the brand Montblanc
I was browsing idly some watch sellers website when I stumbled across this Montblanc, a GMT from their "heritage" line. Stylewise, this is right up my alley, my second impression of the details on this watch were also favourable.
But what do people think of MontBlanc as a watch-making brand? They have been around in that capacity since the 1990s, and there is some supposed horological history connecting them to the Minerva brand - you buy that? Or is Montblanc just like a fashion brand (Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss) that has taken on watchmaking, and trades on the trust people apply to the brand outside this industry to slap some extra bucks on possibly decent, but overpriced watches? How do you see them?
UK-based German expat. Likes cheap watches. Not bothered about brands.
Check this video: https://youtu.be/KuTCSxT5how
They make some nice watches but nothing that I really must have.
they purchased a couple of the old brands including Minerva. I ended up buying one of their GMT chronographs having seen it in the metal. It was quite striking and the movement was very nicely finished. Previously I wasn’t in the market for a watch from a pen company.
My view is generally more about the watch than the brand.
Check this video: https://youtu.be/KuTCSxT5how
I saw that, and was suitably impressed. Not sure though how impartial the story was - doesn't watchfinder also belong to the Richemont group? There is also Terry Baldassarre's video - but he's an AD.
Nico Leonard put Montblanc in his trash tier, but he is a watch snob.
I saw that, and was suitably impressed. Not sure though how impartial the story was - doesn't watchfinder also belong to the Richemont group? There is also Terry Baldassarre's video - but he's an AD.
Nico Leonard put Montblanc in his trash tier, but he is a watch snob.
Nico is worth watching, generally knowledgeable and funny but probably the Jeremy Clarkson of the watch community. Enjoy the entertainment but take views with a good handful of salt. Casio do sell perfectly fine watches (for what they are) but God Tier?
Nico is worth watching, generally knowledgeable and funny but probably the Jeremy Clarkson of the watch community. Enjoy the entertainment but take views with a good handful of salt. Casio do sell perfectly fine watches (for what they are) but God Tier?
😂 probably the most accurate description of Nico. He praises Casio too much and hates on certain brands too much. Way too harsh on Grand Seiko
Nico is an entertainer. C'mon anyone who puts Rolex in "God Tier" above brands like JLC, AP, Vacheron, or Parmigiani can't be taken seriously. But he is good fun. I have a few Montblancs and they are really well made watches if you purchase the higher end of the brand (similar to purchasing the LUC versus regular issue Chopard). Minerva made the most amazing chronograph movements and Montblanc still makes limited edition references using the Minerva movements - they rank up there with the best of the best. For example, the Montblanc 1858 Split Second Chronograph LE-18 running the Minerva M16.31 manual movement stands up with the likes of Patek in terms of quality, complications, and overall fit and finish. It is an amazing watch. So my advice is buy the Montblancs with the in-house calibres and avoid those with the generic Swiss movements.
I am a fan of Montblanc. I do so like the Orbis Terraneum, and I nearly purchased a Timewalker World Time Southern Hemisphere many years ago and regret not doing so. That is the danger of too much time to kill on long haul international flights, I was stuck in Beijing on the way back from Thailand, it was -3*C outside and they had the air conditioning on so my brain just froze. I was holding the watch and was at the counter, and I just couldn’t get it over the line. The wife thought I was ill (although definitely jet lagged).
I loved the grey and steel, with the urgent flash of yellow/orange, and the novelty of having a South Pole central focus on a world timer rather than the North Pole you usually see. Completely impractical for a Limey but maybe I will look and see if I can spot one on the grey market. I still think about it to this day.
I have two of them and I am satisfied with the quality and with the particular design. The case and lugs are really unique on the watch market. The only thing where I was not satisfied was the service time of the Star World GMT - I waited almost 4 months. Maybe it is normal for a complication as Starl World GMT?
Everytime I check out a Montblanc from the heritage collection in person, even though I love the piece in pictures, it is a disappointment. The feel of the watch on the flesh is not as good as you think it might be. It feels that the finishing is not as good as you may expect for the price. In my opinion, Montblanc and also Longines should learn from brands like Sinn and Nomos how to make a great under 2K luxury watch. But I respect the brands, so if you own a Montblanc or Longines, enjoy it, they are good brands indeed.
Dismissing Montblanc as pen company does them a disservice. They are the Rolex of pen companies. (In this analogy Waterman is the Omega.) Given enough time they will produce a god-tier must-own watch model.
I'm a fan. In particular, the Heritage GMT. They were not taken seriously when they entered the watch game. After they became part of the Richemont group, they had a ton of support. Most recently, they brought in Minerva who has a long history in making high quality watches and movements. The Heritage line is not a Montblanc design, but rather Minerva's. Together they are producing amazing watches with the backing of Richemont.
I'm a fan. In particular, the Heritage GMT. They were not taken seriously when they entered the watch game. After they became part of the Richemont group, they had a ton of support. Most recently, they brought in Minerva who has a long history in making high quality watches and movements. The Heritage line is not a Montblanc design, but rather Minerva's. Together they are producing amazing watches with the backing of Richemont.
I have two of them and I am satisfied with the quality and with the particular design. The case and lugs are really unique on the watch market. The only thing where I was not satisfied was the service time of the Star World GMT - I waited almost 4 months. Maybe it is normal for a complication as Starl World GMT?
BTW regarding the star world gmt, I noticed that this thing has been homaged by Corgeut: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001270204831.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.516d4abejYwhEA&algo_pvid=6759e676-6085-4dac-b82d-0c1beb21a55d&algo_exp_id=6759e676-6085-4dac-b82d-0c1beb21a55d-0&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22sku_id%22%3A%2212000015533905250%22%7D&pdp_pi=-1%3B56.06%3B-1%3B-1%40salePrice%3BGBP%3Bsearch-mainSearch
There are plenty of other luxury watch companies that diversify into other products, especially jewellery.
I consider my Timewalker date is genuinely mid tier luxury. Made in the Minerva Factory. When i see people shout out about pens as soon as the word MB is said it kind of sums up that persons knowledge.