biowatch
11
it's a Minerva!
Jun 08, 2010,15:42 PM
Great article and pics. But from my point of view this is a truly 100% Minerva and not a Montblanc watch. Minerva was acquired by Richemont some years ago and integrated into Montblanc. What a pity :-( The watch would be more attractive with the name Minerva on the dial.
Cheers,
biowatch
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Big watch, big movement, and big interest.
By: patrick_y : June 8th, 2010-00:41
Thank you Art for not only the perfect review, but perfectly agreeable review. I say agreeable because I share the exact same sentiments as you regarding the undeniable qualities of this Montblanc Villeret timepiece. Regarding the case size, your thoughts...
Thank you, Tim . . .
By: Dr No : June 8th, 2010-10:39
. . . it was a pleasure to "borrow" the R-à-Z for a spell, partly because it exudes a pocket watch aura . . . cordially, Art
Thanks for the review Art
By: AnthonyTsai : June 8th, 2010-09:02
Wonderfully written. After wearing this 47mm refined beast on the wrist for an entire month, has your view on large watches changed at all? Do you think you are more tolerant of watches of this size? Cheers, Anthony
There have always been a few large watches that . . .
By: Dr No : June 8th, 2010-10:44
. . . skirted the "invisible barrier", and this particular R-à-Z is probably the most successful due to, as Patrick points out, its aesthetic delicacy. Still, when all is said and done, my instinctive preference would be for the standard model in a 4...
Nice on-the-wrist review
By: ED209 : June 8th, 2010-09:54
Thanks Art for the in-depth on-the-wrist review. The 47mm case size is huge, but I'm glad to see that Montblanc designed the retour-a-zero with a proportionate sized movement. Regards, ED-209
Indeed, that was a cardinal reason . . .
By: Dr No : June 8th, 2010-10:46
. . . that explains why I felt so comfortable with it. It isn't a large watch for the sake of being large, rather, it's large because its form follows its function . . . cordially, Art
Despite its size, that model really does look good on your wrist Art!
By: mkt33 : June 8th, 2010-09:55
Thanks for the wonderful on the wrist review. The two second deviation is impressive. Perhaps the proprietary mainspring wire The inhouse created balace wheels, escape wheels, the anchors and the chrono column wheels. Each one custom mated to its partner ...
it's a Minerva!
By: biowatch : June 8th, 2010-15:42
Great article and pics. But from my point of view this is a truly 100% Minerva and not a Montblanc watch. Minerva was acquired by Richemont some years ago and integrated into Montblanc. What a pity :-( The watch would be more attractive with the name Mine...
You are right!
By: mkt33 : June 8th, 2010-16:43
and wrong at the same time. Biowatch, Since your first post on 11/5/2008 you have said the same thing. In the last year and a half, has Montblanc not proved itself a capable partner with the financial resources to allow Mr. Cabiddu and the other wonderful...
don't worry
By: biowatch : June 10th, 2010-15:24
Hi Mike, don't worry. I don't take your comments personally Minerva is one of my favourite watch brands. I own 4 Minervas's (two Chrono's with the wonderful 13-20 and two Pythagore from the late 90/early 2000 with the calibre 49) and for me they produced ...
Thanks for this great review Art.
By: DonCorson : June 8th, 2010-12:27
This watch is also my fav from the Villeret line, but I am still disturbed by the excess and unnecessary text on the dial. I think a small change there would increase the enjoyment several-fold. Don
Thank you, Don . . .
By: Dr No : June 9th, 2010-10:56
. . . coming from the moderator's Moderator, your kind words are deeply appreciated . . . most cordially, Art
The Claytons Regulateur
By: AndrewD : June 8th, 2010-16:33
Thanks Art, It has the feel of a Regulateur, which I like, but with greater legibility. Emotionally I like the idea of Regulators: the separation of hours, minutes and seconds to facilitate the accurate reading of time. But in practice I find them difficu...
* Claytons
By: AndrewD : June 10th, 2010-15:34
People have asked me what "Claytons" refers to and I have now realised that the description has not translated well internationally. Claytons is a non-alcoholic mixer that had a successful advertising campaign in the 1970's in Australia and New Zealand wi...
Now you tell me! I spent a quarter of an hour . . .
By: Dr No : June 11th, 2010-07:31
. . . researching "Clayton's regulateur/tor" and all I could find was a hydraulic project in South Australia!! I can be elliptical at times, but dam, that was a stretch ;-) . . .
A Perfect Diagnosis
By: Meehna : June 8th, 2010-20:30
--and prescriptive from Dr. No. Thanks for the personal travelogue with the watch. I think you know I'm a fan of the MB Villeret line. m
i've always
By: aldossari_faisal : June 10th, 2010-09:58
loved your ... allow me to call it watch reading DR.NO , a watch with its own atmosphere.. i like. Faisal
Thanks for this great review Art
By: RJW : June 13th, 2010-00:51
I would like to see it in the metal one day but I suspect 47mm is too much for me. Do you think that the upholstered section between the lugs adds anything to the aesthetics of this watch? As you state, you may only use MB straps with this piece. Regards,...
Glad you asked, Richard. Strictly speaking, I wouldn't . . .
By: Dr No : June 13th, 2010-14:36
. . . consider it an enhancement per se. My sense is that it's the an artful solution to the problem of concealing the latch. If the Grande Seconde didn't have a hinged back and there was no latch to conceal, then the gap between the lugs would be caverno...
Great write-up, Art!
By: dxboon : June 16th, 2010-07:06
Having seen the watch in person on more than one occasion now, I would have to agree that it's not a watch for the family beach outing or running around town getting groceries. It's a watch to wear with a suit or on more elegant occasions. There's a serio...
Thank you Art for the excellent review...
By: pingtsai : June 20th, 2010-08:31
...What an elegant watch! The alligator covered bridge between the lugs is a small detail that makes such a huge difference in my opinion in contributing to the watch's elegance with smooth continuous lines. Sorry for the delayed feedback. Great review!
Candy for the eyes.
By: amanico : January 26th, 2013-13:52
I have just fallen on this superb article, Art, and I must say that I was delighted to read it. I am not shocked at all by the size. Minerva made some big watches, and why not seeing them nowadays? The movement is just superb, the dial is great looking, a...
Hey, you can blame me . . .
By: Dr No : January 26th, 2013-14:10
. . . if one ends up in your collection, Nico. "I couldn't help myself, Amalie - the Devil in So Cal made me do it!" :-)