Ornatus-Mundi's report on Gisbert L. Brunner's presentation of the 'Writing Time' book at the Montblanc Vienna Boutique offers a unique look into the brand's horological journey. This event, held in 2011, provides valuable context for understanding Montblanc's strategic evolution in watchmaking, particularly its acquisition of Minerva and the launch of its in-house calibers. Ornatus-Mundi captures the atmosphere and key insights shared by Brunner, making this a compelling read for anyone interested in Montblanc's history and its place in the luxury watch world.
Dear All:
Quite a surprise for myself, but the Montblanc Boutique in Vienna has become a favorite place of mine. One reason for this are the invitations I receive, such as this one:
As a watch aficionado, books about watchmaking are always welcome, informative and, if well done, add to the enjoyment of horological artifacts. This one, aptly christened
'Writing Time', is particularly interesting, as Montblanc is a relatively young name in watchmaking, but its recent history is mouthwatering.
Furthermore, the book has been written by a team of the world's most knowledgeable authors (and astute collectors), Mr Gisbert L. Brunner, in cooperation with Franco Cologni, Reinhard Meis and Laurence Marti. My anticipation was further nurtured because Mr Brunner would present the MB book himself.
So, although quite early for a Saturday morning, I made my way to the boutique.
Inside, the attention of the invitees was clearly drawn to
the thing:
The room was well prepared, and since I was early, I had time to prepare mentally...
Being relieved to find out that Montblanc's hospitality would leave nothing to be desired, I turned around and Mr. Thomas Mönnich (center), head of Montblanc Austria, already appeared to welcome the guests and introduce Mr Brunner (right, the man with green bow tie).
The latter offered a short glimpse into the history of Montblanc and put that well into the perspective of the Swiss watchmaking industry. Brunner compared the watchmaking journey of Montblanc with the climbing of summits of the Swiss Alps, where you have to pass different steps:
- arrival at the base camp: It was in 1997, when Montblanc established its atelier in the famous Villa in Le Locle to learn the language of watchmaking
- climbing the heights: 2007, acquisition of Minerva, as a competence center for finest atchmaking
- reaching the summit: 2008, launch of the its first in-house calibre, the Nicolas Rieussec chronograph
I really like these analogies, which are followed through in the book as well. Brunner's talk ended with a small contest, with one edition of the book to be awarded to the winner. Difficult questions calling for teamwork...
... or the help from the best experts available (
"Dad, I told you 'million times its R-I-E-U-S-S-E-C!"):
Gisbert Brunner himself volunteered as lucky duck...
... and signed the book for the winner (what else can you with
this title?). Of course, with a 'Meisterstück' (the ink he used, btw, is iron gall. A fascinating liquid, indelible thus used to official documents of international impact, and which finalises its chemical reaction only on paper):
So, while the audience went on to admire a small exhibition (more further down!), I tried to compare script with reality...
No words necessary, I guess! But before I provide some impressions on the book itself, I'd like to show some of the exhibits presented in Vienna. They comprised historic advertising and watch spares...
... instruments...
(this is not a watch dial, its a measurement tool that is precise for up to 1/100 of a millimeter! Note the scheme of the Minerva building below, is that coincidence?)
... and finally finishing skills needed to assemble complete watches:
I can only, repeatedly, congratulate Montblanc on their appreciation of the
Minerva history they try to perpetuate.
But now back to a book. It is a massive, 288 page documentation about the watchmaking expertise of Montblanc and Minerva.
It not only presents the company, but explains in detail the different skills and mechanisms.
It contains a wealth of historic data and presents treasures from both Montblanc's and Minerva's archives. Even for the more seasoned collectors, there's something new to learn!
Altogether, a strong recommendation for purchase. Its money well spent!
Bibliographic data:Gisbert L. Brunner, Franco Cologni, Reinhard Meis and Laurence Marti
Writing Time: Montblanc
Publisher: Flammarion (September 6, 2011)
ISBN 978-2080301581
No wonder, that, after such an intensive day, I had a dream:
Unfortunately, I awoke!
All the best and thanks for reading,
Magnus
This message has been edited by Magnus Bosse on 2011-03-17 09:54:08 
