MONTFORT
By James Henderson
IT’S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT
THE USE OF 3D PRINTING, PARTICULARLY
IN THE WATCH BUSINESS, IS NOT EXACTLY
NEW. MANY TRADITIONAL WATCH BRANDS
HAVE BEEN USING 3D PRINTING TO CREATE
RENDERINGS AND SAMPLES TO THEN
SEND TO THE CASE MAKERS FOR QUITE
SOME TIME. BUT FOR THE MOST PART,
3D PRINTING WAS SEEN AS MORE OF A
MEANS TO AN END PRODUCT RATHER
THAN THE PRODUCT ITSELF. WELL, IF THE
WATCHES PRODUCED BY MONTFORT AND
HOLTHINRICHS ARE ANYTHING TO GO BY, I
SUSPECT THAT IS ABOUT TO CHANGE.
Beyond Prototypes
3D printing is ready for Prime Time
M
ontfort was founded a few years back with the goal of
creating a truly all-around watch that might hope to sur-
vive a day of real life without acquiring a ton of scratches
Currently offering a standard collection known as the Strata as
well as a handful of limited editions.
Three models comprise the Strata collection -
on the case. Montfort’s watch cases are perhaps some of the most The James features a ‘clous de Paris’ design.
durable, and scratch resistant available. This is thanks to their use of $2,015
something they describe as Super Stainless Steel. Super Stainless
Steel has been developed in conjunction with AIM SA of Switzerland
and Expanite A/S of Denmark. This was not exactly an “off the shelf”
solution as it was originally developed for use offshore and in the aero-
space industry. It is a gaseos carbo-nitriding technology. The
end result? Perhaps the ultimate stainless-steel watch case on the
market today.
SO HOW DOES IT WORK? PER MONTFORT:
By diffusing at low temperature both nitrogen and carbon into the
surface of the material, a layer is formed with a case depth of ap-
proximately 0.04mm (0.0016 in) with a surface hardness around 1200
HV (Hardness Vickers scale). The treated steel is 8 times harder than
standard steel improving drastically the resistance to scratches.
But the real stars of the Montfort collection are the dials. How
many Swiss made brands out there produce watches with 3D printed
dials? Montfort was by most accounts the first. They partner with
Swedish firm Digital Metal to create their uniquely textured, compli-
cated dials. These intricate dials are only possible to achieve through
3D printing.
74 | AboutTime Magazine
James