Montblanc

MTF
[PuristS]
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Sometimes I like this

Gaz,

I don't often prolong discussions but this is something close to my heart.

In 1994, a completely re-invented watch brand was registered and it started making watches using "technical innovations" from a La Sentier brand and production / design / development know-how from a Schaffhausen brand. It had no link to the original company founded in 1845. A surviving member of the founding family name had to be dragged out of exile (and retirement) to maintain a eponymous link.

The continuous heritage belonged to another company that inherited the workforce and products of a series of merged companies. The old company had to re-use the term 'Original' in its name just to emphasise that fact and rebuild itself through change rather than acquisition.

In the paucity of haute horlogerie at the time, the new company's products were hailed like the next messiah and now it is ranked so high that we had to make the Big-3 (AP, PP, VC) into the Big-4.  It did not have a continuous 150 years of history and had to borrow the big date technology but people recognised quality in the execution and with the genius marketing of a legendary (now departed) watch executive, we all accepted a new haute horlogerie star in the firmament.......

By the way, I am not ranting about the new brand as I have more than 1 example of this fine company's products.

My point is that had we all shown disdain towards that 1994 upstart that grew by acqusition of people, process and products....er.....like Montblanc is doing, we would not have what we have now.  More to the point, if Montblanc had not thrown the lifeline.....Minerva was history despite best efforts of previous management.  Now.....they DID try to stretch legitimacy by positioning their prices against Patek Philippe (gasp).

Watchmakers still learn their craft and heritage by studying old examples of the prior art. Most of our exalted stars learnt their craft as restorers first  -  Muller, Halter, Journe, Speake-Marin etc. The smart thing is not to spend 150 years to establish 'heritage' but to learn from the past 150 years of Masters' works

Some of us ordered the first pieces by then "unknown" independent watchmakers.....how could we have waited 150 years for them to become exalted?

Regards,

MTF