I might not know the highest mountain in Europe, but I do know that it is ‘Montblanc’, when it comes to fountain pens. Montblanc, the iconic pen maker of all times, could have remained history in the hearts of its fans if it had not been ready for the regression of the writing instrument.

Montblanc further expanded its image to represent class and exquisite craftsmanship. You can always find the snow-covered peak logo on items gentlemen would carry, from ordinary notepads and fragrances to cuff links.

Wrist watches also bear great significance in Montblanc’s history of the star. As a result of bold investment to reflect Montblanc’s image of superior quality and technology, Montblanc became a watch brand with class, raising its bar from a mere fashion brand. Although the emergence of smart watches used by the tech-savvy millennial generation must have been a completely different challenge to the always-excelling watchmaker, Montblanc managed to release its first assignment rather earlier than expected. 

Design and build of the Montblanc Summit

The Montblanc Summit comes in a black hexahedral box with right angles on all corners. Although the image of the Summit watch is imprinted with gloss on the black matte background, it is the letters ‘Montblanc’ written in white that stand out. The simple package is typical Montblanc, emphasized only in black and white.

Opening the box, you will immediately see the all-black watch face of the Summit. There are two manuals, one charging cradle and a USB cable of fabric texture under the watch. Even all the includes are black or white. 

But there is something interesting about the charging cradle. The black cradle itself does not have any special functionalities other than its original purpose, but the star emblem imprinted in the middle actually looks like a white shining star.

with MR.TIME watch face ADVENTURER BLACK

Design with a twist

When I first opened the box, I was actually quite amazed by the excessively monotonous look of the watch. I didn’t expect that Montblanc would reflect its ultimate simplicity on its smartwatch in this way. Its form of display is mostly similar to the TicWatch that was reviewed last time, but other than that there was nothing particular about the watch to say that it truly is ‘Montblanc’.

But there was still something good about the watch. A disappointing first impression can end up being positively accepted the more time you spend with it. The main body and the strap were all black, but it was surprising that every part looked slightly different when exposed to light. The screen was shiny, the thin bezel absorbed the light and the main body radiated a black light that boasted its firm build. Moreover, the domed sapphire crystal glass covering the display and its protective film did not really consider the performance of the display. Rather than that, it focused on the refined look of the Summit. Thanks to that, I actually enjoyed wearing the Summit unlike other smartwatches.

The only bluffing you could find are the peripheral accessories of the button that look like the crown, which seem intentional to prevent the button from being easily pushed. The star emblem of Montblanc is carved on the button but is hard to notice. The back side of the watch where the heart rate sensor and the charging clip is, looks no different from any other smartwatch if it weren’t for the title ‘Montblanc Summit’.

Mismatch of a default watch face

Since watch brands like TAG Heuer put a lot of efforts into the watch faces of its smartwatches, Montblanc Summit also had to meet certain expectations, as smartwatches can be preferred by the watch face over the exterior look.

But once I turned on the watch and saw the default watch face, something felt pretty awkward and that feeling didn’t fade after switching to other watch faces. Why would a 1.39-inch and 400 x 400 AMOLED display look so awkward?

There could be two reasons. First, not only is the number of the default watch faces not many, but the complexity of the tachymeter and the hands do not go well with the simple build. Also, a colorful watch face on a hardware that’s basically black and white does not make a good balance.

Of course, there is nothing to complain about the functionality of the watch face. Accessing the frequently used functions from the display or checking the amount of workout works fine. It is just that I am not sure whether the watch screen goes well with the watch. Considering that the watch face is an important factor in making the image of watch, it is a pity that Montblanc chose functionality over the watch face.

It’s not that I didn’t like anything at all. There was one thing that I did like. It’s when the time is displayed in a small white text on the ‘urban’ watch face. It’s only the name ‘Montblanc’ and the time that is displayed, and it still looks stunning. The best way to describe the Montblanc Summit is that it looks best when it is asleep.

Always-On status of the default watch face ‘Urban’

Spending a cozy and nice day

Wearing the Montblanc Summit, I didn’t have to think about two issues. It is the wearable feeling and battery issue. The stainless-steel build of the Montblanc Summit does not make the watch featherlight. Nevertheless, it feels good to wear the watch compared to other smartwatches. I think the secret may lie in the strap and not the main body. The slightly thin and hard leather strap gently wraps the wrist and supports the weight of the watch. The watch will not slip down even if it is a bit loose and you can have a great day without having to take off the watch.

It is almost unnecessary to mention about the battery. If you leave in the morning and come back in the evening and put the Summit on the charging cradle, more than half of the battery would still be left. Of course, battery life depends on the use of the Summit, but it is fair to say that you don’t have to remember about the 300mAh battery capacity at all, unless you are really trying to use more.

Since the Montblanc Summit runs on the Android Wear 2.0, basic application programs can be downloaded and installed through Google Play. The IP68 water resistant certification guarantees that it is ok to wash your hands or be in the rain with your watch on. You could do most of the things that can be done on a smartwatch thanks to the various sensors, but it is not suitable for workout as there is no built-in GPS. 

STRENGTHS

• A design with a twist
• Comfortably wearable

WEAKNESSES

• A basic watch face without a balance point
• Not suitable for workout due to lack of GPS