Mike said only watches are allowed here... but...

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : January 4th, 2014-21:09
Here are shots of both the MB watches and my new 4810 MB ring. Excluding my MB belts, cufflinks, a leather briefcase and pens... think Mike will delete my post if I showed all of those here haha. I started watch collecting. Then fell in love with MB Ville...  

You had watches in the photographs...

 
 By: patrick_y : January 5th, 2014-02:03
You had watches in those photographs, so you're totally forgiven! Thanks for sharing those photos. I've never seen the ring in my local Montblanc stores.

Thanks a lot Robin for your comments and explanation!

 
 By: foversta : January 4th, 2014-01:34
About the monopusher, the mouvement won't be housed in a Villeret case but I don't know more! I can't wait to discover it! Fx

Oh Dear

 
 By: Tick Talk : January 4th, 2014-09:14
I hope this hybrid concept doesn't signal the beginning of the end of the independence presently accorded to the Villeret atelier! The news overall sounds very exciting but with such a broad range of offerings, doesn't the brand run the risk of diminishin... 

I don't think you have to worry about this...

 
 By: foversta : January 5th, 2014-03:48
The monopusher is a LE watch and I'm sure that Jerome Lambert will preserve the exclusivity of the Villeret manufacture. Fx

I think Chopard...

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : January 5th, 2014-04:21
Has the same range from 2k to above 200k. Probably trickier for Montblanc with $300 or so products like mainstream ballpoint pens or steel cufflinks all the way up to millions of dollars potentially with their bespoke Villerets. But personally as a custom... 

Chopard or...Chaumet ?

 
 By: O. Müller : January 5th, 2014-04:46
Mmm, from 2 to 200k, I would rather have thought about Chaumet, especially with the latest pieces made for them by Hublot (Tourbillon Hortensia). Still, I'm not a big connoisseur of Chopard's range, I must admit. Nice thought about the dilution of the bra... 

I did mean Chopard Olivier

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : January 5th, 2014-04:59
Starting from the Chopard quartz range to their LUC but I may be wrong about the entry price. Maybe more like 4 or 5k for quartz Chopard? From what you described, it looks like MB may be changing their focus to good value timepieces under Mr Lambert but p... 

I would rather say 5k

 
 By: O. Müller : January 5th, 2014-05:06
Well, again Im' not a Chopard specialist - and I don't want to go off topic ! - but as far as I know, the entry level at Chopard is the stainless steel Imperiale - and its smallest version (36 mm) is already at 5,2 k. Chaumet unveiled a couple of months t... 

Got it. Thanks Olivier! :)

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : January 5th, 2014-05:16

You've hit the crux of the matter Robin

 
 By: Tick Talk : January 5th, 2014-09:22
A "cascade" downward transfer of skills, technology and prestige will benefit the regular Montblanc line...but a Jet d'Eau of Le Locle cases housing Villeret movements will damage the Villeret label IMHO. HUGE MISTAKE...unless they are intending to blur t... 

Any resemblance is purely...

 
 By: O. Müller : January 6th, 2014-04:02
...purely what ? Your thoughts are more than welcomed ! And I know there was a Blancpain prototype on the same basis as well... Cheers, Olivier Photo deleted per embargo date ...  

Is that the new MB PC??

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : January 6th, 2014-18:48
Wow you got the picture so early! It looks great to me. Doesn't matter if it resembles the GP or Blancpain somewhat. Such a classical PC or AC dial layout is quite common I think. The GP looks classic and timeless too! Love both. Thanks for this Olivier. ... 

Yes, that's it.

 
 By: O. Müller : January 7th, 2014-00:37
I should have a Hi Res one by the end of the day. Will post it so that we can see details. I agree with you Robin, the layout is great, I just always regret that brands don't look for original design. 3 PC with exactly the same look & feel (Montblanc,... 

Hi Oliver. I appreciate your participation but please respect the MB embargo dates

 
 By: mkt33 : January 8th, 2014-11:10
Please do not post any photos of the SIHH 2014 novelties. The embargo date of 12/15/2013 is for print journals which needed to be printed ahead of SIHH. For everyone else the embargo date is 1/20/2014. "aucune publication avant le début du SIHH, à savoir ... 

Hi MIke. Thanks for the heads up but I could not do my job if I did not respected embargos

 
 By: O. Müller : January 8th, 2014-12:55
Hi Mike, The first MB embargo was over as soon as MB decided to send and let published the QP picture in one of the biggest FR / EU business daily ( Le Figaro) . 350 000 subscribers per day. Total audience, with the website where the interview was publish... 

Thanks for your understanding..

 
 By: mkt33 : January 8th, 2014-16:32
unfortunately, it would appear (as in many instances) that local HQ and corporate HQ have different messages. Eventhough some novelties has been released in print and other internet sites, I still have to oblige to the promise I made to corporate HQ...eve... 

The same procedure as every year ...

 
 By: Marcus Hanke : January 9th, 2014-03:37
Embargoes are stated and violated by the manufacturer itself almost in the same breath. It has always been the policy of PPro to strictly respect the embargo dates given to us, even if it is sometimes difficult and annoying, to say the least. Marcus

Indeed, sir...

 
 By: O. Müller : January 9th, 2014-04:27
The second breath was taken a couple of minutes ago. I just dropped a PM to Mike. End of the story here ! Cheers, Olivier

Let's wait till SIHH 2014...

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : January 6th, 2014-18:46
And see what MB is really doing about the monopusher chronograph. I am with you on this Dean. we will have more clarity very soon. Cheers Robin