Not long from now, WatchTime New York 2022 will return to Midtown Manhattan’s Gotham Hall, helping bring the watch world together for one of the biggest events of the fall. The three day exhibition will take place from October 21-23, with each day dedicated to showcasing the many fantastic timepieces of more than 30 participating brands and fostering fantastic conversations between enthusiasts and watchmakers.
Among those participating brands is Montblanc, with the maker set to display its new 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen Limited Edition (ref. MB129415). True to its name, the watch excludes oxygen entirely from the spaces within the movement, being the second caliber introduced by Montblanc to do so. The oxygen-free watch was designed in tribute to mountaineer Simon Messner, who uses as little equipment as possible in his exhibitions and therefore has never used supplemental oxygen, even during his most challenging ascents. This past August, Messner set off from France with the 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen strapped to his wrist to begin the ascent of the Mont Blanc, soon after pushing the timepiece through some the harshest conditions on Earth and testing its zero-oxygen capabilities.
On the wrist, the watch measure 42mm in bronze, featuring the familiar silhouette seen in previous Geospheres, complete with slim curved lugs and the use of both polished and satin finishing. Also in line with previous Geosphere watches, a bi-directional bronze bezel filled with a black ceramic insert displays each of the cardinal directions. Then flipping the model over displays a case back produced from a bronze-coated titanium, the solid surface depicting a three-dimensional laser engraving of the Mont Blanc.
Underneath the sapphire crystal, a blue glacial pattern with blue, black, and bronze accents is at work. The same as other models in the Geosphere collection, the dial features two three-dimensional globes that turn anti-clockwise at 12 and 6 o’clock, with one representing the northern hemisphere and the other the southern. Besides serving as a visual signature for the series, the two globes also include day and night indications which assist the watch in serving as an effective worldtimer, complete with day and night indications. In addition to its travel functionality, the LE also showcases the running hours and minutes, as well as a date window at the 3 o’clock and a dedicated second time zone sub-dial at the 9 o’clock position.
Powering the uncommon watch is the caliber MB 29.25, which uses a Sellita SW300 base caliber with an in-house module that is specially adjusted to keep oxygen away from its mechanical components. The automatic caliber is capable of an approximately 42-hour power reserve.
The Montblanc Geosphere 0 Oxygen Limited Edition is a limited production of 1,786 pieces, the number referencing the date of the first ascent of Mont Blanc on August 8, 1786. Available now and listed at $6,800, the new watch can be purchased from the brand directly and via authorized boutiques.
To learn more about the latest Montblanc, visit the brand’s website, here.
To see the new watch in person, along with hundreds of other new, rare, and interesting timepieces, be sure to reserve your tickets now for WatchTime New York 2022!
