Montblanc

mkt33
[PuristS]
5252

• Show profile
• Show other posts

That was a great question for your first post. SIHH 2011

shows the direction Montblanc is moving (actually all Richemont brands are moving towards the same vertically integrated model)

In the past decade, Montblanc had an incoherent collection of timepieces due to a complete lack of focus in this sector.

The high-end Montblanc watches of this era usually contained ETA movements.  The Star Perpetual Calendar utilizes the same Valjoux modified movement as its IWC "sister".

Now we see Montblanc making its move within the Richemont family.

Its acquisition of Minerva was a big win and of course Minerva's history and new focus on extremely high quality, low quantity movements will only be utilized in the Villeret collection. 

The Rieussec is Montblanc's landmark piece (imho).  These new MBR calibers took a long time to design and eventhough it is not spoken out loud I cannot imagine these movements being developped anywhere else except at the vast Val Fleurier facilities.

""Val Fleurier responds precisely," adds Belmont, "to the need of developing a movement strategy for each of our brands. We have created this structure to help the different brands, which have not yet mastered the production chain, to better understand the mechanical movement. Val Fleurier therefore has been set up to design movements based on the specifications and needs of the brands, and to produce the component parts. Progressively, however, the assembly and various additions to the calibres should revert back to the individual brands."--Europa Star 3/16/2006 quoting Henry-John Belmont

The Timewalker collection is the third important model line for Montblanc.  This group utilizes Valjoux movements, Soprod movements, and modified ETA movements.  But with the new TimeWalker TwinFly we see MB utilizing the Val Fleurier Manufacture again so that a completely new "in house" movement is created and used....I think we will see more of this in the future.

The Star collection mostly contain ETA movements, I would not be surprised if this practice continues  with "ETA-like" movements now that SWATCH is limiting ETA's distribution.

Oops, I forgot to say Welcome to the Montblanc forum and thanks for your contribution.

Best, Mike