We had the opportunity to (virtually) meet Laurent Lecamp, Managing Director of Montblanc’s Watchmaking Division, during Watches&Wonders 2021. Laurent entered Montblanc in 2021 and is following his path in the watchmaking field by bringing a new vision (his vision!) in Montblanc.
It was a pleasant interview, and now it is time to share it with you!
AC: Good morning Laurent and thank you for having me!
LL: Good morning Andrea, it is a pleasure to have you!
AC: How are you? And how is it going so far? Is it as you expected?
LL: You know, when you have someone new coming in a watch manufacture, you always have people asking you what’s coming, how are you planning to develop… But I always say: “step by step”, more time is needed. Nothing can be built in few weeks.
AC: That is for sure. I see you have there this year’s novelties, we shot a video about the new Geosphere, but I’m really thrilled to know what are your thought on your new releases. Would you like to have a chat about them?
LL: Sure! The desert version is really nice, with the Gobi desert theme. All that you see, Andrea, each detail, is inspired by Messner’s expedition in the Gobi desert. Everything has been based on what he has experienced in 2004 between China and Mongolia.
Ninety-five percent of the desert is made of stones, and the watch reminds of it. It is a timepiece that tells a story, the first chapter are colors.
Bronze case, as you can see, but look at the case back. Everything you see is generated with laser oxidation, from the colors to the depth. Developed without using any colour but only oxidation. We are the first company to use this technology on such a large surface here in Switzerland, and that’s why it is innovative.
The 1858 collection, that said, is not a vintage collection, and here is our link with the future. This aspect pushes our boundaries forward, and we’ll use it as such.
AC: That should have been my next question: if you will use it or not again. Will it be something just for the Geosphere?
LL: I can’t tell you more, but here we have another one, do you see?
AC: Minerva!
LL: Yes! Here we have the original and the new one. What you see is the new one, inspired by military chronographs. And the coolest part is that Goddess Minerva’s face, on the back, is tridimensional!!
But there is another point: we can only get this effect by using titanium. It is working with steel, but no other material.
AC: You were talking about price point, and I was thinking about the Geosphere. Is it something that Montblanc focuses on? I mean, when someone sees the Geosphere it is always impressive to see the price point for such a well done and innovative piece. But is it a main focus, or it just came down the way?
LL: It is something specific of Montblanc: we have several complications, all between 5 and 6.5 thousand Euros. It is very difficult to find such high-quality complications for that price level, and Montblanc managed to do it. I think that’s something we have to keep for the future, as it is good for us and we are following the same path.
AC: Great! As such: are you following that path also on the “mood” of the watch? I mean, the Geosphere is super dedicated to explorations, and that reminds me of the mountains, that kind of environment.
Have you thought about going somewhere else? Like the sea or the skies?
LL: Geosphere is dedicated to the exploration, and it has no limits, Andrea!
AC: Haha, thank you! Going back to the novelties: I’ve seen what we can call an engraving on the Minerva… and that brand is a strong point in Montblanc’s identity. What will the relationship be, between Montblanc and Minerva in the next years? Will you continue in this exact direction?
LL: Very simple: Montblanc now is Minerva, and Minerva is Montblanc! It is one and only one company. I understand your question, as especially in Italy we have many collectors very knowledgeable about the timepieces, and they’d like to see Minerva again, but Minerva is now Montblanc and they are the same company now. Of course we’ll take inspiration from it: you can see it there, we have both logos, but you can see that the inspiration is strong. We only changed the logo.
AC: That is the first time I see the two compared: the inspiration and the reinterpretation. Thank you so much for that. And I’m delighted by the fact that you’ve been really really faithful. It doesn’t happen that often!
I was going to ask another question, but I may know the answer, already. I was wondering if you’d like to produce something just with the Minerva logo, but, as you said, they’re the same.
LL: Yes, you are right, and you can see that we keep the Minerva logo in the re-editions. For example, here in the Heritage Pythagore. It has the “diamantage”, a finishing technique that very few people can operate now. The lady that was in charge of this, Sandra, worked completely on this rare finishing. But why are we looking at it? This movement was developed in the Forties, and we wanted to create something as beautiful as this, based on the Golden Ratio. We are coming back to the market recreating this object but with way more power reserve.
If you look at four o’clock you can see the Minerva sign, and that is my answer to your question!
AC: Congrats on that one! I was not expecting all that!!
A recurrent question, I guess: Montblanc created a strong identity lately: what about it? Are you keeping that path or creating something even new? I’m referring to the bronze case and so on..
LL: We’re keeping the classic style but with different sections in the collection. We’re also developing the storytelling obviously, but I’m focusing on the recognizability of the watch, that’s the focus of my team.
AC: Awesome, thanks. I’ve seen your very young, so I’m curious to know what is your relationship with youngsters, and what is Montblanc’s relationship with us. When I think about the Geosphere I’m always imagining it on youngster’s wrists, people with character, so: what do you think about it?
LL: Thank you, I look very young, but that is a secret! But one thing I know is that being young starts in your head, and being young is being curious and observing the world, trying to be happy every day. If something surprises you in life, that’s a successful day, and it will make you younger.
For the watch I feel the same: if it’s only a timepiece, even with the best complication, something is missing, and the missing element is the emotion.
You can’t and you don’t have to cheat with emotions. You can’t create them from nothing, you must have a strong basis. And we have it, it is Minerva, its innovation and story, with the Montblanc’s story and emblem, which has a strong meaning. And from that, you’ll see in the upcoming years what’s coming next.
AC: Thank you so much. I know you love Italy…
LL: Yes, I’m a big lover. I’ve been there several times, Firenze…
I love the mentality, the way people dress, the attention to the details… I love it!
AC: Wow! Hope to meet your expectations then!
LL: You do Andrea, I love your look and attention to the details, we do care a lot about it!
AC: In love with your jacket too! And you’re right, we’re picky, we always criticize things. That’s why I wanted to know what is your relationship with my country. I mean, some people don’t know your watches, and some are into them a lot. So, on your side, what is developing in Italy with Montblanc?
LL: I think that if a lady gets flowers she’ll be happy no matter what country she is from, because there is only one language with flowers. And if you take one of our watches it is the same. If it creates emotions we can speak to everybody with the emotions, the only language we all have.
AC: Love the metaphor, thank you so much, really unexpected. So, overall, are you satisfied with this year’s novelties? It is not an easy period. How is it going?
LL: I’m very excited about the green gold (ndr: the Split Second Chronograph LE 18, that you can see above), I find it very cool. And I think we have a nice collection, a good one. But once again, the goal is to increase a different section. We’re strong with the 1858, we’re strong with the Pythagore, and I’m working with my team on increasing the classical side. We have a surprise coming this year so, thank you for your positive feedback but I can guarantee that you’ll be surprised next year as well!
AC: I surely will! Last one: what is your goal, personal goal, with this new experience?
LL: My personal goal is developing the brand, creating more perceived value, based on our roots and storytelling, developing the new section, always working together with my team. I think that a captain isn’t a captain without a crew, and I think my colleagues are the best ambassadors possible for the brand. Here you don’t see Laurent Lecamp, but the 120 people in Villeret, and that is what I want to insist on.
AC: I think it is very very true! Personal one: personal favorite among the novelties?
LL: Simple: the next one I’ll create! Joking, it’s very difficult. I love the innovation of the laser oxidation, but on the same hand I love the Minerva calibers, because they’re assembled by one and only one watchmaker. And there are so many components, and the spiral is developed internally. It’s something that very few companies can do. And having people that have been working here for 58 year is something unique, that makes the movements unique.
AC: Yes, would love to be your guest one day and meet them!
LL: Andrea, it will be my pleasure to meet you!
AC: Thank you and love the French accent, hope to meet you very soon.
LL: Thanks to you!
Thanks to Montblanc for the opportunity, and to you for reading us.
For those who are curious, I’ll leave you our video about the new Geosphere below!
