HODINKEE Podcasts The Business of Watches [011] The Head Of Montblanc's Timepieces Division Laurent Lecamp On Minerva, Hairsprings, And What's Next For The Brand
On this week's The Business of Watches, we head to Villeret, Switzerland, and the storied Swiss watchmaker Minerva. The brand, founded in 1858, is truly the jewel within Montblanc's watchmaking division, which itself is part of Swiss luxury conglomerate Richemont. Laurent Lecamp is the man leading Montblanc and Minerva's watchmaking operations, and he sat down with us for a detailed discussion on Minerva and what he's doing to satisfy the clients that he calls "fans" and not customers. Montblanc and Minerva won't be participating in Watches and Wonders this year, and Lecamp outlines the different paths that the brands are taking within the Richemont group. He also talks about his penchant for running extreme marathons, sometimes wearing a Minerva or Montblanc timepiece.
But first, a new format to start the show. We're joined by Hodinkee senior business editor, Mark Kauzlarich, to chew over some of the business headlines making news in the watch world. We talk about potential executive changes in the top job at TAG Heuer and also discuss what we think the business strategy might be behind Omega's new Speedmaster that boasts a ceramic bezel, lacquered dial, and a new price tag.
Show Notes 0:30 Montblanc / Minerva 0:45 Audemars Piguet And Ten More Brands To Join Watches And Wonders For 2026 1:00 Minerva Is The Watchmaking Jewel Within Montblanc And Showcases Its Talents With A New Art Piece (Hodinkee) 2:00 Business Montres
3:50 TAG Heuer
7:10 Jean-Christophe Babin (Instagram)
8:50 The Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch Black & White (Hodinkee)
12:00 Hands-On The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean For 2025 (Hodinkee)
15:30 Villeret, Switzerland
16:36 Laurent Lecamp (Instagram)
17:40 GIA (Gemology Institute of America)
19:50 Cyrus Watches
23:00 Example of Minerva bezel
26:00 Montblanc's New Minerva Monopusher Chronograph (Hodinkee)
28:20 Montblanc Club M58 (Watchonista)
43:12 Montblanc Star Legacy Suspended Exo Tourbillon Château de Versailles (YouTube)
48:10 Richemont