From the outset, Montblanc Montre planned to create watches that would not only have their own personality and identifiable look, but also would be of the same high standards of craftsmanship associated with the German based company manufacturing the legendary Meisterstück.
Having existed since 1906, and having cornered the writing instrument market with such success, it was decided that when Montblanc Montres began designing its first watches – the Star Collection - it decided to profit from the writing instrument structure by taking some of the basic elements from them and adapting them into a concept that could be incorporated into the watches.
The Collections
The first Montblanc Star Collection appeared at the SIHH in 1997 soon after the founding of the watch brand, and, with its classical yet timeless look, the Collection met with instant success. But it was the adherence to traditional watchmaking and craftsmanship that won the new brand many friends and convinced them that the watches had a future as a bona fide brand. Today, the Star Collection has evolved to include various complications such as a chronograph and an alarm wristwatch, which are available in stainless steel, carbon, as well as with a gilt or platinum finish.
Since then, four other Montblanc collections have been introduced onto the market: the Sport Collection, which are very dynamic, masculine, yet functional watches and come in stainless steel, titanium – as well as a unique 18 carat gold model; the Lady Profile Collection, which is an elegant, rectangular-cased series destined for the younger, trendy-oriented ladies – these watches are available in yellow and white gold and stainless steel and include dazzling gemstone- and diamond-set haute joaillerie models; the Summit Collection watches are for the purists, slim, design-oriented models that contrast dramatically with the larger-style Montblanc watches; and last but not least comes the TimeWalker Collection, which cleverly combines an architechtonic use of form in stainless steel and is specifically designed for the ‘self-confident, dynamic and successful generation’ of today’s consumers.
The latest Montblanc models to be launched at the forthcoming SIHH are the TimeWalker Chrono Automatic, the Sport Gold GMT automatic and the Star Platinum Chronograph GMT Automatic.
The new ‘atrium’
Today, Montblanc watches can be found in 200 Montblanc boutiques and 1,800 points of sale around the world. The breakdown of sales is 80% men’s watches and, therefore, 20% ladies’ models. The Star Collection accounts for 50% of the company’s turnover (as opposed to quantity) and since its founding in 1997, Montblanc has enjoyed an annual increase of 25% growth in output.
With the continuing success of the watch company, it was inevitable that space was at a premium in the magnificent 200 square metre villa. To meet its needs, Montblanc decided to add a section on to the lower part of the villain Le Locle. The result is a very modern and attractive transparent atrium-style building.
Clinically clean with open-space design and the perfect natural light from the north for the watchmakers, the extension has been successfully integrated into the villa’s landscape and now offers an overall working space of 800 square metres. It is here that all the Montblanc watches are designed, controlled and assembled. The new structure also reflects the spirit of the Montblanc philosophy of combining traditional values with innovative ideas. It is, as Hamdi Chatti, Montblanc’s CEO explains, “an unique way to convince our key partners (retailers and, of course, the media) that Montblanc is a serious operator and is committed to a long-term relationship in the watch business.”
Photo: TIMEWALKER CHRONO AUTOMATIC
Stainless steel case (43 mm) equipped with an ETA 7754 automatic chronogaph movement. Silver-coloured or black dial, 3 counters, date aperture between 4 and 5 o’clock, brown alligator strap. Note the specially designed skeleton-style lugs.
SPORT GOLD GMT AUTOMATIC
18 carat yellow gold case equipped with an automatic COSC chronometer movement with second time zone bezel indicator. Silvered dial, date aperture at 3 o’clock, brown alligator strap, water-resistant to 200 metres.
 |
