Montblanc Watches

[psychobabble]

Hi All! I've developed an interest in watches and have perused previous topics regarding MB watches?

 

I was wondering what forum would be the best to read up on watches and especially MB watches. I recently found WatchUSeek, where there seems to be a preponderance of Omega loyalists. How does MB watches compare to Omega?

 

I have a small wrist and am looking for a watch no bigger than 38-40mm, but all of the Timewalkers appear much bigger when I see them in the window at the MB boutiques. I haven't tried them on for size, I just go in for the pens. Now I'm a bit curious.

 

Please enlighten me on MB watches. I just fear another expensive hobby coming on :roflmho:

[terminal]

Well, I've been talking a lot of trash about Omega on some other threads, but be that as it may... my understanding is that the components of the mont blanc movements are made at the Valfleurier facility in Buttes Switzerland. To me, this seems a little bit better than swatch movements with a swapped back plate. However, I have no direct experience with mont blanc watches.

[georges zaslavsky]

Well, I've been talking a lot of trash about Omega on some other threads, but be that as it may... my understanding is that the components of the mont blanc movements are made at the Valfleurier facility in Buttes Switzerland. To me, this seems a little bit better than swatch movements with a swapped back plate. However, I have no direct experience with mont blanc watches.

Vintage Omega is not like modern Omega. Even tough is modern is based on the 85xx it has nothing in common with the famous 25xx calibers which were based on the eta 2892. Omega is slowly coming back to its manufacture status.MB makes haute horlogerie timepieces that can defy the biggest names like Patek, Vacheron and others.

Edited April 8, 2012 by georges zaslavsky

[pen jubky]

As far as I know other than this one there is no forum exclusively dedicated to the Montblanc brand, let alone its watches. Montblanc however are tring their best to establish themselves in the watch industry; and they have invested a lot of money on a huge marketing campaign to do so.

They make some excellent and innovative timepieces; an example being the Metamorphosis watch launched in 2010. The problem with Montblanc however is that they are pen makers trying to breakthrough as watch makers. Something every high end and well established brand has been trying to do as of late. They therefore are having a hard time competing with well established watch brands like Patek Phillipe; Rolex; Officine Panerai; Audemars Piguet and Omega; and in general are not taken seriously by the WIS community.

Another problem the brand has to cope with is price point. People are less willing to "invest" in expensive timepieces if uncertain whether they will retain their value over time.

All that being said my advice would be to go with whatever brand and model that makes your heart skip a beat. The next time walk in the store; sit down and try on some of those models. The heart is never wrong.

You may find some montblanc watch enthusiasts on the other brands watch sub forum of the www.rolexforums.com

Edited April 8, 2012 by pen jubky

[Postscript]

TimeZone has a dedicated MB watch forum under its brand fora.

 

Post Script

[psychobabble]

Do any of you peruse the WatchUSeek forum?

 

Thanks for the info, I will check out TimeZone and the rolexforums.com!!!

[terminal]

Well, I've been talking a lot of trash about Omega on some other threads, but be that as it may... my understanding is that the components of the mont blanc movements are made at the Valfleurier facility in Buttes Switzerland. To me, this seems a little bit better than swatch movements with a swapped back plate. However, I have no direct experience with mont blanc watches.

Vintage Omega is not like modern Omega. Even tough is modern is based on the 85xx it has nothing in common with the famous 25xx calibers which were based on the eta 2892. Omega is slowly coming back to its manufacture status.MB makes haute horlogerie timepieces that can defy the biggest names like Patek, Vacheron and others.

 

and I couldn't agree more! I should have said as much.

[Blade Runner]

TimeZone has a dedicated MB watch forum under its brand fora.

 

Post Script

Here is the link. Some amazing pieces shown.

 

http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=threadt&frm_id=103

[j01270]

Well, as one who collects both watches and pens, there are many sites, blogs, and forums. Montblanc has entered the watch field since my fascination with watches matured and there are several layers of quality particularly since Montblanc both the manufacture' Minerva.

May I suggest you try the forums PuristSPro (watchprosite.com), Timezone (timezone.com) and Revolution Online (revo-online.com/forums). They are the ones I began with along with watchuseek but there are many more magazines from many countires, blogs, forums on just about every kind and type of watches, auctions, etc. You will find the "watch world" very large but I have learned a lot of friends over the last 8 or so years since I became serious.

 

 

[mmahany]

I've owned 3 Mont Blanc watches. Doing my research, the movements and craftsmanship are on par with their price.

 

The biggest negatives I have with Mont Blanc watches are:

1.) The straps and bracelets are of TERRIBLE quality. My 7049 had a leather band that looked like hell. The sides of the strap showed the bare leather brown color(it was a black strap).

 

My MB Sport 38mm was the exact same way. The rubber diver's strap cracked and looked like hell. It was several years old, but given the condition of both watches, I was very very unimpressed with the quality of their leather/rubber. I should also note that they charge $150 to replace just the leather strap WITHOUT the deployant clasp. That's an absolute joke to me.

 

Granted I bought these used, but for a supposed $2k+ watch, I'd expect straps of much better quality. Had I not gotten them for 1/4 the price brand new, they wouldn't have been worth it.

[seriph]

I have one MB watch, a rose gold 4810 chrono.

 

http://www.watchsource.eu/fpngallery/montblanc-star-4810-chronograph-automatic-104274_1/montblanc-star-4810-chronograph-automatic-104274.jpg

 

I wouldn't buy another for the simple reason that I associate MB with pens, end of story. I know it is not a strong argument - actually no argument at all .... but there you have it.

 

 

I think there are better brands of watches though in the end, it comes down to what you fall in love with and can live with price-wise.

 

One thing I have discovered without any doubt is that the Full Retail Price of watches and their associated stuff should ALWAYS be ignored .... they are a joke. I went to buy a second hornback alligator strap for my AP and they wanted $1350 .... by the time I walked out they were willing to get one in for me for $835. That's BS!!!!! I can get a custom strap made for around $300 and I reckon it will be everything theirs is and more!

Edited April 9, 2012 by seriph

[Blade Runner]

Interesting article: SIHH 2009 Montblanc/Villeret The Toughest Review I have ever written by James Dowling

 

http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=tree&goto=5125570&rid=0

[sarahfar]

Timezone is great, in fact I think some from here are there. I'm more into Panerai and IWC. i owned an MB Timewalker, but they go all the way up the ladder. I have to admit though, I probably will be more likely in the future to stick to Panerai and maybe 1 more IWC BP. Although that said, if I don't listen to my wife more, the next might be my last if you know what I mean...

[pen jubky]

@ Seriph You have a nice watch collection with some nice accessories. However the OP asked about Montblanc watches and you go and high jack his thread by posting pictures of your collection. Not cool.

Edited April 9, 2012 by pen jubky

[seriph]

yes - good perspective and I apologise - my intent was (without telling the original poster that he might pursue other brands) to offer examples of brands which have been known as quality timepiece makers for more than a century, just as MB has been a maker of pens. (but watches for just a few years)

 

When he said he was developing an interest in watches, I took it to mean a more general interest and that he was asking how other watches compared to Montblanc. Upon rereading his post as carefully as I should have in the first instance I see that while he mentioned omega, he asked for information on Montblanc only.

 

Again I apologise for the error and will edit my other post if I can.

[psychobabble]

pen jubky and seriph,

 

I thank you for your contributions. I am not offended by suggestions for other watch brands besides Montblanc. No need for anyone to get upset! Beautiful watches, BTW, seriph!!!

 

It is true I did ask about MB watches. However, I am also open to other watch brands and am curious to understand how MB stacks up to other brands before I plunk down $2000+ for one. I am looking for used since full price is beyond what I would like to spend for something that I am not familiar with as of yet. For a MB pen, yes.

 

I am dedicated to MB fountain pens, but I am open to all watch brands.

 

Thank you all for your help!

[mmahany]

pen jubky and seriph,

 

I thank you for your contributions. I am not offended by suggestions for other watch brands besides Montblanc. No need for anyone to get upset! Beautiful watches, BTW, seriph!!!

 

It is true I did ask about MB watches. However, I am also open to other watch brands and am curious to understand how MB stacks up to other brands before I plunk down $2000+ for one. I am looking for used since full price is beyond what I would like to spend for something that I am not familiar with as of yet. For a MB pen, yes.

 

I am dedicated to MB fountain pens, but I am open to all watch brands.

 

Thank you all for your help!

Like I said, I've owned these:

Mont Blanc Star Chronograph

Mont Blanc Profile Chronograph

Mont Blanc Sport 38mm

 

 

They're all somewhat lower end watches in the Mont Blanc line. I personally would pay up to $1200 brand new for any of those three, but beyond that, I'd much rather have an Omega or Baume et Mercier.

 

I'm a MB pen collector myself and while my collection isn't as extravagant as some, I'm very partial to MB. Again as said, they have great movements, but I would highly recommend putting a new strap or bracelet on them as that's the biggest area they lack.

 

Here is the current MB Sport 38mm I own

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b186/mmahany/2012-03-06083403-1.jpg

Here is the rubber strap. Granted it has been used for 4 years, but for it to crack this bad is very upsetting:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b186/mmahany/2012-03-07174720.jpg

 

Others I've owned:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b186/mmahany/2012-02-27135552.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b186/mmahany/2012-01-04181413.jpg

[seriph]

@mmahany - extremely poor and in fact looks like the strap on my TWENTY+ year old Pulsar!

[Kalessin]

I was on Timezone before I found FPN, but I own only a single fine watch, a vintage 1962 Omega Seamaster de Ville. I like the forum a lot, but don't post much at all there.

 

I would absolutely recommend getting fine watch straps from sources other than MB for an MB watch; there are much better straps available at much lower prices.

[mmahany]

I was on Timezone before I found FPN, but I own only a single fine watch, a vintage 1962 Omega Seamaster de Ville. I like the forum a lot, but don't post much at all there.

 

I would absolutely recommend getting fine watch straps from sources other than MB for an MB watch; there are much better straps available at much lower prices.

Any recomendations for a rep strap/bracelet for the sport watch I posted a picture of above? It's a 19mm strap with rounded ends where it attaches to the lugs. I'd prefer a bracelet, but a leather strap would suffice as well.

 

Also, I my uncle bought the Nicolas rieussec Chrono that's on the front page of MB's website. It is an absolutely beautiful timepiece. It is much more solidly built than mine (of course at a higher price). He has been extremely happy with it and that is coming from a man with a $100k+ watch collection. It's now his every day watch in place of his stainless/gold submariner.