Long recognised for excellence in writing instruments and leather goods, Montblanc has carved a place in high watchmaking through its acquisition of the historic Minerva manufacture in 2007, renowned for its precision chronometry since 1858. This legacy of technical mastery has made Montblanc a sought-after name among collectors, who now clamour for new releases before they know what they are, according to Montblanc Global MD – Watch Division, Writing Instruments, and Accessories Laurent Lecamp.
Setting the scene against a Mount Vinson, Antarctica backdrop, in a sneak preview for select media ahead of the much-anticipated Watches and Wonders Geneva reveal on April 1, 2025, Lecamp referenced their long-standing brand ambassador and acclaimed mountaineer, Reinhold Messner, for their latest collaboration.
Mount Vinson is the highest peak in Antarctica at 4 892m and one of the coveted seven summits on seven continents named by Messner in the eighties when he made history by being the first to climb the highest mountains in the world without using additional oxygen. “We decided this year to dedicate a piece to the Messner list, and we started with the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen Mount Vinson Limited Edition,” he says.
Why is it so special? The piece maintains the zero-oxygen concept associated with Messner’s mountaineering feats, which has made the collection so sought after among adventurers and watch enthusiasts alike. There is zero oxygen inside the watch, which prevents oxidation of the components, and ensures zero humidity inside the watch. That means extreme temperature changes during adventure travel have no impact on the watch’s functioning. “When you are travelling around the world, heading for a destination where the temperature might be 20 degrees Celsius on the ground, but –40 degrees Celsius at a mountain summit, the temperature change will make drops appear inside the watch, due to the humidity. With zero oxygen inside the watch, that will never happen,” explains Lecamp.
His experience conquering the Antarctic Ice Marathon with Simon Messner, Reinhold’s son, in December 2023, inspires the colour palette. The case is the exact colour of the ice from a glacier that they saw, liked and photographed, now featured in this watch.
It is powered by the Automatic movement MB 29.25, featuring the Manufacture Worldtime complication developed by Minerva engineers, housed in a 43.5mm titanium case with a composite material middle case, a world premiere.
“This new piece has something very interesting in terms of material. We use resin to bind all the materials together, which includes CaCO₃, a solid form of captured CO₂ that we transform into a solid here in Switzerland – a premiere for Montblanc and a very innovative development in the world of watchmaking.
Additionally, we incorporate basalt and quartz fibres, drawing inspiration from the world of mountaineering. The quartz fibres, in particular, evoke the natural stones found in the Montblanc Massif.”
Careful calibration of the proportions of each component achieves the distinctive colour of the case.
Meanwhile, the revolving northern and southern hemispheres on the blue-green sfumato glacier pattern dial, which takes 30 days to create, are realised in 3D, with seven dots marking the location of the seven summits on Messner’s list. The bidirectional rotatable bezel has a light grey anodised aluminium insert, and on the opposite side to the crown, you’ll notice the Mount Vinson signature outline created by injecting glow-in-the-dark Super-Luminova by hand. The surface is domed, not flat, which makes the procedure more challenging.
The case back is particularly interesting. It features a 3D rendering of Mont Blanc, which looks almost like a photograph, created without the use of a camera. Instead, advanced laser technology is used to engrave it directly onto the titanium case back, as only titanium can enable this unique effect.
“We use up to seven high-precision lasers, each valued between 1 and 1.2 million euros. The process requires several hundred hours to perfect the design, but once finalised, each case back takes only four to five hours to produce. The lasers create the contours, depths, and even variations in tone, making the engraving look like a photograph – though it isn’t one.
This engraving is exceptionally durable. No matter how much you sweat or how humid the environment is, it will never fade. Surrounding the image, you’ll find the names of the seven highest mountains on the seven continents: Kilimanjaro (Africa), Elbrus (Europe, Russia), Vinson (Antarctica), Puncak Jaya (Oceania), Everest (Asia), Aconcagua (South America), and Denali (North America),” says Lecamp.
This year, Montblanc is also introducing an innovative new strap. The ropes used by mountaineers inspire one side, while the other features a mountaineer’s profile pattern to enhance breathability and wrist comfort. Additionally, the strap is designed for easy removal and replacement, allowing you to adapt the watch to your needs with ease.
The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen Mount Vinson Limited Edition is limited to 986 pieces as a nod to 1986, the year Messner completed his first ascent of Mount Vinson.
The background to Lecamp’s online presentation switches from winter to summer as he “relocates” to the icy depths of a cave inside Mont Blanc that inspired extensions to the Iced Sea collection. Previously available only in 41mm, the highly popular Montblanc Iced Sea Automatic Date 0 Oxygen now comes in both 38mm and 41mm, with striking glacier-pattern dials in blue and white.
A key innovation is the introduction of zero-oxygen technology to this collection, ensuring enhanced durability and performance at high altitudes and extreme conditions. In line with Montblanc’s commitment to its customers, existing Iced Sea owners can upgrade their timepieces to the zero-oxygen standard for just €170, a process that includes a maintenance check and is performed locally for convenience.
Both versions feature stainless steel cases, anodised aluminium bezels for the blue model, and white ceramic bezels for the white model. “With the blue and white dial, featuring a pattern and colour always inspired by the ice, this is our DNA, the roots where we are coming from, and we respect the values of Montblanc,” says Lecamp. “Then on the case back, you still have the 3D effect with the particular engraving technique used to portray the scene of a diver exploring a glacier.”
The watches come with an interchangeable stainless steel bracelet with a taper and fine adjustment system and a rubber strap designed for breathability and comfort, incorporating the glacial pattern. As an ISO-certified diving watch, the minimum requirement for water resistance is around 300 metres. Montblanc’s Iced Sea is tested to at least 375 metres.
With a luminous glow reminiscent of glacial ice and meticulous craftsmanship requiring 30 days per dial, the new Iced Sea collection remains true to Montblanc’s heritage while pushing the boundaries of watchmaking innovation.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, no pun intended, and I look forward to sharing more about Montblanc’s launches for the year, including the Montblanc 1858 Annual Calendar Geosphere Limited Edition, which reflects archival design detail from Minerva.
