The Breitling Watch Source Forums

What's the general consensus of the watch community about Mont Blanc watches? I'm new to the luxury watch world and I'd like to know if the Mont Blanc Sport Flyback is considered a quality watch, because I'm considering getting one. If I do, it'll cost me $1,500-$1,800. The watch is pictured below:

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Breitling Navitimer 01 LE

Mont Blanc are actually making some very nice watches these days, including their own movements for some of their models. The only real "problem" they have nowadays is just one of perception : many people (myself included at times I'm ashamed to say) look at them as primarily a pen manufacturer who also happens to make watches, rather than being a dedicated watch maker. It's actually a very unfair perception, but as we see time and again when it comes to watches (and Swiss watches in particular), brand perception is often more important in many people minds than the product itself.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

They have some beautiful in house movements, but as driver said, they lack some respect due to being relatively new into the serious watch making world. I was in one of their shops last week trying on a few of their watches for the first time and I was impressed.

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Big fan of Montblanc. If you can look past the pen thing then they have some very attractive pieces. Not cheap, but not bad value in the current market.

dont know much about the brand but like Driver said when you think of them you think of Pens.

I don't have too much of the same issue with Mont Blanc. They make some of the finest fountain pens in the world. I know two pen collectors, and both praise the value and beauty of writing with a MB. Both colelctors are Lawyers. Funny that. I have several Lamy’s myself and many old technical drawing pens and instruments from earlier in my career, so their name has resonance with me. Sounds basically like it does with you too.

So, if MB want to turn their attention to watches, I would be assured by the company name alone that they would make a very good product. The name does not bother me as I see their reputation in other areas as a recommendation on their watches. I dont have a pen thing nagging at me on this with extensive personal experience in tecnhnical drawing instruments over the years.

I do have a reverse situation with a Bombardier watch I own though. I do think of them in a similar way to you guys, in that I keep trying to figure out what the attraction is to making watches! The only difference is and as you would know, they are basically regarded for planes, trains and Ski/Sea Doos! Very heavy engineering. But, nice watches all the same.

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Jim

"You have Control".

Montblanc = "what do they know about watches?" , “who are they?”
It’s a very young wine, if you allow me the analogy. I can't get rid of their inexperienced image. They started making watches in 1997... and I find it hard to get excited about that. I really value a luxury watch brand for its tradition, longevity and know-how. E.g. Breilting since 1884, now you’re talking…
Here’s an excerpt from to their webpage:
http://press.montblanc.com/mediacenter/ ... -Montblanc
(...)
1997
Montblanc Montre S.A. was founded in Le Locle, Switzerland, for the manufacture of finely crafted timepieces.
(...)

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life's too short and you only live once

Breitling started making watches in 1984.

A totally different company with nothing in common with today's company except the name started making watches in 1884.

I guess you meant "they started making watches in 1884", with their first chonograph being made at St-Imier, right?

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life's too short and you only live once

I meant exactly what I said. The Breitling company that made the Breitling that you wear started making watches in 1984.

To repeat - a totally different company with nothing in common with today's company except the name started making watches in 1884.

I don't understand, so why do they mention in their webpage that the started making watches in 1884? Is it just me, am I missing something obvious? Are you saying that the "since 1884" is pure marketing?

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life's too short and you only live once

This is a good discussion.

I have no idea if Mont Blanc make good watches or not. They are very well noted for pens and writing implements and I guess it’s association on their expertise with fountain pens, etc that they might see as something they can garner some interest with in other areas. To put their name on a watch means the watch is probably good at the basics. They might want MB pen owners to take up the idea of a watch as well as a pen. Typical thing really, buy the pen, buy the watch, buy the cuff links and cap, see the movie, buy the book, etc, etc. Sorry, I got carried away there!

They could even be sub-contracting the watches to somewhere else, but I am not sure that would be their style. So, I give them the benefit that it’s their watches with (may be) in house manufacture and that the standard is set high.

Interesting point on Breitling1884. I guess that the only claim Breitling can make is that they have an almost continuous heritage from that time. They can plunder that at will and I guess, they can make any advantage they wish from it. Like all marketing though, a claim of a start up date might be all it is, Marketing. The thing I like the most is the family heritage and the various players in the makers ups and downs. Good history, if you are into that sort of thing.

Looking at a watch recently whose heritage dates from 1777 (I think), and apparently the inventors of the Automatic Movement, I can say that I was not that interested in their offer. I can’t even remember the makers name ,so riveted in the watch was I (not)! But that has little to do with their heritage and speaks more about where the maker wants to go, and that they can’t attract attention from me. So, perhaps a ‘Since Date’ means little in the big scheme of things. I must admit, when I bought my first Breitling, I completely ignored the 1884 tag, as it meant nothing to me and still means little now. But thats another story!

Enjoy.

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Jim

"You have Control".

Yes, marketing. Lots of swiss watch companies are a bit "creative" when it comes to talking about their heritage, breitling being one of them.

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You made a big deal of Montblanc only making watches since 1997 and demonstrated that you have bought into the marketing concept of history by saying how much better Breitling is because of the history.

In 1978 Breitling sold off it's parts, watches and equipment to Sinn and Olech & Wajs and closed up shop. Ernst Schneider who owned Sicura bought the rights to the Breitling name and started producing watches in 1984. He knew that people like you would buy into the history so he made a big deal of the 1884 birth, but in truth there is no connection whatsoever.

I'm baffled. I bought into the marketing, big time. I might be naive here, but I find that lying about your history and heritage is despicable. The "since 1884" is not what attracted me to the brand in the first place. Design, quality and sporty image did. However, the idea of a long history in watch making certainly added another level of admiration towards the brand. I am a bit disappointed with the whole charade. Don't get me wrong, I love my watches, but can't help feeling slightly conned. This has completely changed my perception of Montblanc all the same! They might be new on the scene, but at least they don't lie about it, do they?. As contradictory as it may sound compared to my previous comments about MB in this thread, I actually respect them a lot more now for not faking a history they don't have. Can't say the same about Breitling, whom should address that somehow and cut the bullsh## (excuse my French).

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life's too short and you only live once