Montblanc's departure from Watches and Wonders has generated considerable attention. Can you shed some light on the decision?
Leaving Watches and Wonders reflects a deliberate choice to engage more directly with our markets and the people who matter most to us. Instead of channelling all our communication efforts into one major trade show, we opted for a more hands-on and meaningful approach: a series of focused presentations taking place across Europe, the United States and Asia. These intimate gatherings give us the space to have genuine conversations, with retail partners, journalists and end customers alike. Here in Paris, where our roadshow begins today, the format lends itself perfectly to thorough product discussions and the kind of unhurried exchange that a large fair simply does not allow. From here, the tour moves on to Germany, then crosses the Atlantic to Philadelphia and New York, before continuing to Asia with dates in Singapore, Hong Kong and Kyoto. Spread over six to seven weeks in total, the whole programme is designed to offer something more personal and immersive.
Which piece best captures where Montblanc stands today?
The answer has to be understood on two levels, one for Montblanc, one for Minerva. For the Maison, the big story is the elevation of Minerva as a fully distinct entity, now carrying its own logo on dials, cases and packaging. This repositioning is embodied by a centrepiece watch drawing directly on Minerva's roots, most notably through a fluted bezel that takes over several functions traditionally handled by the crown, a design that bridges historical craft with modern thinking. For Montblanc itself, the focus remains on deepening its watchmaking legitimacy through collections like Iced Sea and 1858, which have built genuine traction among collectors. That loyalty is tangible: some enthusiasts already own a significant number of pieces from the Maison. Bringing the Minerva name back to the dial also answers a long-standing wish from these devoted collectors. It gives full expression to the manufacture's technical and aesthetic legacy, while strengthening Montblanc's credibility across the broader watchmaking landscape.
Where in the world is the Minerva collector community strongest?
One of the most encouraging aspects of Minerva's following is how evenly spread it is. Keeping that balance is something the Maison actively works toward, there is a real intention to avoid any single region pulling too far ahead of the others. At present, Europe, the United States and Asia all show similar levels of engagement, with Europe and the US holding a modest lead, largely owing to their longer traditions as collector markets. Maintaining this kind of geographic equilibrium is a priority I feel strongly about in my role as CEO of Minerva.
What direction will Minerva's product offering take?
Minerva will continue along the path laid out over recent years, staying true to its defining signatures: the reversed movement, the 1920s-inspired fluted bezel, sometimes incorporating dedicated functions, and an unrelenting attention to detail that extends to every component, from the folding clasp to the packaging itself, which is conceived as a crafted object in its own right, quietly reflecting the Minerva ethos. High complications will remain a pillar of the offer, with further development planned around the patented exo-tourbillon, alongside the preservation of skills that are becoming genuinely scarce elsewhere. Minerva produces its own balance springs to a proprietary formula and continues to work with traditional materials like German silver, which most of the industry has long since moved away from. Maintaining historical beat rates of 2.5 Hz, hand-finishing and regulating balance springs, and upholding finishing techniques such as scalloped anglage, all of this points to a firm commitment to keeping nearly lost traditions alive. That combination of deep historical roots and contemporary rigour is what distinguishes Minerva and continues to attract the most discerning collectors.
Through which channels will Minerva watches be available?
Distribution will be kept deliberately tight, with around thirty points of sale worldwide. The collection will be carried by 23 selected Montblanc boutiques, where advisors will receive dedicated training to act as genuine Minerva specialists. A small circle of external retail partners is also being put together, Wempe among them, chosen specifically for how well they align with the Minerva world. The aim is to protect the brand's exclusivity and maintain a consistent, coherent message, which means voluntarily holding back from the roughly 500 doors that make up the broader Montblanc network.
Returning to Montblanc, you mentioned Iced Sea and Nicolas Rieussec. Is the strategy moving toward a tighter, more focused range?
Yes, streamlining the collection has been an ongoing priority over the past several years. Montblanc now revolves around a set of core pillars: Iced Sea at the forefront, Star Legacy, home to the Nicolas Rieussec line, and 1858, anchored by the Géosphère. This structure makes the offer easier to read and gives each collection a stronger, clearer identity. It also illustrates the tight relationship between Montblanc and Minerva: the manufacture develops certain complications, the Géosphère being a prime example, exclusively for Montblanc, which speaks to how naturally the two entities complement one another.
What are the standout new releases from Montblanc this year?
Several pieces deserve special attention. The Nicolas Rieussec collection is particularly prominent this year, with two new additions. This chronograph, a true emblem of the Maison, built around a 319-component calibre, takes its inspiration from the idea of "Writing Time," a concept that speaks directly to Montblanc's identity, and sets itself apart through its distinctive ink-disc approach to measuring elapsed time. Collectors have long been drawn to it, and the new versions build on this appeal with a full suite of complications: date, second time zone and day/night indication. The Géosphère also returns in a refreshed form, with new details worked into the caseback and a rethought nocturnal display. Across all of these pieces, the same logic applies: heritage serves as the starting point, but every watch is designed to be genuinely useful in the present. It is a way of thinking about the past not as something to be preserved under glass, but as a living source of inspiration for what comes next.
