Inseparable from its luxury writing instruments and with an impressive range of wristwatches that offer everything from traditional and classic looking dress watches to cutting edge smartwatches - Montblanc focusses its attention on combining Swiss techniques with an unmistakable style. Complicated tourbillons and chronographs are among this extensive selection such as the rattrapante chronograph and ExoTourbillon, not to mention the brand’s series of Summit Smartwatches.
Montblanc is a company that was recognised predominantly for its manufacture of luxury writing instruments. This broad and varied selection still exists, with various styles in rollerballs and fountain pens. In addition to this, it also creates highly complex mechanisms for its movements. Montblanc was founded in 1906 and began creating luxury leather goods after experiencing success with its luxury pens. The Meisterstuck fountain pen was released in 1924 and became the brand’s most famous writing instrument. It would be another 70 years, however, before the Swiss manufacturer would hone its skills and passion into the art of luxury watchmaking, partnering with Richemont to enter the watchmaking universe. In 1997 Montblanc Montre S. A. was established in Le Locle, Switzerland. The company began developing timepieces from gold cases and classic black dials but soon went on to extend its range, including lady’s watches equipped with quartz movements. Montblanc took over Villeret-based Minerva watchmaking company in 2006. It is here that some of Montblanc’s most complex and intricately crafted timepieces are created today. Minerva first became famous for its exceptional chronographs and horological creations, which Montblanc has worked hard to uphold. Some of these include the Monopusher and tourbillon watches that Montblanc has now taken ownership of.
2008 marked the year that Montblanc began creating Nicolas Rieussec chronographs in Le Locle. These chronographs feature two rotating discs and a pair of static hands that offer the wearer an unusual and alternative way to keep track of the time. In 2014 Montblanc marked the 90th anniversary of the Heritage Meisterstuck collection and created a functional and elegant timepiece that offered a perpetual calendar complication. Since watchmaking has only been a part of the Le Locle based watchmaker’s catalogue since 1997, the company has still managed to successfully master the traditional craftsmanship and time-honoured techniques required to create authentic, horological innovations.
The Montblanc 4810 watch collection is a line of classic dress watches that dedicate their crisp, clean aesthetics to the highest mountain in Europe – Mont Blanc. The sole inspiration behind the series centres around developing world time functions and tourbillons for those collectors who share a love for this part of the world, situated on the border of France and Italy. The Montblanc Summit Smartwatch collection, however, offers something wholly contemporary and forward thinking. Incorporating a vast range of innovative features into this small and compact piece of technology, these wristwatches include models like the Summit Lite, crafted from recycled aluminium and offering some of the brand’s proprietary fitness apps to assist with leading a more balanced, health optimised lifestyle. The Star Legacy watch collection is another popular series developed by master watchmakers at Montblanc. The range is inspired by Minerva’s heritage, boasting features that include elegant moon phase indicators and sumptuous guilloche centred dials.
The Montblanc Timewalker watch collection is home to timepieces with balanced, well proportioned dials. Some models can keep track of third time zones, making them a popular choice for globetrotters and those who frequently travel on business. Others offer crescent shaped chronograph dials and movements that can be viewed both from the dials side of the watch and through the back via a transparent caseback feature crafted from anti reflective sapphire crystal glass. Furthermore, for women with a preference for the classic dress watch, timepieces from Montblanc’s Boheme watch collection offer styles crafted from luxurious 18ct rose gold and traditional stainless steel.
