This text was initially printed within the November/December 2022 challenge of WatchTime print journal.
Whereas its title refers to one among Switzerland’s most iconic mountains, Mont Blanc is a German firm based in Hamburg in 1906. The corporate shortly made a reputation for itself with its high-quality fountain pens, a fame that reached a brand new dimension in 1952 with the introduction of the well-known 149, which stays one of many model’s logos right now. In 1935, Montblanc opened its first workshop to supply high-quality leather-based items and in 1997 the model’s first watches got here onto the market. Watches with each quartz and mechanical actions had been provided. The latter obtained a lift when it was built-in with Minerva. This traditionally important motion Manufacturing from Villeret, a city within the Swiss Jura, allowed Montblanc to broaden its assortment with refined in-house actions and dashing problems.
New expertise
Right now these are additionally the three pillars of the model, though Montblanc is working arduous so as to add a fourth, that of recent expertise. In response to Dr. Felix Obschonka, the top of this division at Montblanc, the model took this step as a result of it desires to complement the on a regular basis lives of its prospects with its merchandise, and right now this additionally contains technologically superior merchandise. To greatest serve them, a spread of merchandise have been developed, with extra to be added quickly, from smartwatches and headphones to augmented paper. Obschonka says the model solely desires to broaden into expertise areas that already align with Montblanc’s authentic DNA.
With the Augmented Paper, Montblanc digitizes the product that types its foundation. A leather-based card accommodates a pocket book and a particular model of the model’s StarWalker ballpoint pen, permitting you to digitize your notes and drawings. A devoted app permits you to sync and manage these handwritten notes, cleverly combining the normal high quality writing expertise with high-tech performance. Montblanc takes an analogous method with its headphones and makes use of its experience within the discipline of leather-based items. The result’s the light-weight MB 01, a wi-fi aluminum over-the-ear headphone with energetic noise cancellation and a battery lifetime of over 20 hours.
Peak 3: Ascend to new heights
In 2017, Montblanc took its first steps into the world of smartwatches with the launch of the Summit 1. A fairly daring transfer, shared by solely a handful of different conventional Swiss watch manufacturers, however one that matches completely with the technique on supply of presenting prospects with the perfect of the previous and future within the current. Earlier this yr, Montblanc launched the third technology of its smartwatch, aptly named Summit 3.
In a latest dialog, Obschonka famous the variations he and his workforce made to this youngest technology and the challenges they needed to overcome to make Summit 3 a actuality. Not like mechanical watches, technical advances set the tempo right here. It’s the first smartwatch outfitted with a Qualcomm Snapdragon Put on 4100 Plus chip and Put on OS 3, providing loads of efficiency. The improved coronary heart fee monitor can now additionally measure blood oxygen and the software program has extra in depth health features. Obschonka explains that maintaining with the competitors is essential, however there isn’t a must outperform them on this space. It is the general expertise that units the Summit 3 aside, making it excess of simply the sum of its components.
Measurement and refinement
He and his workforce labored to achieve an optimum level by way of dimensions. The battery performs a giant position right here, as a result of many shoppers are pleased about a big energy reserve, however on the identical time desire a watch that’s not too massive. Montblanc has managed to do exactly that with a diameter of simply over 42 mm and a thickness of 14 mm. The Summit 3 sits comfortably on the wrist and is nearly utterly outfitted with a dial because of a slim bezel. This makes the assorted features straightforward to learn and the dials impressed by the model’s well-known mechanical fashions come to life. The piston-shaped pushers are even simpler to make use of than the built-in pushers of the earlier model. The case end corresponds to the model’s high-quality mechanical components and even the case again is manufactured from this materials. Each expectation you had once you opened the Summit 3 field got here true. Montblanc even contains a further strap so you may change the look of the watch accordingly.
Comparability is pointless
Way more than mechanical watches, smartwatches appear to be topic to comparability with the competitors on account of their efficiency and specs. This routinely makes the least costly possibility that gives the perfect efficiency in your funding the perceived winner. Much like the TAG Heuer Related, the Montblanc Summit 3 doesn’t participate on this competitors. Though it holds its personal, its purpose is to not fulfill the tech-savvy individual, however the (mechanical) watch lover who often wants further options that solely a smartwatch can present. To remain true to the Montblanc DNA, Obschonka and his workforce labored intently with their colleagues at Montblanc Manufacturing in Switzerland to merge these two worlds into one. As expertise advances and the vary of any such product expands, old skool and high-tech will any more go hand in hand at Montblanc.
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