How To Move Forwards While Looking Backwards – Innovation In The Watch Industry Part.2
Although relatively new to the world of watch-making, luxury marque Montblanc has an incredibly rich heritage and reputation for fine craftsmanship that has been cultivated over a period of more than a century. It’s no wonder then that this iconic brand is dedicated to preserving its past.
Yet at the same time they recognize the inherent need to be continually looking to the future, exploring new possibilities and pushing boundaries and for many observers this is what makes Montblanc today such an interesting brand.
If you missed Part.1 of this series read it here first.
Creating A Center For Innovation
Given Montblanc’s desire to maintain and exploit their reputation for exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail it was of high importance that the brand was able to create pieces which exemplified these qualities whilst at the same time displayed their creative abilities.
The solution? The creation of a center for innovation.
Back in 2006, the Richemont group (which owns Montblanc) bought the watch-making manufacture Minerva, from which it created the Minerva Institute for High Horology Research. This fully equipped and highly specialized facility is completely dedicated to the production of original calibers and complications for Montblanc only.
In buying this company, Montblanc was able complete their watch-making equation, combining tradition with modernity: the Minerva Institute, on the one hand, allows their young and talented watch-makers the opportunity to enhance the art of watch-making with their spirit of innovation and dynamism; while the Villeret manufacture, on the other hand, allows Montblanc to continue to enrich its Villeret 1858 range and its associated manufacture, one of the most prestigious in the industry.
“We had these two goals right from the beginning”, explains Alexander Schmiedt, Business Development Manager for Villeret 1858. “First, the protection of this truly living heritage that is the Manufacture de Villeret, one of the oldest [manufacturers] in the world that has never stopped through the ages; then, the development of major innovations and original movements, through our Institute.”
And the latter we must admit has worked tirelessly at setting the bar very high. In less than two years the Institute has produced its first creation, and it is simply mindblowing: the Montblanc Metamorphosis.
Breaking All Barriers
A truly exceptional achievement in the fine art of watchmaking , the Metamorphosis is able to change from a traditional time keeper to a chronograph in front of your very eyes, through the stupefying collective actions of a number of inter-related components. Words simply cannot describe this phenomenon, it simply needs to be seen although be warned, you may have some trouble believing your eyes!
No less than 50 individual pieces start their mysterious dance during the transformation, amongst the 650 required for the making of this outstanding watch, for which a number of patents are currently being processed.
Interesting fact: even though the Metamorphosis is a real Montblanc product, its constituent patents have been left to their inventors, they don’t belong to Montblanc. In our eyes this is an exemplary encouragement to innovation.
Three months ago, Montblanc struck again with their Exo Tourbillon (pictured at the top of this page), equipped with a totally new tourbillon architecture unique to the market: its pendulum is bigger than its cage, and it stands outside of it.
In parallel, Montblanc started a great work on materials with its Time Walker Dual Carbon, which reveals an advanced state of R&D on the DLC component, “Diamond Like Carbon”. Thanks to a special thermic and atomic treatment, Montblanc succeeded in making this surface 17 times more resistant than steel!
The Final Word
Thanks to a clever combination of ancient know-how and innovation, Montblanc, in less than two years, has risen to take its place as a respectable player in the watch-making industry. Although awareness of the brand from a watch-making perspective still needs a bit of improvement, there is certainly no need for the brand to prove its incredible expertise any more.
Although given the brand’s history, they certainly will continue to do so regardless.
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That’s very cool! Would be great to see that in person!
Wait, we might have an opportunity, coming soon
Stay tuned !