In recent years, the 1858 Geosphere, a GMT timepiece which presents both the Northern and Southern hemispheres with two three-dimensional globes including day & night indication, has become one of Montblanc’s most popular and sought-after watches.
At this years Watches & Wonders, the brand unveiled the the 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygene, with an added stop function. However, there was more to it: As the name implies, there is no oxygen inside the case which helps to prevent corrosion and fogging when exposed to extreme temperature fluctuation. Thanks to special sealing, air cannot enter even when the crown is pulled or the push-pieces are pressed. In terms of design, the watch surprised with a beautiful dial that draws inspiration from the glacial lakes of the Mont Blanc Massif. Ascending via the Chamonix Valley to the Mer de Glace, the Maison’s designers were captivated by the texture of the ice with its interlocking network of crystals that have been frozen in time for millennia. By using an almost-forgotten ancestral technique called, “gratté boisé”, they were able to evoke this glacial pattern on the dial.
While this watch was presented in titanium, the latest iteration comes in a bronze case with a reduced diameter of 42mm and bi-directional knurled ceramic bezel with luminescent cardinal points surrounding the glacier pattern dial. The 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen LE 1786 is also driven by the MB 29.25 automatic movement. The watch was conceived in partnership with the legendary mountaineer, Reinhold Messner’s son, Simon Messner. To underline his respect for mountaineering, he ascended the Mont Blanc in August, with this very watch as a companion.
Limited to 1,786 pieces, the watch will retail for $6,800.
To learn more, visit Montblanc, here.
