Montblanc Villeret Chronograph: A Deep Dive into the Minerva Calibre 13.21

Key Points from the Discussion

• The Minerva 13-20 caliber, dating back to 1923, forms the basis for these modern versions, retaining its 'old school' characteristics like a column wheel and horizontal coupling, while benefiting from significantly enhanced finishing.
• Under former CEO Mr. Bethge, Montblanc's Villeret strategy focused on 100% in-house 'fait main' production and the invention of new Haute Horlogerie calibers, with extremely limited production runs (e.g., 1 platinum, 8 white gold, 58 red gold). This contrasts with later strategies under Mr. Lambert, which scaled up existing calibers and diversified materials, leading to higher quantities.
• There's a perceived difference in finishing quality, with earlier Villeret calibers, like the author's, often considered superior to more recent iterations. This observation is based on direct comparisons of movements such as the 13.21, 16.29, and 16.32.
• The inscription 'Fait main a Villeret' on the caseback of watches from the now-discontinued Montblanc Villeret 1858 Collection, versus 'Swiss made' on newer models featuring the same calibers, suggests a potential shift in production methods, possibly involving outsourcing of certain caliber components.
• The increased quantities of Minerva calibers (13.21 and 16.29) produced in recent years raise questions about whether the small Villeret workshop can maintain 100% in-house production for all components, supporting the rumor of partial outsourcing.
• The author expresses interest in a direct, loupe-assisted comparison between the 13.21 calibers found in the older, exclusive Villeret Collection and those in the current 1858 series to definitively assess finishing levels.