mkt33[PuristS]
5252
Is Montblanc a real watch manufacturer?
Jul 16, 2014,20:02 PM
While this question has not been discussed recently on our forum, I know doubts still exist.
Last week I received two emails, one from a new member and the other from a seasoned Purist.
Our newbie (no disrespect intended ) stated: "There is no way in hell you can convince me that Montblanc is a watch manufacturer". Our experienced collector pretty much echoed the same sentiments in a more "diplomatic" fashion.
So let's start with a definition. Can we agree that a manufacture is any company which designs, creates parts for, and assembles unique movements into a complete watch?
Why is it that some PuristS can accept Montblanc as a manufacture, while other's can not?
So I went back into ThePuristS' archives to the first field trip report that I fondly remembered reading which defined, in my mind, what a watch manufacturer is. Here is Dr. Hanke's report on Ulysse Nardin from 2002.
http://www.tp178.com/mh/un_visit/un_visit1.html
Compare this to a recent trip report to Villeret from Tic-Talk.
montblanc.watchprosite.com
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and this report highlighting MB's production facility at Le Locle by Don Corson
montblanc.watchprosite.com
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In all three reports we see nice facilities. We see industrial machines. We see amazing watches being assembled. But these superficial similarities are not important imho. What makes a manufacture "real" is the vision and philosophy of its leaders. At UN, it was Oeschlin and Schnyder. At Montblanc it is Cabiddu and Lambert.
It took about 10 years for Ulysse Nardin to revive and reestablish itself with its Trilogy of Time series. Look at what Montblanc has done in the past 5 years.
What do you all think? Am I being too "easy" on Montblanc? Or will Montblanc always fall victim to its reputation as a pen company.
Best, Mike
This message has been edited by mkt33 on 2014-07-16 20:05:37
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Is Montblanc a real watch manufacturer?
By: mkt33 : July 16th, 2014-20:02
While this question has not been discussed recently on our forum, I know doubts still exist. Last week I received two emails, one from a new member and the other from a seasoned Purist. Our newbie (no disrespect intended ) stated: "There is no way in hell...
No doubt about the Villeret workshop in my mind
By: mkt33 : July 18th, 2014-10:48
as well. I think PuristS have trouble with Montblanc at Le Locle...they tend to forget that all the Rieussec Calibers and the TwinFly movement are all "in-house" designs. Best, Mike
With regard your last question...
By: Echi : July 17th, 2014-00:35
about MB falling victim to its rep as a pen company... If they persist, persevere, and i think that they are on the right track, that over time, MB will be known as a pen AND watch company... potentially on some track to becoming,eventually, a luxury good...
Thanks Echi...one observation that was made by our seasoned
By: mkt33 : July 18th, 2014-10:55
Purist was that he felt Montblanc made a step back with the Heritage Collection. While he understood the need for MB to make a big move into the mid-range category, he felt the use of 3rd party ebauches soured the progress they made in the past few years ...
I can confirm...
By: andrewluff : July 17th, 2014-00:36
That I have visited both the Mb main manufacture and Villeret last year and they are 100% a real 'manufacture'. My heart goes towards Villeret and the old fashioned way of making watches under the master watchmaker Mr Cabbidu, but it cannot be taken away ...
Damn...
By: andrewluff : July 21st, 2014-11:19
Should have bought it and sold a child to fund it! This one was a stunning piece unique with MOP... Fantastic. Cheers Andrew
I understand why some people have this prejudice against Montblanc.
By: Luis6 : July 17th, 2014-05:46
The image of the brand being a pen company has been around for such a long time. But sometimes it just feels like a pre-sentenced case without a fair trial. People who look down upon Montblanc should put their impression aside, and look more seriously and...
I think the doubts arise from the intense effort put
By: mkt33 : July 18th, 2014-11:05
into marketing. Our newest member felt that MB was trying to "buy the priviledge " of being a manufacture through intense marketing and the purchase of Minerva. I had to remind him that without Richemont/Montblanc that Minerva would have folded and no lon...
It is indeed true...
By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : July 18th, 2014-08:10
That many of my friends make comments like Montblanc makes pens and wallets and hence they do not want to buy a Montblanc watch. They may understand and acknowledge that Montblanc is a watch manufacture with 2 manufactures in Villeret and LeLocle, but the...
To answer the question one should ask...
By: Goldenlutin : July 18th, 2014-16:07
ask how many Montblanc watches actually use an in-house movement vs. a quartz or a mechanical movement from Swatch Group (ETA) or Sellita. I would guess that over 90 % of the production (at least in quantity, maybe not value wise) use third-party movement...
Who cares?
By: Tick Talk : July 20th, 2014-11:35
Really, this obsession with how much of a "manufacture" one brand is vs another denies the very heritage of Swiss watchmaking. The current dialogue suggests the cabinotiers, repasseurs, and etablisseurs of the past were somehow deficient. A visit to a hor...
I think Goldenlutin is making a valid point....
By: mkt33 : July 21st, 2014-09:54
"Really, this obsession with how much of a "manufacture" one brand is vs another denies the very heritage of Swiss watchmaking. The current dialogue suggests the cabinotiers, repasseurs, and etablisseurs of the past were somehow deficient." I think this i...
Well, I did not ask the question, I just tried...
By: Goldenlutin : July 22nd, 2014-09:34
to give an educated answer based on a quantitative (objective) view. I have not stated that MB should or not be a manufacture. This is indeed another question and I think there is no "definitive" answer to it. Only the economic success of the brand will t...
Sizzle and Steak
By: bigdave : July 21st, 2014-10:02
Does anybody seriously think that the corporate boys who own Montblanc permit a workshop the size of the Villeret facility to stay open and produce 50 pieces annually out of a desire to permit staff table tennis tournaments? I have had the privilege of vi...
Well,...
By: Goldenlutin : July 22nd, 2014-09:48
We'll, I have visited Villeret too and I am quite convinced that MB makes no money with Minerva. The factory is made to be visited (you even have the visit schedules on the walls in each department) and good looking. You will not find any similar setting ...
No Illusion of Charity
By: bigdave : July 22nd, 2014-12:34
I have no material disagreement with you. I agree that there is no way that Villeret can be turning a profit, and that its continuing operation is not motivated by a simple gesture of goodwill. I'm just glad that its output is a collection of worthwhile w...
Was Minerva a real watch manufacturer??
By: itt : July 29th, 2014-02:04
I don't care for Montblanc or modern watches so........ "I have no dog in this fight". Would you consider Minerva a manufacturer?? If you do... you should consider Montblanc a manufacturer. Minerva used Valjoux movements for many years. They often used th...
Was Minerva a manufacturer??
By: itt : July 29th, 2014-02:59
I don't care for Montblanc or modern watches so........ "I have no dog in this fight". Would you consider Minerva a manufacturer?? If you do... you should consider Montblanc a manufacturer. Minerva used Valjoux movements for many years. They often used th...
Beautiful vintage Minerva!
By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : July 30th, 2014-20:00
Thanks for sharing. I also like the vintage Minerva pocket watches but they are so difficult to find now! cheers robin
Montblanc is a manufacture for real and one to admire
By: Rock1 : March 22nd, 2016-05:01
In 2013 I visited both Montblanc facilities in Villeret and Le Locle. While both are at opposite ends of the spectrum with respect to the design and manufacturing process (purely hand-made including making hairspring vs. assembly line with most parts made...
Hello Again
By: bigdave : April 11th, 2016-17:28
I had not expected to be rejoining this thread after so long an absence, but, on re-reading the posts, one thing did occur to me. Why is it important to talk about the relative numbers of manufacture vs. off-the-shelf pieces, so long as the house is makin...
