Primarily recognised as a manufacturer of luxury fountain pens, Montblanc is also an established watchmaker, renowned for its complex mechanisms and in house built engines. The company was first founded in 1906 with its snow capped logo and its six tongues representing the glaciers found on the famous mountain. Montblanc’s writing instruments and leather goods became some of the world’s most premium and sought after luxury gifts. The ‘Meisterstück’ fountain pen, released in 1924, became the brand’s most famous writing instrument, but it would take another 70 years before Montblanc would partner with Richemont to enter the watchmaking universe.
In 1997 Montblanc Montre S. A. was established in Le Locle, Switzerland. Models with black dials and gold cases reminiscent of the manufacturer’s luxury writing instruments were some of the first on the market before Montblanc went on to create various other models including a varied range of lady’s timepieces equipped with quartz movements. In 2006 Montblanc took over the Minerva watchmaking company based in Villeret and it was here that the brand focussed on creating exceptionally beautiful high horology wristwatches. Minerva became famous for its exceptional chronograph movements like the Monopusher and tourbillon models of which Montblanc has extended on since taking ownership.
Montblanc began creating Nicolas Rieussec chronographs in Le Locle by 2008. These original chronographs focussed on an alternative way to read the time, with models that feature two rotating discs with static hands. Montblanc’s Heritage Meisterstück Collection honoured the company’s 90th anniversary of the fountain pen in 2014 with a functional and elegant perpetual calendar. Despite watchmaking only being a part of Montblanc’s history since 1997, its portfolio is diverse and varied.
Today Montblanc offers several wearable technologies like the Smartwatch Summit 2 models based on Google Wear OS and additional features like a stress management app. In addition to this, the company’s vast range also includes the likes of the Star Legacy watch collection. The range is inspired by the brand’s Minerva heritage and features a line of technical timepieces equipped with features like elegant moon phase indicators and guilloche patterned dials.
The Montblanc 1858 watch collection is the brand’s line of elegant dress watches. Dedicated to the highest mountain in Europe, Mont Blanc, situated on the border of France and Italy is the sole inspiration behind this collection of wristwatches. Highlights from the line are those that have been equipped with a world time function and models fitted with a tourbillon.
Montblanc’s collection of Timewalker watches display neat, well proportioned dials despite being equipped with chronographs. Models like the Montblanc Timewalker Chronograph UTC (standing for Coordinated Universal Time) can keep track of a second and third time zone simultaneously, appealing to the travelling businessman. Other models like the TimeWalker ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph feature two crescent shaped chronograph dials and a movement that can be viewed through both the dial side of the watch and its caseback.
The Montblanc Boheme collection, first released in 2014, is a range of classically elegant women’s watches crafted from 18ct rose gold and stainless steel variants, with luxurious design elements like mother of pearl dials. Horological highlights from the collection include the Montblanc Bohème Perpetual Calendar Jewellery watch, which Montblanc limited to just 88 pieces worldwide, and the Montblanc Bohème ExoTourbillon Slim Jewellery watch in rose gold, adorned with diamonds set onto the dial, the bezel, the clasp and crown.
