The Watch Appreciation Thread (Reviews and Photos of Men's Timepieces by Rolex, Patek Philippe, Brei

[in stitches]



Well that is certainly an ignorant thing to say...

truth. montblanc has come a long way in their watchmaking. they are making some really great pieces these days. not just nice to look at, solid and finely crafted and decorated movements too.

 

[ethanm]

truth. montblanc has come a long way in their watchmaking. they are making some really great pieces these days. not just nice to look at, solid and finely crafted and decorated movements too.

I love that Rieussec and it is a great price (for that style) at around $10k. The only thing that would prevent me from buying it, money notwithstanding, is that its really big.

 

[Hampton]

Now you know

I would place mont blanc around omega, maybe a little overpriced, but if you can get a deal I would get one.

Thanks mate! I have one at work selling his MontBlanc for $5k he bought it for $12k. I'm getting a pretty good deal could even sell it for more. I don't like gold but this one I could use...

This is the one:
MontBlanc Star 102345

 

[PartagasIV]

Spoke too soon, I was under the impression they were still mostly ETA or modified ETA movements.

 

[centrix]

i find it really superficial to judge a watch based on whether it is a eta movement or inhouse. you know what youre getting with a eta movement, a movement that is widely used and is relatively reliable since it is produced by swatch, this means that can be easily repaired and proven functional. inhouse for the less famous brands is more dubious imo.

 

[Cuttingboard]



Spoke too soon, I was under the impression they were still mostly ETA or modified ETA movements.

I believe ETA bought Valjoux.

 

[swblueblood]

Mont Blanc also produces watches with movements made by Minerva,

 

[in stitches]

dont forget, sometimes purchased movements from large movement houses are:

a.) exclusive to a certain order and very high end indeed

b.) highly altered/upgraded by the buyer

just because a movement comes from a supplier, doesnt necessarily mean it is lower end/bulk rate so to speak.

 

[Conventum]

Hmmm... would you buy a Patek Philippe pen? Or would you buy a Louis Vuitton engagement ring? I would rather purchase a PP watch than a pen and I would rather have a MontBlanc pen than a PP pen. As for an engagement ring, I would rather buy a Tiffany's engagement ring than an LV ring (if one even exists.) My point is... a name means a lot to me. It tells me about the heritage and craftsmanship. It sort of adds a characteristic/soul to the object and it makes the watch more than just a timepiece. Some people could care less and just buy the pretty piece with a decent or very good movement, but I want that soul! I want to feel passionate and proud about my watch. I would definitely skip the MontBlanc and consider a different timepiece. I'm not saying that MB is lacking a respectable name, because they really aren't! Their name is respectable in the profession that made them renown around the world and that's writing instruments. That's just my opinion.

 

[in stitches]

1. paragraph breaks are your friend.

2. buying an engagement ring from tiffany is asking to be raped. a diamond is diamond, no craftsmanship involved. go buy the same stone from your local jeweler for 1/3 the price, or spend the money on a larger/nicer stone.

3. i would gladly buy patek pens if they made them, and i liked them. they make some really cool cufflinks id buy in a instant if i had the dough.

4. you really should read up on MB, they are not just a fashion brand pumping out watches. its not a patek, or a lange or AP or VC, but they have garnered the know how, and the means, and make some great watches. to discount that for name, is a mistake imo.

in the end, buy what makes you happy, but make an informed decision, not a purely emotional one that could likely regret down the road.

 

[Conventum]

I don't think you can get a diamond with the same grading as a Tiffany's diamond for 1/3 of the cost. A diamond isn't just a diamond, there's a grading system for quality. If you get a diamond with the same grading as Tiff's from a no-name brand, you would save money, but not at 1/3 of the cost. Plus you get free cleaning, polishing, and great service for the rest of your life for free with Tiffany's.

I never said that MontBlanc is just a fashion brand. I'm not saying that they're like Burberry or Gucci's watch department. If anything, MontBlanc is like Louis Vuitton's watch depart. Very well made watches, but still, it's Louis Vuitton. Regardless of a caliber movement... it's Louis Vuitton.

Would you rather buy a Grand Seiko over a Rolex Milgauss? I know their movement embarrasses a Rolex movement (because it's Seiko and it's better), but I'd still choose the Rolex.

I guess... to each his own. Right?

 

[Edgein]

A friend who is in the jewelry business has a MB watch. I think he likes the esthetic more than the movement, but as was previously stated, the movement's not bad. Certainly not in the class of Patek or Dufour or Voutilainen, etc, but few are esp at that price.

 

[in stitches]



I don't think you can get a diamond with the same grading as a Tiffany's diamond for 1/3 of the cost. A diamond isn't just a diamond, there's a grading system for quality. If you get a diamond with the same grading as Tiff's from a no-name brand, you would save money, but not at 1/3 of the cost. Plus you get free cleaning, polishing, and great service for the rest of your life for free with Tiffany's.

um, no. the diamond grading system is fairly universal. tiffany diamonds do no have a better grading system. as a matter of fact, some would argue that they are more lax with their grading than GIA is. but lest assume for a minute they keep the same standars. if you go to the tiffany site and build an engagement ring, a 2.0 carat round stone will cost you $36,700. they do not disclose the color or clarity on the site except to say that the color of the stone is not worse than an "I" color and that it has good clarity. you can take the average and get the same stone from bluenile for $24,124. and finding a local jeweler that is cheaper than blue nile is easy as pie. also, any decent jeweler will service your stone for life. i exaggerated at 1/3 of the cost, but the difference is in savings could be close to half. basically, dont think for an instant that tiffany gives you a better stone. you are paying for a blue box and a retail experience. there is nothing wrong with that, but know what you are buying. as to the watches, i guess we agree as to where MB lies, just have different feeling on what is important in a watch purchase. nothing wrong with that.

 

[Find Finn]



Hmmm... would you buy a Patek Philippe pen? Or would you buy a Louis Vuitton engagement ring? I would rather purchase a PP watch than a pen and I would rather have a MontBlanc pen than a PP pen. As for an engagement ring, I would rather buy a Tiffany's engagement ring than an LV ring (if one even exists.) My point is... a name means a lot to me. It tells me about the heritage and craftsmanship. It sort of adds a characteristic/soul to the object and it makes the watch more than just a timepiece. Some people could care less and just buy the pretty piece with a decent or very good movement, but I want that soul! I want to feel passionate and proud about my watch. I would definitely skip the MontBlanc and consider a different timepiece. I'm not saying that MB is lacking a respectable name, because they really aren't! Their name is respectable in the profession that made them renown around the world and that's writing instruments. That's just my opinion.

Comparing a 30k$ watch to a 5-10k$ watch, is like comparing a Zonda with a VW.

Would you buy an Omega?

 

[atila]



um, no. the diamond grading system is fairly universal. tiffany diamonds do no have a better grading system. as a matter of fact, some would argue that they are more lax with their grading than GIA is. but lest assume for a minute they keep the same standars.
if you go to the tiffany site and build an engagement ring, a 2.0 carat round stone will cost you $36,700. they do not disclose the color or clarity on the site except to say that the color of the stone is not worse than an "I" color and that it has good clarity. you can take the average and get the same stone from bluenile for $24,124. and finding a local jeweler that is cheaper than blue nile is easy as pie. also, any decent jeweler will service your stone for life.
i exaggerated at 1/3 of the cost, but the difference is in savings could be close to half. basically, dont think for an instant that tiffany gives you a better stone. you are paying for a blue box and a retail experience. there is nothing wrong with that, but know what you are buying.
as to the watches, i guess we agree as to where MB lies, just have different feeling on what is important in a watch purchase. nothing wrong with that.

As an independent jeweler, I support this post.

I understand the OP's point (but completely disagree with), but using Tiffany's + diamonds was a very very poor choice

in stitches post is pretty spot-on - Mont Blanc is not some crap watch that you are paying a huge premium just for its name, they make good watches so if you like it, you buy it and enjoy it. If you buy anything from Tiffany's, you are paying for their name - the quality of the majority of their stuff is mediocre, and the items that are quality, are outrageously priced.

When it comes to quality, Tiffany's is not looked at in a positive light.