OF THE STARS AND SEAS

It is inconceivable discussing luxury without Johann Rupert’s name cropping up. After all, the 65-year-old Stellenbosch-born tycoon is almost a byword for luxury goods, having led Richemont, the Swiss-based luxury goods company that he founded in 1988 and whose stable of brands include names as venerable as Cartier, Piaget, Van Cleef & Arpels and, of course, Montblanc, to dizzying heights of success. With a net worth of USD7.3billion as of November 2014, according to Forbes, it’s clear that Mr Rupert drives luxury. It, therefore, seemed doubly-fitting that South Africa played host for what has been, quite possibly, one of the house of Montblanc’s most elegant and interesting ways in which to give the world media a sneak preview of its just-released horological collection –dedicated to Vasco da Gama, the legendary maritime explorer.

Upon arrival in Cape Town, we were shuttled straight off to the Tintswalo Lodge, where Montblanc International’s CEO, Jérôme Lambert, looking relaxed in casual shirt and jeans, welcomed us. Hugging the Atlantic shoreline, the approach to Tintswalo was already nothing short of jaw-dropping, taking us along the famous Chapman’s Peak Drive and, finally, to the charming lodge itself, nestled halfway between Hout Bay and Cape Town. There, under the shade of milkwood trees and facing the shimmering ocean waters, we were given an introduction of what to expect over the coming days.

THE SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION
Looking out at the serene waters of Hout Bay today, it is hard to imagine what da Gama must have experienced over 500 years ago. Commissioned by King Manuel in 1497 to seek out new sea routes in order to help Portugal access the spice markets in Asia, much of the world was terra incognita to da Gama as well as the rest of Europe. It was still an age when the principal seafaring peoples of the world were separated by expansive bodies of water in which sea creatures were thought to live. Indeed, many then believed the world was flat and that, if one sailed too far, one would literally fall off the edge of it. It was a time when the southern Indian Ocean was still unmarked by ships and, so, it was in this spirit that Lambert welcomed us all to “the Southern Hemisphere. There is a good reason we are here in Cape Town today as it possesses a deep-rooted history. All the treasures of the east beckoned and the difficulties of the Silk Road vanquished with Vasco da Gama’s sea-route through the Cape of Good Hope.”

On the selection of da Gama as the inspiration behind the house of Montblanc’s latest collection, Lambert acknowledged that “vision, audacity and capability were needed to conquer terra incognita, so da Gama was a natural and easy choice.”

One of the world’s greatest discoverers and explorers, da Gama remains best known for his success in establishing a new maritime route to the east as well as being the first European to reach India by sea, through the southern passage. Born into a noble family in Sines, Portugal, da Gama had sailed from the River Tagus in Lisbon on 8 July 1497 to embark on a two-year voyage that would see him spending 300 days at sea. With just a crew of 60, da Gama successfully travelled 24,000 miles – an astounding distance and feat of seafaring prowess, considering all he had then as a navigation aid were the stars. “Sextants didn’t even exist then,” Lambert points out. “He was 200 years ahead of his time. The only tool available was a rudimentary astrolabe. Thus, we felt da Gama embodies the same standards as Montblanc, a brand that is always in a quest for absolute precision and reliability.”

VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY
“The intrinsic quality of a watch is of utmost importance,” stresses Lambert, “and this includes precision, power reserve and functionality. Hence, our new line is dedicated to these ideals and we especially wanted to pay tribute to these qualities. We looked around for a candidate to be the hero of precision in fine watchmaking and thought back to the time and age when precision could just save your life,” he muses.

“We found da Gama to be a very good symbol for Montblanc,” Lambert continues. “He traversed the north and south, a perfect icon to represent our global presence. He was a discoverer with an incessant quest for precision, which also juxtaposes Montblanc’s classic expression that ties back with our strong connection to our heritage and Minerva history.” Journalists comprising 24 different nationalities had each been flown in for this -a special coming-together of Mont-Blanc 4810 Club members, each of whom serve as core communicators in the watch industry. On the choice of Cape Town, Lambert smiles and asks: “Where better? South Africa is the perfect point that bridges east and west. It was important to find a particular location,” he continues. “I wanted the attention to the line to be very focused and, yet, also to be able to bring in and share the emotion of discovering a new land, a new country. For many of us on this trip, it is our first time to South Africa. I want to bring this emotion through – of being in this part of the world for the first time; to discover a brand new line with Montblanc; and, as well, my first time to welcome you all on a journey with Montblanc.”

O CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
Indeed, hearing Lambert speak of Montblanc, one would easily have forgotten he is relatively new to the maison. Having just joined Montblanc a year and a half ago, for over a decade, Lambert was the wunderkind of Richemont – the youthful star of a luxury goods conglomerate. 2002 saw him catapult to the CEO’s position at just 33 years of age, heading up the venerable 180-year-old high watchmaking house of Jaeger-LeCoultre. In his 12 years there, Lambert made a name for his vision, drive and leadership, which translated to the brand chalking up numerous horological milestones for its timepieces as well as being honoured at internationally renowned timing competitions – a trend which, it undoubtedly appears, he is carrying on at Montblanc.

“Words are nice, but products are even nicer, yes?” he asks, cheekily. Having moved on to the Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town’s pink-hued grande dame that sits prettily in the shadow of Table Mountain, Lambert and his team have assembled us all today for a special preview of what will, at press time, be shown at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva. “Vasco da Gama’s obsession for precision is the inspiration behind this new collection. His ideals guide us and mark the boundaries,” Lambert shares.

Performance requires precision and this is reflected in every aspect of this outstanding new Heritage Chronométrie collection, which includes special Vasco da Gama editions for the Quantieme Complet, the Quantieme Annuel and, not just any tourbillon, but an ExoTourbillon Chronograph. In fitting tribute to da Gama, the night sky of 1497 inspired Montblanc’s unique moonphase display at 6 o’clock for some of the pieces, while others allow you to wear the sky of the Southern Hemisphere, as punctuated by the stars of the Southern Cross, on your wrist. Every watch will also carry individual quality certificates of Montblanc’s 500-hour laboratory tests, which signify that the timepiece has been 360° tested under the toughest conditions, including for shock-resistance, water-resistance and continuous accuracy control. Unveiling marvel after marvel, Lambert saved a particularly special piece for the gala dinner, which was held at Cape Town’s historical Castle of Good Hope – the Villeret Tourbillon Cylindrique Vasco da Gama, a limited edition of just 18 pieces.

Having launched numerous high-end pieces as well as new full collections over the past 16 months, including the Bohème collection and the Star Twin Moonphase, intense would hardly begin to describe the pace at Montblanc. “We see our customers as doers and our products as their fine lifetime companions,” explains Lambert. “What we create at Montblanc are tools of missions – the enablers and empowerers of achievers. This is luxury with meaning, function, depth and timeless design. We at Montblanc are also on an extremely interesting journey, and we aim to reveal this inherent competence and leverage on our new collection to connect Villeret and Le Locle to showcase the value in our products, as well as the results of incredible movement development.”

SALUT, MONTBLANC
Despite battling time zones and with a punishing schedule in South Africa, Lambert looks fit and bright-eyed as ever, starting every morning with lengthy, punishing runs – something he says invigorates him and sets him up for the day. “In my first 100 days at Montblanc, I was very clear about my vision,” he lets on. “We launched a new advertising campaign as well as retail concepts while consistently working on new lines. I also wanted to have as much contact as possible with our people and I must say how amazing, in just over a year and a half, it has been to discover the passion for Montblanc both within and without the maison.” The Australian film star, Hugh Jackman, has proven to be a great ambassadorial success for the brand, with Lambert pronouncing the collaboration as “fruitful and very positive.” In December 2014, as a salvo for the key Chinese market, Montblanc also announced badminton champion Lin Dan as its new China brand ambassador.

2015 and beyond, for Lambert, will remain focused on travel, with several visits to South-East Asia factored into the equation. “I am still frustrated I haven’t been able to meet enough of our people. It is important to make contact as we are a team.” With Montblanc’s performance on an upward trajectory, Lambert acknowledges the visible growth although he concedes the global market remains challenging. “Instability is becoming more commonplace and the luxury market feels the impact,” he admits. “The world we live in is increasingly restive and the era, the good times, of having one type of product and enjoying growth is over. It is a multi-polarised world now, in terms of products, influences and clients. My aim now is to develop richer multi-product portfolios and activity, particularly in our leather and watch segments,” before adding with a cheeky grin, “as we already dominate the writing market.”

And, just as Lambert had earlier shared in wanting the emotion of discovery and exploration to come through on this South African journey, he didn’t stop with da Gama. As an unforgettable finale, the team at Montblanc had also arranged for an exclusive visit to Johann Rupert’s winery, L’Ormarins, and car museum. Making our way from the Mount Nelson Hotel, we were dropped off at the entrance to the Franschhoek Motor Museum, which houses an extensive collection of precious vehicles, including an 1898 Beeston motor-tricycle, an Austro-Daimler Bergmeister, a Maserati 6CM and a 2003 Ferrari Enzo. The museum houses more than 220 cars, with at least 80 on exhibit at any one time. From here, we were chauffeured to lunch in true style, with a convoy of these automotive treasures taking turns to drop us off (my vehicle of choice was a 1936 Rolls-Royce Phantom 2) in the nearby vineyards. Originally managed by his brother Anthonij, Johann Rupert had taken over L’Ormarins after his younger sibling passed away in a car accident in 2001. Intending to preserve the memory of his late brother, Rupert then proceeded to enhance the winery, pumping in all the necessary funds as well as seeing to every detail that have since made the name Anthonij Rupert a byword for one of South Africa’s top drops. As one of the staff at L’Ormarins let slip: “Mr Rupert understands only one thing: luxury.” And, just like time, that sense of understanding is something money cannot buy.
TIMELINE
A quick look at the life and times of Vasco da Gama.

One of the most renowned maritime explorers, Dom Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese nobleman and the first European to reach India by sea, a significant achievement as it paved the way for his country’s ensuing naval supremacy and domination of the trade routes into Asia, particularly the lucrative and legendary spice routes, as well as heralding in the first wave of global multiculturalism. Said to be born sometime in the 1460s, the epic poem, much like Virgil’s Aeneid and Homer’s Odyssey, Os Lusíadas is written in his honour.

1460
Da Gama is born into a Portuguese noble family sometime around this decade. Around the same time, England is caught up in the turbulence caused between Yorkists and Lancastrians in the Wars of the Roses.

1497
Da Gama is appointed by the Portuguese government to command an expedition in order to find a maritime route to the east and sets sail from Lisbon in July on his mission. A few months prior, another maritime explorer, the Italian Amerigo Vespucci, leaves Cadiz to embark on his first voyage to the New World.

1498
The expedition reaches the Indian Coast in May, paving the way for future expeditions to the lucrative spice routes of the East. The same year, Leonardo da Vinci completes The Last Supper on the refectory walls of the Milanese church of Santa Maria delle Grazie.

1502
Da Gama sets sail once again for Calicut, India, establishing Portuguese trading posts along the way and back. Across the ocean, fellow Portuguese explorers, led by Pedro Álvares Cabral, sail into Guanabara Bay. Mistaking it for a river mouth, they name it Rio de Janeiro.

1520
Da Gama is nominated as Portuguese viceroy in India while his country’s maritime achievements continue, with Ferdinand Magellan and his crew reaching the Pacific Ocean, becoming the first Europeans to sail from the Atlantic to the Pacific by navigating through a South American strait that was later renamed the Strait of Magellan.

1524
Having fallen ill in Cochin, da Gama passes away on Christmas Eve in 1524. While near Colombia, the legendary Spanish conquistador, Francisco Pizarro, begins his first great expedition.

1539
Da Gama’s body is sent home to Portugal for burial as, further north in Kartarpur, Sikhs mourn the death of the founder of their religion, Guru Nanak.