About Montblanc Watches

Starting out making exquisite writing instruments in 1906, the German company, Montblanc, was named after the highest mountain peak in the Alps. The Montblanc logo, later introduced in 1913, is comprised of a rounded white star that alludes to the shape of the snow-covered mountain and represents the commitment to reaching the highest heights of quality.

As the company grew its pen branch, Montblanc developed a wide range of high-quality products over the years, including small leather goods, notebooks, writing cases and various other luxury items. The Montblanc watch collections finally arrived on the scene in 1997.

Montblanc Watches Debut

After the Montblanc company had grown its reputation for the creation of luxury products with the highest quality craftsmanship, it seemed a natural progression to move into the world of watchmaking. Beginning with the Meisterstuck watch, the counterpart to the famed pen of the same name, Montblanc pursued excellence in a state-of-the-art watchmaking facility situated in Le Locle, Switzerland. Overseen by master watchmaker, Thierry Pellaton, several watch collections were soon introduced,

Developing Distinction

Clearly moving in the direction of haute horlogerie, in less than 10 years Montblanc became a genuine manufacture—just in the time to celebrate the company’s 100th birthday. And in celebration of this significant anniversary, a limited edition of the Montblanc sport tantalum automatic watch was released, featuring a patented 43-facet diamond on the shape of the white star logo.

In 2007, Montblanc acquired the Institut Minerva de Recherche en Haute Horlogerie (the Minerva Institute of Research in High Watchmaking) at Villeret, Switzerland, continuing a long tradition of outstanding handmade watch movements created in the small town.

2008 brought the notable debut of the MB R100 caliber, which was the first watch movement that Montblanc had manufactured exclusively on its own. The Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph was also introduced this year, named in honor of the chronograph’s inventor.

Just two years following, Montblanc continued to raise the bar for the watchmaking industry when it revealed the revolutionary Metamorphosis. Equally mysterious and fascinating, the Metamorphosis watch is able to transform its face from one to another in a highly complex process that had never been used in any other watch in the world.

Moving Forward with a Nod to the Past

In celebration of the outstanding history of 160 years of Swiss watchmaking of Minerva, a collection was recently released, called 1858—a commemoration the year that watch craftsmanship began in the town.

It’s no wonder that Montblanc timepieces, which can take up to three years to produce, have become synonymous with uncompromising quality and exquisite taste. As part of the Richemont Group, whose family members include Piaget and Cartier, the company operates more than 350 boutique shops throughout 70 different countries on the globe.

At first, when the pen-maker began its foray into the world of watchmaking, jokes were tossed about, including: “Where do you put the ink?” But with its exceptional quality and diverse range of styles, from elegant watches to highly-complicated sports chronographs, it turns out that Montblanc watches are no laughing matter.