Opinions on Mont Blanc watches?

[the_engineer]

As per title really, I've seen a second hand Mont blanc which has taken my fancy. Are they good watches or just a branding exercise and no better than the designer labels?

Thanks all

[Justayellowbadge]

Well made in the main, nice finishing.

Mostly ETA movements, but they also have some in house. Believe they bought Minerva, making them a manufacture. Even offer a tourbillion.

Perhaps a little pricier than they deserve to be at retail, but they are proper watches, not licensed tat. Good buy second hand or discounted.

[the_engineer]

Sounds good to me, thanks for sharing! I'll put an offer in and see how it goes

[PJ S]

Justayellowbadge said:

Well made in the main, nice finishing.

Mostly ETA movements, but they also have some in house. Believe they bought Minerva, making them a manufacture. Even offer a tourbillion.

Perhaps a little pricier than they deserve to be at retail, but they are proper watches, not licensed tat. Good buy second hand or discounted.

Minerva was part owned by Richemont Group until 2006/7, when they bought the rest of the company.
They decided to amalgamate it into Montblanc as their bespoke movement division.
A shame really, especially when you see some of the stuff they produced – would sooner opt for one of their Villeret models over a Patek. Stunning quality and movement finishing!

http://www.ornatus-mundi.ch/frames/Frame_2.htm

[the_engineer]

Haha now you've got me hoping it's still there when I go back to the shop!

[Lorne]

the_engineer said:

As per title really, I've seen a second hand Mont blanc which has taken my fancy. Are they good watches or just a branding exercise and no better than the designer labels?

Thanks all

I think they made watches before they started making pens. Generally, I believe, well made and solid and certainly not just a designer label.

[PJ S]

http://www.montblanc.com/en-gb/discover/history.ht...

Watches didn’t figure until the company was effectively 91 years old, in 1997.

[Lorne]

Histories are not always simple. Minerva, the division of Montblanc that build their movements, started in 1858.

[PJ S]

But Minerva is not Montblanc – the two were entirely separate companies that had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with one another, until Richemont acquired it.
Therefore, it’s immaterial if Minerva were making sundials in 500 BC, Montblanc’s history starts from the company’s formation, not when an older company is acquired by the holding company, and then gifted to it.

[Lorne]

Mclaren use mercedes engines, so does that mean they're nothing more than a designer car running on something gifted to them?

Minerva have made excellent movements sunce 1858 and correct me if I'm wrong (which i'm sure you'll do as your a dab hand with google and sweepingly dismissive statements), but aren't they wholly part of Montblanc?

[PJ S]

Lorne said:

Mclaren use mercedes engines, so does that mean they're nothing more than a designer car running on something gifted to them?

Minerva have made excellent movements sunce 1858 and correct me if I'm wrong (which i'm sure you'll do as your a dab hand with google and sweepingly dismissive statements), but aren't they wholly part of Montblanc?

My being a dab hand at sweeping your comments under the rug, and Googling relevant information to further your knowledge, is wholly irrelevant – it’s simply a matter of exploiting that thing we call common bloody sense!

McLaren are a paying customer of Mercedes’ engines, as are Pagani – neither of which claim to be older than when they first came into being.
To put this in a context which may be more easily comprehended… your own watchmaking existence doesn’t differ from the actual date you put together the various bits of the first piece, just because you’re using ETA 7750s!


Now, seeing as it’s Christmas… isn’t there something far more useful you could be doing, like writing your name in the snow or assembling some watches?

Edited by PJ S on Saturday 23 December 23:47

[Lorne]

PJ S said:

To put this in a context which may be more easily comprehended… your own watchmaking existence doesn’t differ from the actual date you put together the various bits of the first piece, just because you’re using ETA 7750s!


Now, seeing as it’s Christmas… isn’t there something far more useful you could be doing, like writing your name in the snow or assembling some watches?

Edited by PJ S on Saturday 23 December 23:47

Unfortunately no snow here in London and, being a lightweight at such things, I never get all my name done anyway. I've renamed it the calibre-1948/73/14/17 in recognition of the fine history of tinkering with that movement some call the 7750, but it's too big to fit on the backplate.

Merry christmas,

Edit: doh, I'll just write 1948 on the back plate. I'm sure I was made to read a book with that title (or similar) at school, although being a natural born engineer I watched the film instead and failed the exam

Edited by Lorne on Sunday 24th December 10:37

[PJ S]

^
Perhaps you should've ate more mince pies?

[the_engineer]

100 said:

I tried on a montblanc at goldsmiths recently for around £1550

beautiful but face not big enough

Ah do you recall which model and how recently?

I went back to the store and it had sold. Finally worked out it was a Star Classique and had a 50% discount....

[alabbasi]

I'm sure that it's a quality watch. If you like it, buy it, but not as an investment watch.

Edited by alabbasi on Sunday 7th January 12:44

[the_engineer]

100 said:

Yes it was a star classique

Which store was it if you don't mind me asking? Doesn't appear to be anything close on their website