Montblanc

You had watches in those photographs, so you're totally forgiven!  

About the monopusher, the mouvement won't be housed in a Villeret case but I don't know more!

I can't wait to discover it!

Fx

I hope this hybrid concept doesn't signal the beginning of the end of the independence presently accorded to the Villeret atelier!  The news overall sounds very exciting but with such a broad range of offerings, doesn't the brand run the risk of diminishing the prestige of it's top-end watches?  I cannot think of another that has successfully offered $2k to +$200k timepieces...

The monopusher is a LE watch and I'm sure that Jerome Lambert will preserve the exclusivity of the Villeret manufacture.

Fx

Has the same range from 2k to above 200k.
Probably trickier for Montblanc with $300 or so products like mainstream ballpoint pens or steel cufflinks all the way up to millions of dollars potentially with their bespoke Villerets.

But personally as a customer of MB leather goods, pens, jewelry and accessories to a MB star worldtime and a MB Villeret Chronographe, I think it's fine for me. But yes, it did took me awhile to overcome the many hurdles of purchasing an MB Villeret as I was afraid of brand dilution for MB Villeret too. Same concern as what you raised Dean.

Now that I read Mr Lambert's directions and that Mb Villeret is naturally limited to 50 per year, I actually feel more rest assured. Esp if the Minerva Institute's research only cascades to Le Locle in ideas and movement developments but not actually gifting Minerva's beautifully finished movements to be cased in an MB Le Locle case. Meaning I will feel ok if the movement finishing standards remain distinct between Villeret (fully hand crafted and finished) vs Le Locle (mainly industrial finished).

I am not fully sure about what it means with a Villeret signed monopusher movement (in a Le Locle assembled case? But with lower levels of finishing? ?)... let's see the final product they release in SIHH 2014.

Cheers
Robin

Mmm, from 2 to 200k, I would rather have thought about Chaumet, especially with the latest pieces made for them by Hublot (Tourbillon Hortensia). Still, I'm not a big connoisseur of Chopard's range, I must admit. 

Starting from the Chopard quartz range to their LUC but I may be wrong about the entry price. Maybe more like 4 or 5k for quartz Chopard?

From what you described, it looks like MB may be changing their focus to good value timepieces under Mr Lambert but personally I think that's a good thing for the brand. So long as MB Villeret remains as their artelier which is definitely the case with 50 pieces a year. I believe MB will be able to balance that well with 3 levels of price points as they have currently.

Cheers
Robin

Well, again Im' not a Chopard specialist - and I don't want to go off topic ! - but as far as I know, the entry level at Chopard is the stainless steel Imperiale - and its smallest version (36 mm) is already at 5,2 k. 

A "cascade" downward transfer of skills, technology and prestige will benefit the regular Montblanc line...but a Jet d'Eau of Le Locle cases housing Villeret movements will damage the Villeret label IMHO.  HUGE MISTAKE...unless they are intending to blur the distinction between the two factories.

...purely what ? 

 

 

 

 

Photo deleted per embargo date

This message has been edited by mkt33 on 2014-01-08 11:05:42

Wow you got the picture so early!
It looks great to me.

Doesn't matter if it resembles the GP or Blancpain somewhat. Such a classical PC or AC dial layout is quite common I think.

The GP looks classic and timeless too! Love both.

Thanks for this Olivier.

Cheers
Robin

I should have a Hi Res one by the end of the day. Will post it so that we can see details. 

Please do not post any photos of the SIHH 2014 novelties.

The embargo date of 12/15/2013 is for print journals which needed to be printed ahead of SIHH.  For everyone else the embargo date is 1/20/2014.

"aucune publication avant le début du SIHH, à savoir le 20 janvier pour : les hebdomadaires, les quotidiens et les sites internet"

 

Thank you,

Mike

 

 

 

 

The first MB embargo was over as soon as MB decided to send and let published the QP picture in one of the biggest FR / EU business daily (Le Figaro). 350 000 subscribers per day. 

unfortunately, it would appear (as in many instances) that local HQ and corporate HQ have different messages.

Eventhough some novelties has been released in print and other internet sites, I still have to oblige to the promise I made to corporate HQ...even if it looks like I'm late to the party.

I did not mean to imply you were  "breaking the rules", I am sure you are very competent professionally.   it is just during SIHH/BASEL some brands do get upset when all their secrets are out.

Best, Mike

Embargoes are stated and violated by the manufacturer itself almost in the same breath. It has always been the policy of PPro to strictly respect the embargo dates given to us, even if it is sometimes difficult and annoying, to say the least.

Marcus

The second breath was taken a couple of minutes ago. I just dropped a PM to Mike. End of the story here !

And see what MB is really doing about the monopusher chronograph. I am with you on this Dean. we will have more clarity very soon.

Cheers
Robin

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