Montblanc
Hamburg, Germany · Est. 1906
Founded by Claus-Johannes Voss, Alfred Nehemias, August Eberstein
Montblanc, the Hamburg-based luxury goods house founded in 1906, operates a genuine watch manufacture in Le Locle acquired from Minerva in 2006. The brand produces a range from entry-level to highly complex movements, with the Minerva heritage being used for its prestige 1858 collection.
- Founded
- 1906
- Headquarters
- Hamburg, Germany
- Group
- Richemont
- Price Segment
- Mid
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- 1858 — Heritage sports collection inspired by Minerva's professional military chronographs from the 1930s, featuring bronze cases and vintage-styled dials.
- Star Legacy — Classic dress watch collection with Montblanc's signature star emblem, offering automatic and moonphase complications in traditional proportions.
- TimeWalker — Modern sports collection with a racing-inspired aesthetic, featuring chronographs and UTC complications.
- Heritage — Collection celebrating Minerva's haute horlogerie credentials, with high-complication pieces including monopusher chronographs using in-house Minerva calibres.
Timeline
- 1906 — The company is founded in Hamburg, Germany, as a fountain pen manufacturer.
- 1997 — Montblanc enters the watch market, initially with outsourced movements.
- 2006 — Montblanc acquires the Minerva manufacture in Villeret, gaining access to one of Switzerland's most storied movement-making traditions dating to 1858.
- 2008 — Launch of the Nicolas Rieussec chronograph, the first major watch to use Minerva-derived complications under the Montblanc name.
- 2017 — The 1858 collection launches, directly referencing Minerva's military chronograph heritage and establishing Montblanc's most critically acclaimed watch line.
- 2025 — Reveals the 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date 41mm in new glacier-blue and forest-green ceramic dial variants. Debuts the TimeWalker Manufacture Chronograph with MB 25.13 calibre. Announces Laurent Le Deunff as new CEO of Montblanc Watches.
- 2026 — Elevates Minerva into a fully distinct entity with its name returning to the dial. Debuts the Minerva Unveiled Crownless with a bidirectional bezel replacing the crown. Departs Watches & Wonders to focus on direct client engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions about Montblanc
- Does Montblanc make its own movements?
- Yes, through its Minerva manufacture in Villeret, acquired in 2006. The Minerva facility produces high-end movements for the 1858 and Heritage lines, while entry-level models use Sellita-based calibres.
- What is the connection between Montblanc and Minerva?
- Minerva is a historic Swiss movement manufacturer founded in 1858 in Villeret. Montblanc acquired it in 2006, integrating its expertise in chronograph movements into the brand's haute horlogerie offerings.