Montblanc

For the first month, we are starting with the Star collection.

To many, the Star Collection is the entry level collection in Montblanc watches and is sometimes overlooked. Some watch collectors may even shun it as being too closely linked to Montblanc's famous Meisterstuck fountain pens. But for me personally, I didn't have a problem with this. In fact, I love many models of the Star collection and bought the award-winning Star Worldtime for Christmas in 2013. It represents great design at attractive prices to me as a collector.

(Btw, I simply love how well it goes with my Montblanc Star 4810 white gold ring!)

The Star collection is also especially significant to Montblanc's watches as it was the very first collection developed and launched by Montblanc in 1997, the year Montblanc started its watch category. So the Star Collection pioneered Montblanc's watch category. It is the collection that started it all!

Granted, Montblanc started on a low base back in 1997 but since then, has grown from strength to strength from developing its first  in-house chronograph movement and launched the now iconic Nicolas Rieussec series, to developing the Timewalker series (with the 2nd in-house chronograph movement for the Timewalker Twinfly) to the pinnacle of haute horology, with its merger with Minerva to form the highly exclusive Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858 (limited to 50 pieces per year).

But let's go back to Montblanc's watch history archives, the very first Montblanc watch....  which I find very interesting despite Montblanc having only a short history in watch making. Montblanc is definitely not shy to link its watches to its famous pens (from my informal chats with collectors, there are 2 ways collectors look at this and I will cover that later). The first Star watch design was inspired  by the famous Montblanc Meisterstuck Fountain Pen 149. The Meisterstuck pen hence influenced the design DNA of the Star collection henceforth.

Here is a picture of my recently acquired 90th anniversary Meisterstuck 149 fountain pen in rose gold trims. I love the 149 fountain pen as it's such a piece of writing instrument art (imho, the 149 fountain pen is THE Montblanc fountain pen having owned 2 Montblanc rollerball pens, including one with the Montblanc diamond). The 18k gold nib, how it writes, and the overall finish of the pen is amazing to me,

Here is a pic of the first Montblanc Star watch.

The case of the watch is roundish and the sides showing three rings with represents the Montblanc Meisterstuck. See below for the famous three rings of the Meisterstuck. The first Star watch also has a power reserve indicator at 12 o'clock and this resembles the ink reserve of the fountain pen. The watch was also in black with yellow gold, similar to the original 149 fountain pen.

As mentioned above, some collectors are open to Montblanc watches (specifically the Star collection) having their design DNA influenced by Montblanc's fountain pens. Some watch collectors very much prefer watches not to be related to other products (and may even shun Montblanc watches due to this reason). To some extent, Montblanc's success in their pen category may have been a hindrance to some watch collectors buying their watches.

Over the years, since 1997, I believe Montblanc has heard the feedback from watch collectors and the Star collection's design cues and DNA have evolved. Also, other collections from the Montblanc watch collection, such as the new Meisterstuck Heritage collection (even though the name has the word "Meisterstuck" which is the name of their famous fountain pen!) do not inherit design cues from their fountain pens. 

What Montblanc is doing instead with its linkage to their pens is the same spirit of fine traditional European craftsmanship and this is now showing in the DNA of all Montblanc watches. The watches need not look like their pens. All they need is to share the same spirit - traditional design, fine craftsmanship and quality. The 2014 Meisterstuck Heritage line is definitely showing Montblanc is working hard to bring this principle to life. But I have digressed as that will be covered later

Back to the Star collection....

Through the years, the Montblanc Star Collection has evolved and featured different complications. But some design cues remain. Imho, not all are related to their fountain pens but it's good to see some design DNAs being consistent. See below my Star Worldtime - it has all these design cues.

1. The onion shaped crown with the Montblanc emblem in precious resin

2. Arabic numerals (I notice the font is very consistent across all the Star models)

3. Feuille hour and minute hands

4. Round case with distinctive steps on the horns and domed sapphire crystal (see cross-section below - I love the stepped lugs)

Some other members of the Star collection which i find very interesting (besides my Worldtime). Photos I found in previous posts by Mike and Fx on PuristSPro,

The Star Perpetual Calendar:

As you can see, over the years, some core of the Star Collection's design DNA remained even as the Star collection modernized. Imho, the Star collection's design DNA has evolved to be able to "stand on its own" without the constant linkage to the design elements of its more famous sibling, the 149 fountain pen (which to its credit, started the Star Collection and hence, all of Montblanc's watches today).

Just look at the Star Quantieme Complet above or my Star Worldtime... I find them very handsome watches in their own right, without seeing the 149 fountain pen in them at all. The only link I feel is their manufacturing principle - that of traditional, fine craftsmanship (at an accessible price point which supports another of Montblanc's principle - sharing the passion of fine watchmaking).

Perhaps if I have to pick on a detail in the Star collection, it will be the cross-sectional view of the case (a view I seldom see on my Star Worldtime so it disturbs me less). I think Montblanc can remove the words "Montblanc" on one side, and "Meisterstuck" on the other side. That will make the Star collection even better imho.

More to come on this collection over the next few weeks.

Let me know your thoughts, thank you!

cheers

robin

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