Writing Time: Montblanc
By (Author) Franco Cologni
By (author) Gibsert Brunner
By (author) Reinhard Meis
Editions Flammarion
Flammarion
1st November 2010
France
General
Non Fiction
338.76811140949436
Hardback
292
Width 247mm, Height 285mm
2280g
The Minerva watch manufacture, established in 1858 in Villeret, Switzerland, produces fine handmade watches in a time-honored fashion. The expertise, precision, and grand tradition of watchmaking has been passed down for generations. An important and forward-looking brand, it encourages new and modern tools and production, while still maintaining the spirit of a small company. In 2007, Minerva joined forces with renowned fountain pen producer Montblanc, and created the Minerva Institute for Research in Fine Watchmaking to safeguard the company's savoir-faire and craftsmanship. The carefully-chosen master watchmakers in the Minerva workshops continue to make watches by hand, respecting the traditional principles of the industry. Reviving the most sophisticated tradition of Swiss watchmaking, legendary models have made their appearance, from the two single button chronographs of the Villeret 1858 Collection, to the Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec that pays homage to the inventor of the "instrument of writing time" and is the first Montblanc movement entirely conceived in the workshops of the manufacture. In 2008, Minerva celebrated its 150th anniversary, marking one and a half centuries of watch making history, and a rich heritage of tradition and techniques that is preserved by Minerva and Montblanc in the Minerva Institute.
Gisbert Brunner is an eminent watchmaking specialist and the author of Wristwatches. Laurence Marti is the author of a book on Longines. Reinhard Meis is a watch collector and author of a book on the A. Lange & Sohne manufacture. Franco Cologni is the author of The Secrets of Vacheron Constantin and Jaeger-LeCoultre.