The brand Mont Blanc are best known for their range of luxury writing instruments. Their most famous model – the Meisterstück – was introduced in 1924 and the brand soon went from strength to strength. After 1935 a range of leather goods were introduced including wallets and pen cases. We have to wait until 1997 for the first collection of Mont Blanc watches – these continued with the brands aesthetic, though over the years some models have moved away from an exclusively classic look. Top Mont Blanc models include the TimeWalker, Tradition and, as we have on the bench today, an automatic version of the Star.
Servicing a Mont Blanc Star Automatic Watch
Our client’s watch arrived working but not keeping time. We begin with the usual visual inspection and checking of the basic functions before moving on to inspection of the movement. This revealed a number of reasons why this watch was not keeping time or working as it should. We identified wear to the reversing wheel and found many pivots to be running dry. Ideally, an automatic watch like this should be serviced every 3-5 years. This helps to prevent wear by ensuring oils and greases are fresh.
“We strongly recommend having most automatic watches serviced every 3-5 years.”
The movement powering this watch is an ETA calibre 2892-A2. This is a popular, good quality Swiss automatic movement. The ETA 2892-A2 is found in many other top brands including Omega, Longines and Tag Heuer. These brands often use high grade versions of the movement which are decorated and customised, though the base architecture remains the same as the standard version found in some mid-range watches.
The Service Process: Disassembly, Cleaning, and Reassembly
To service and repair this Mont Blanc watch, it is first fully disassembled and each part inspected. As is often the case in watches which haven’t been serviced for a while (or those which have seen daily wear), there is notable wear to the reverser. This is often a point for significant wear, as it is a key component in the automatic winding mechanism.
The disassembled movement is pre-cleaned and checked by hand before it is run through our Elma Solvex watch movement cleaning machine, while the case is cleaned in a separate ultrasonic cleaner. After cleaning, the movement is carefully reassembled and oiled with replacement parts fitted. We follow the movement manufacturer’s technical specifications for this calibre, ensuring all correct oils and greases are used.
Once the movement is back together we can refit the dial and hands before casing the watch. When it’s cased up we do a final test on the timing machine before moving the watch officially on to test before it is released to our client. We test it’s correct automatic winding, continued functioning within tolerances, manual winding and setting.
Summary
This Mont Blanc Star watch arrived with us completely stopped. Upon inspection, we found wear to the reversing wheel and dry pivots. It was certainly due for a service. The watch houses an ETA calibre 2892-A2 high-quality Swiss movement.
The service involved fully disassembling the movement, cleaning each component, and replacing worn parts. After careful reassembly and lubrication following manufacturer specifications, it is back to excellent working order.
Regular servicing every 3-5 years is crucial to maintaining an automatic watch’s longevity and precision, ensuring it continues to perform as intended.
It’s a pleasure to repair a Mont Blanc Star watch – do get in touch if you have a Mont Blanc watch in need of restoration.
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