Montblanc’s CEO Finds a Foothold in the Smartwatch Fray

Watches might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Montblanc, but its chief executive officer, Jérôme Lambert, is working to change that. Since his arrival in 2013, the brand has been strategically pumping up its watch division right alongside the luxury pens and leather goods on which it made its name. And now Lambert's taking on smartwatches, too.

The Montblanc e-Strap is a secondary device worn on a watch's strap to add such functions as calendar alerts and e-mail notifications without interfering with the mechanical watch above. It will be hitting stores in Europe in late August and will arrive in the U.S. by early October. It's worth noting that, for now, Montblanc will not be making the e-Strap available as a standalone device. You'll have to purchase it bundled with one of three Montblanc watches, with all-in prices ranging from $3,140 to $4,900.