Founded by a Hamburg stationer in 1906, the company began as the Simplo Filler Pen company in 1908 before adopting the Montblanc trademark in 1911. The company was subsequently acquired by Dunhill and now forms part of the Richemont group. Its sister companies include luxury brands Cartier, Van Cleef and Arpels, Chloe, and Baume et Mercier.

The trademark most clearly identified with Montblanc is the white stylized six-pointed star with rounded edges, representative of the Mont Blanc snowcap from above, the symbol being adopted in 1913. The number "4810”, the mountain's metric height, is a commonly recurring theme.

All Montblanc watches are manufactured a thousand meters above sea level in the mountains of the Swiss Jura, far away from the bustle and noise of city life. Even though this is the home of time, time here seems to stand still: Le Locle, the birthplace of traditional Swiss watchmaking and home to the world’s finest watchmakers for centuries.

Le Locle is also the home of Montblanc Montre S. A. All Montblanc watches are created in a picturesque art nouveau villa, which was built in 1906 – the same year the cornerstone for the company Montblanc was placed.

The perception of nature provides the silence, Montblancs master watchmakers need to assemble their watches with meticulous care. Each individual part is checked – not even the slightest defect or blemish escapes their trained eyes. And every time a balance of a mechanical movement is finally lifted and begins to oscillate, the master craftsmen are overcome yet again by the sensation of ultimate joy that comes with bringing a new watch to life.

Finally, the time has come. All pieces lay accurately next to one another on the assembly desk. This is the moment at Montblanc watchmaker anticipates most. For now he will create a watch out of all its separate parts. Not just any kind of watch, but something special: a Montblanc Meisterstuck.

To perform his skills, a watchmaker especially needs three things: perfect tools, a calm hand and a lot of patience. That’s what matters when tiny pieces are put together with tweezers and magnifying classes. Piece by piece. Step by step. Hour by hour. The more pieces intertwine with each other perfectly the more the tension of the watchmaker rises.

A master watchmaker works up to 300 hours on one clockwork. One last check with the ocular that extends the eye of the watchmaker so naturally that one would think he was born with it. Then he breathes life into his masterpiece and puts the movement into motion. A satisfied smile confirms his effort. The watchmaker cradles his masterpiece in his hand: a Meisterstuck has been created.

To celebrate the company’s 100’s birthday, Montblanc launched exclusive Anniversary Editions throughout the year featuring the Montblanc Diamond: A unique diamond with 43 facets, cut in the form of the Montblanc signet. After eight years of research and development to achieve maximum brilliance, Montblanc is now the first brand worldwide to possess a diamond cut derived from its logo.