Montblanc

mkt33
[PuristS]
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Montblanc's official response to Andrew's question regarding Minerva

From Mr Alexander Schmiedt

Dear Mike and members of the PuristS community,

I read the discussion on the MB/ Minerva branding and that you guys are interested in the "MB perspective".

I remember when I first came to visit the Villeret manufacture in December 2006. It was a terribly snowy day and we were standing in front of Minerva, looking up from across the street to the over 100 years old building. When we actually stepped in, we left 2006 outside and entered a world which felt like some 80 years back in time: the people and the family like athmosphere, the production tools and competence, the stunning high level of manual craftsmanship and a really living 150 years of heritage.
(In fact it reminded me a lot of the "Artisan Ateliers" at our HQ in Hamburg were 40 highly skilled artisans create Writing Instruments of the highest level of perfection in true manual craftsmanship.) 

So for MB it was clear from the beginning, that this unique heritage of Minerva is something that has to be safeguarded and developed for the future. And that is how the idea of the "Institut Minerva" and the "Collection Villeret 1858" was born.
The watches of the "Collection Villeret" actually exactly represent this idea. They are Montblanc watches (with MB on the dial) with a Minerva heart (Minerva on the movement). the important thing is that one could not exist without the other and a mutual understanding of the importance of real craftmanship. 

If it would not be for Minerva, there would not be the unique watchmaking competence from Villeret, not the 150 years of heritage and not the line of beautiful movements that we inherited when we took over Minerva (16.29, 13.21...).

But tradition can only stay tradition of it constantly develops itself further- and a great story needs somebody to tell it! And this is where MB comes in. right from the beginning our goal was to invest in the manufacture to safeguard watchmaking competencies that today are very rarely found (e.g. traditional spiral regulation and production, true manual finishing and decoration...) and to create new movements which further develop tradition with innovation (the first outcomes of which you see in the calibres 13.18, 16.18 and 16.30).
And of course MBs international network is very important to bring the story of Minerva and Montblanc out to the world.

So for me, it is a "win-win" for all parties: the 150 Years of heritage of Minerva continue under the umbrella of MB, the manufacture in Villeret becomes the "Artisan Atelier" for MB watches and the Institut Minerva becomes the 2nd MB watch competence center next to Montblanc Montres in Le Locle. And the results are watches that aficionados will hopefully continue to enjoy! 


Best wishes,

Alex