Montblanc

Quick AD visit: Vintage Chronos 1858

 

Hi everyone,

I just had recently the opportunity to discover some MB timepieces.

To start with, I'd like to say that, as I always knew MB for their "writing instruments", I didn't pay any attention to their new arrival in the watch sector. To me, it was just another luxury brand trying to exploit the market with integrating a branded ETA-based watch with no horological interest. And no legitimacy.

Furthermore, when some of these brands (that are not traditionnal watchmakers) order a complicated piece from watchmakers, I always thought (as it often happens to be true)  it was a one-shot try, performed for marketing and image purposes.

For me, one try, even if interesting, doesn't make the legitimacy to be called a real watchmaking brand.

It started when I heard about their nice tourbillon with their  balance wheel's double spring or the Metamorphosis non long ago.

So I thought recently I would just go to visit their boutique in order to maybe discover something interesting.

I like technical performing, high craftmanship mastery, high finishing standards, history etc ...

And this is finally what I could find (to my great surprise I must say) after trying on and exploring the Villeret 1858 Vintage Pulsographe and the Villeret 1858 Vintage chrono Colimaçon.

I could check the beautiful finishing (and I'm very demanding on that point), the technic, the materials selected etc ...

Here are some crappy pictures and I just encourage you to give it a chance once, if you come by one of them. There are some beautiful pics already on the forum if you want, especially for the movement which is one of the main strengh of these watches.

In these reviews, you will also find more technical details.

I really love it. It has nearly all I would ask for (for this complication). No real flaws to me.

What I would regret (personnal taste inside):
- The white enamel dial is maybe too white. I would have prefered something more ivory. The RG with black dial must be perfect.
- Maybe the MB "flower mark" on the crown's top. Too recognizable.
- Psychological difficulty to sign for the Montblanc name yet, at this price level, compared to strong competitors.








I love it too. Great great finishing, the Minerva inheritance (as for the Pulso.), nice chrono complication, very nice enamel dial ...

The big movement helps to really see through the hole caliber construction (zoomed in compared to a Dato for example). Very nice.

On detail I noticed (difficult to explain): a very very nice winding feeling. The "ticks" are further from each other, the angle between 2 ticks is maybe twice as much as a normal watch for example. As the spring resistance is easily felt with the fingers when turning the crown, it brings a very enjoyable feeling. Something to be tried.


What I would regret (personnal taste inside):
- Maybe too big for me. And the lugs are quite long (especially on my little 16mm wrist)
- The crown with the monopusher inside is mybe too long. This detail wouldn't stop me though.

And ...
- Maybe the MB "flower mark" on the crown's top. Too recognizable.
- Psychological difficulty to sign for the Montblanc name, at this price level, compared to strong competitors.

Sorry for the pics, the lights were too bright and coming from everywhere!

But just for you to compare the sizes (the Pulsographe is perfect).

To conclude, it was a very very nice surpise and I will follow this brand in the future. I strongly encourage you to do so for their high-end watches.

Cheers,

Mark

This message has been edited by Boréale on 2012-10-25 04:29:20