nycWIS
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Price Point Gaps
I agree that MB needs pieces that bridge the "finishing" gap between the Rieussec/Twinfly range and the Villeret/Minerva range. I own both a steel Rieussec and a steel Twinfly, and while both these pieces are IMHO great values, their movement finishing is functional at best (IWC and base JLC class) and priced accordingly.
Best,
Mitch
The movement finishing on the Montblanc Villeret pieces is amazing. Quick question for you
Do you wish Montblanc would produce a less finely finished Villeret model where the retail price dropped down to $25k? If so, would you seriously consider adding one to your collection? I know many here absolutely love the finishing on Villeret pieces and...
Rieussec?
I would assume that MB uses the Rieussec as the bridge between the Villeret collection..... a MASSIVE bridge at that :) I do agree they are missing a price point in their collections, perhaps a larger quantity Villeret to bridge that gap in the 20k-40k ra...
Hi! Welcome to the Montblanc forum...
Well the diffence between a precious metal Rieussec and a precious metal basic Villeret (since they don't do Villeret models in Stainless steel) is not that much off. A limited release of lower priced Villeret models will get them out into the "real world...
Hi K, somehow I missed your post! I think 1858 is too many
Keep the numbers small, make the price point even more accessible Focus on the finishing so that it even surpasses the normal high stand ards of Montblanc Villeret...in fact I would take it one step further and hire " a god of finishing" as a consulta nt ...
My personal opinion would be that Montblanc stops marketing...
its watches under the Montblanc's label and renamed it Minerva! Then, I have much, much less of a problem about purchasing their watches. For me, Montblanc is an excellent Pen and I have few of them as for a watch labelled Montblanc? Thanks but no thanks,...
same struggle
I have the same struggle as you on the mb branding and am still trying to overcome that! I really like the 150th Jubliee edition grand feu email chronograph in white gold and black enamel dial (4 out of 8 pieces in wg black enamel only) But I keep compari...
My personal decision....
Robin, like you I've debated this in my mind. Finally I remembered the wise saying that often gets repeated but hardly ever followed: Buy the watch you like/fall in love with and can afford . If you think about it too much, you will never come to a decisi...
From a philosophical point of view, I totally agree....
with you Mike, buy what you like! However from a mechanical watch lover view point, in this case my view point, Montblanc has no history, no intrinsic claim to horology, it has, though a great DNA in the Pens history, although not that old. In my view if ...
Wake up, you guys!
With all these posts added today I'm guessing you have a desire to continue the conversation So, I'll say again; wake up! Most of the watch brands TODAY are owned by holding companies that lack your essential criteria of horological DNA. Richemont chose l...
Someone knows Montblanc/Richemont very well.
Montblanc isn't trying to absorb Minerva and pass it off as their own. They're trying to uphold it and preserve it. And I think they let Minerva stay very independent from the rest of Montblanc, especially production-wise, they don't even get involved in ...
Hi Tick-Talk, thanks for the input. As a matter of fact..
I did wake up....this morning...at 6h15 to be precise:) I am in no way rejecting the right of holding companies to be in whatever game they wish. I am only saying that personally I would not buy a Montblanc mechanical wrist watch but would gladly purchase...
Hi Francois, Thanks for your thoughts....
I completely understand your point of view, which is shared by many watch enthusiasts. Take a look around you, every watch brand has marketing that is overhyped...even the most venerable watch companies rely on exaggeration of truth and bending of history...
"The Word is Now a Virus": William Burroughs
With respect, people are tossing around "DNA" in very different ways here. There is indeed a sense in which Swatch has more horological DNA than Montblanc, but that is a measure of history, not quality. I doubt that many of us, faced with the choice betwe...
Thanks for that distinction...that is why I hate the term DNA
It has gotten to the point where the word "history" can't be used in watch ma rketing w ithout getting a chuckle and you have to resort to the concept of DNA to achieve some sort of historical credi bility. To play with the topic FP Journe, Ferrier, KV, P...
Hello Mike
Hi Mike Thanks for your reply and also your points to me, which are valid of course. Buy what we like and what we can afford. I have come close to buying a MB Villeret actually - once when I compared the MB Villeret Vintage Pulsographe with a Patek Annual...
This is a PuristS final exam isn't it ?
Hi Robin, We all are moved to our watch pur cha ses for one reason or another. Your two concerns are valid a nd , I believ e, are being addressed by Montblanc. It takes years to build a reputation and I believe Montblanc is on the r ight track. Afterall M...
The problem is that your suggestion was tried before and failed miserably...
i.e. the previous owners had tremendous pushback when they "elevated" Minerva into a Haute Horologerie brand and increased the price range. The "purists" didn't understand why Minerva with its long history of making mid range/price accessible chronographs...
Minerva- 3 points on this posting
1. Sorry to pop into this discussion out of the blue, and I apologize in advance if I step on toes, as I don't want to, but I do prefer speaking plainly. Minerva did badly because of very poor management issues and on top of that, a very bad PR approach (...
Apology accepted!
Your post count seems rather slim over the past few years so I'm curious as to what inspired you to come over and drop this in our livingroom? Just my own 2c but Montblanc's foray into watches is as legit as any other. Why would we resent them for branchi...
Hi Anthony
Nice to hear from you in any way shape or form! First of all, I personally don't think the number of a person's reactions in the past years (who is counting anyway?) are of any interest whatsoever; I do think the quality of responses and the creation of e...
P.S. And an example
Here is at least one photo example which does not require me to draw circles and make arrows on jpg's: -Please look carefully at the bridge in the centre at around 5 o'clock. This is an enlargement from your own picture. The finisher has removed so much m...
Unbelievable!
Oh gosh, maybe I'm wrong to question the motives of someone who has been very parsimonious with their posts to suddenly appear on another forum and criticize the resident brand, with a smoking-gun picture that after 50X magnification could easily be an il...
Okay...perhaps I need to make a few e-introductions and cool this fire
although I do appreciate the passion! Dean, Theodore has been a long time purist...he was even our RM moderator for a short period of time when the site existed as ThePuristS. Theodore, you were responding to Dean, I assume given the post placement, not t...
Thank you Mark
Thank you Mark for your a true-hearted, non-defensive, non knee-jerk and gentlemanly 'Purists' reaction, which is very much appreciated! I do wish the days of endless discussions about wolf's teeth gearing vs. regular gearing as we used to have here years...
More Bah, Humbug!
"...true-hearted, non-defensive, non knee-jerk and gentlemanly 'Purists' reaction..." An excellent standard indeed! So back to your original drive-by-shooting: Minerva did badly because of very poor management issues and on top of that, a very bad PR appr...
A few final thoughts for my two differeing colleagues
Here are Montblanc Villeret's finishing standards: -- All screw holes have polished counter sinks --Screws are faceted and polished --All the wheels are gold plated, finished with circular graining, spokes are faceted --Steel pinions have polished end fac...
Thanks mkt133
Hi mkt133, Thanks for this pertinent information to the subject at hand. Theodore This message has been edited by Theodore Diehl on 2013-04-28 05:31:06 This message has been edited by Theodore Diehl on 2013-04-28 05:32:40
I hope you will take time to examine a few other Villeret
pieces before making your final assessment. Like always, sample size does matter. Best, Mike
OMG tick-tack, how did you see it?
Snippets of out of context texts, followed by a mysterious 'Hmmmm" inferring dastardly intention to defame the holy shrine of 'M' ! (Look further on: ) Thank you for a good chuckle in the airport lounge ! Theodore
More concern when the time comes to
servicing. How long would it take (cost aside). Melvin
Around 2 to 3 months for regular servicing
Hi Melvin I saw a piece of a mb villeret I fancy in our local AD in singapore but commented that it is is already 4 years old and not serviced. Also had some questions on the case. The AD went back to MB Minerva who agreed to service it for the AD. It wil...
Price Point Gaps
I agree that MB needs pieces that bridge the "finishing" gap between the Rieussec/Twinfly range and the Villeret/Minerva range. I own both a steel Rieussec and a steel Twinfly, and while both these pieces are IMHO great values, their movement finishing is...
Bloody tough question Anthony
When I went indepth about the Villeret line I discovered something really surprising and of a very high standards as regards to finishing issues. What remain a problem, for me, is buying a Montblanc branded watch. Would a price decrease make me go for it?...
The finishing is NOT PERFECT....
no finishing ever is. The PuristS who attended IGOTT 2 know this first hand. Even the "god of finishing" has areas which need improvement...dare I say there are aspects of his finishing that are worse than the finishing found on the Villeret series. But t...
The key is getting these Villeret watches on collectors' wrists
That's the best way to spread the word. And to the other points you've raised and explained, I totally agree. Montblanc has done what it can to incorporate Minerva into its own but at the same time still giving recognition to Minerva by leaving its name o...
How Many More Does Cheaper Mean?
I agree completely that the key is getting more Villerets out in the world for potentially interested people to see. Until you have spent time with one, they can easily sound like mispriced Montblancs, but-- at least speaking from personal experience-- wh...
It's all part of the recipe that Montblanc needs to figure out and perfect
Many people here have stated that they don't like the fact that Montblanc is on the Villeret dial. So this right there is a branding issue they need to deal with. How do they deal with this sensitive issue? There are several ways but it is up to Montblanc...
I share this point Anthony
at least with respect to a perception that the Montblanc name is at risk of being over-exposed on their watches. Aside from the Villeret/Montblanc debate, even some of the classically-styled pieces out of Le Locle have too much embellishment. Repeating th...
Of all the comments made in this thread, yours is one of the most important
since you own a Grand Seconde Authentique. What swayed you initially to purchase the Grand Seconde? Have these initial impressions changed? Thanks for you input Dave, Mike
That's very kind, Mike
I have no brief against people who can identify makers with finer finish quality than Villeret. I will say that the movement on my Villeret seems very beautiful to me, and its quality was vocally advocated by a watchmaker (and friend) whose judgment I tru...
Well said!
Well said upon another post well said. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Thanks Mark and Anthony
for the additional comments on this very polarizing topic :-)
I guess Monsieur Jerome Lambert has a big bread.....
on his board. Bonne chance Monsieur Lambert! With all due respect and muito carinho:) Francois, from The Land Down Under!
Something like this would please me a lot.
Ok, the movement needs some good service, but you got my idea. Cal 17-29 CH: Not necessarily extremely well finished, but how pleasant to admire! Best, Nicolas ...
This is also an affordable alternative (for me)
This is one of the latest of Minerva Villeret Collection 1858 Regards Wim ...
