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It should go without saying that Montblanc watches are good quality. Anyone who has owned a Montblanc product before will know that they are made and finished to an extremely high standard.
Whilst Montblanc are certainly not at the very top level of watchmaking, they do use quality materials and movements for their watches. The brand does not have an iconic model such as the AP Offshore or Rolex Submariner, neither does it make it’s own in-house movements. However, Montblanc are at the very least on par with other watchmaking brands such as Raymond Weil and Tissot.
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About Montblanc Watches
Montblanc is a luxury brand that specializes in making very high quality pens. Like many other luxury brands, the company does not limit itself to one product as they also make bags, jewelry, wallets, and most importantly watches.
The brand was formed in 1906 when friends Alfred Nehemias and August Eberstein decided that they would make a business to sell basic pens. The business was sold only a few years later in 1909. By the time 1924 came by, Montblanc had struck gold with their “Meisterstuck” pen which translates directly as masterpiece. It should be noted that Montblanc also produces Meisterstuck watches which have fairly simple and minimalist dials.
In 1977 the business was sold to Alfred Dunhill Ltd, which is a British business that also manufactures pens and watches. However, the business was sold once again to the Richemont group who also hold the watch brands Cartier and Baume & Mercier.
Montblanc first started making watches in 1997 where they unveiled the aforementioned Meisterstuck watch as Baselworld. Since then, Montblanc still has quite a simplified range of refined watches and does not have a gigantic collection. However, the brand must be doing something right as it has been producing watches for well over 20 years.
What Is The Price Of A Montblanc Watch?
When shopping online, you will typically find that the price of a Montblanc watch can vary from $1000-$4000. The price will usually depend on the model, movement and complications. For example, a plain Montblanc quartz watch would cost less than an automatic chronograph.
Montblanc smartwatches are typically a little cheaper and can be picked up between $800-$1200.
Lastly, it should be noted that authorized dealers will typically sell Montblanc watches for 20% more than these prices since they have much higher overheads.
Do Montblanc Watches Hold Their Value?
No. If you buy a Montblanc watch for full price from an authorized dealer, it will typically not hold its value. This does not mean that the watch is bad, or not buying because you like it. Overall, you shouldn’t really expect watches to hold their value. Many other luxury brands such as Omega, A Lange & Sohne, and Ulysses Nardin all lose value once they have been purchased.
The only brands which hold value to some extent are certain models of Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet & Rolex. This is mostly due to lack of supply – you are not able to buy these watches brand new because they are already sold out.
Overall, you should only buy a Montblanc watch (or any other brand for that matter) if you understand this is a luxury purchase that you will enjoy, not an investment.
Is Montblanc A Luxury Watch Brand?
Yes, Montblanc makes luxury watches. Although they are best known for their high quality and expensive pens. Montblanc has been making watches for over two decades and has managed to stick around in a very overcrowded marketplace.
Their watch designs are fairly unique and do not try and imitate other brands. Not only this, but they make watches from good materials and use very solid Swiss mechanical movements such as Sellita.
Montblanc is not a super high end luxury brand compared to the likes of Audemars Piguet. They do not use the same quality movements, neither do they really make watches from materials such as platinum or gold.
With that being said, solidifying the fact that Montblanc is a luxury brand. In the past, they have made $35000 tourbillon watches around 10 years ago. Overall, they are not as popular as established brands such as Omega, but there is no denying they are a high end brand.
Where Are Montblanc Watches Made?
Although the company is German, Montblanc watches are made in two locations in Switzerland. The well known Le Locle, which is a well known watchmaking town, as well as the mountainous region of Villeret.
Montblanc have used a variety of movements such as ETA, Sellita and have occasionally dabbled with their own in-house movements. Typically in modern day, Sellita is used in production, however, each model will generally contain a different Swiss movement.
How Can You Tell If A Montblanc Watch Is Fake?
Typically the first sign of a fake Montblanc is the movement. A lot of Montblanc watches use exhibition casebacks, so you will not need to remove the back for the first step. Although companies selling fake watches sometimes use fake movements, if the movement is a common ETA or Sellita, they will often use the exact same.
However, Montblanc decorates their movements with logos and engravings of the brand (typically the rotor). Therefore if you have a very plain movement with no branding. This should be the first red flag.
Another common error is that fake watches will not engrave the Montblanc logo on their crown. Even if they do, sometimes it will be off-center. Montblanc would never release a watch with an off-center logo.
Check The Serial Number
This is the best way to check, as serial numbers can be fake, but ultimately the brand will know.
Firstly make sure the paperwork that came with the watch matches the serial number on the back of the case. If you’ve bought the watch preowned it’s possible that the warranty card won’t be filled in. This is not unusual and is not a red flag.
However, if the numbers do not match, then something is not right. If you contact Montblanc customer service with your serial number, they may be able to let you know if the watch is fake right away.
The Best Iconic Montblanc Watches
Timewalker
The timewalker series is one of the newest ranges of watches from Montblanc. Released in 2015, these watches are typically priced at the middle to the higher end of the brand’s pricepoint.
As you can see, this watch has been inspired by motor racing and looks somewhat like a classier version of Tag Heuer F1 watches. It’s quite a bit higher spec than Tag chronographs since it has a Swiss automatic movement. There are various dial colors available for the timewalker, including a couple of panda dial variations.
Check The Price Of Montblanc Timewalker Watches On Amazon
Meisterstuck Heritage
The Montblanc heritage collection is constantly changing as old styles are being bought back to life with a modern twist. The Meisterstuck heritage is no exception to this rule. As you can see, it is a very simple automatic date watch.
The watch is a classic business/casual style with a 39mm dial and a 9.4mm thick case. The movement also has a 38 hour power reserve, so even if you don’t wear the watch for a day you won’t need to reset it.
Check The Price Of Meisterstuck Watches On Amazon
Summit Smartwatch
Montblanc is one of only a handful of luxury watchmakers that have dared to enter the world of smartwatches. Alongside Frederique Constant & Tag Heuer, Montblanc is only one of a select few that put its name on something non-mechanical.
Overall it’s not a bad effort. There are two versions of the Summit watch, which are the original and the Summit 2. The latter has a later version of the Android OS and therefore can generally run applications faster. With that being said, luxury smartwatches are not of great value when compared with the smartwatches made by the likes of Fossil or Skagen.
Unless you are a big fan of the brand, you’re better off buying a cheaper smartwatch as mentioned.
Check The Price Of Montblanc Summit Smartwatches On Amazon
Orologio Star Legacy
Arguably the most aesthetically pleasing watch of the entire range. The Montblanc star chronograph brings together both past and present in a beautiful silver dial.
The movement is Valjoux 7750, so you can’t really ask for more out of an automatic chronograph. This is one of the best value for money chronograph movements on the market and has been for decades.
Check The Price Of Montblanc Star Chronograph Watches On Amazon
