The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition 1858 is a brand new model from the Le Locle- and Villeret-based horology house. Despite its Swiss heritage, the timepiece takes its inspiration from the colours of the Gobi desert. With only 1858 pieces available, the complicated watch’s functions include turning northern and southern hemisphere globes, as well as a 24-hour scale and day/night indication. Additionally, the watch carries the Montblanc Laboratory Test 500 certification.
Why the desert theme?
Montblanc’s inspiration for the dusky desert colour scheme stems from its ambassador Reinhold Messner’s 2004 solo trek of 2000 km across the Gobi Desert – Asia’s largest desert. Spanning 1,600 km across China and Mongolia, it holds a reputation as one of the most famous paleontological sites in the world. In fact, the vast expanse is considered to be the largest dinosaur fossil reservoir in the world. In 2004, Messner became the first person to trek solo 2,000 km (1,250 miles) across it. Furthermore, he was the first person (along with climbing partner Peter Habeler) to summit Everest solo and without supplemental oxygen.
The Dial
This is not the first time Montblanc has introduced a watch to honour its partnership with Messner. In 2020, the brand released its first Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Messner Limited Edition, in a bronze case with a deep blue dial.
This time, however, the lacquered dial’s design code echoes the Gobi Desert, known for its combination of sand and exposed bare rock. Therefore, the dial’s colour scheme shifts from smoked brown to beige, and features rose-gold hands and applied indices – both of which are legible 24/7 thanks to the use of beige Super-LumiNova. Likewise, the two hemispheres use the same materials.
The Case
Encountering extreme temperatures, from freezing winters to boiling summers, Messner inspires many people with his spirit of adventure. This is another aspect that makes the Montblanc 1858 a fitting model of choice for a watch in his honour. The Montblanc 1858 collection of tool watches takes its inspiration from the military Minerva chronographs from the 1920s and 1930s, and aims to encapsulate the spirit of exploration.
With this in mind, the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition 1858 comes in a hardy 42 mm bronze case with slim, curved horns. The bi-directional bronze bezel with shiny brown ceramic features knurled finishing around the edge, as well as engraved cardinal points coated with Super-LumiNova. As an adventurer’s watch, Montblanc also include a domed, anti-reflective and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. Additionally, the case also helps to ensure water-resistance to 100 metres (10 bar).
By contrast, the bronze-coated titanium caseback features an engraving of the Gobi Desert’s famous “Flaming Cliffs”. These cliffs were on Messner’s route across Northern Asia. Paleontological discoveries at the location include fossilised dinosaur eggs and specimens of Velociraptors, discovered back in the 1920s. Interestingly, Montblanc recreate the Gobi Desert on the caseback in 3D using a special technique. After the titanium is structured, a laser decorates the engraving to create the drawing.
Then, the picture’s matt and shiny elements are likewise created using a laser. Montblanc colours the picture on the caseback using laser-generated oxidation, as the level of oxidation determines the metal’s final colour. Meanwhile, the lower half of the caseback also depicts a wind rose compass with a decoration representing the wind, with its patterns taking inspiration from traditional Mongolian ornaments.
The Functions
The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition 1858 integrates an array of interesting functions, aside from hours and minutes. First and foremost, the watch displays two turning hemispheres at 6 and 12 o’clock, which indicate two different time zones. Around both hemispheres is a fixed scale with the 24 time zones, as well as a day/night indicator for the Northern and Southern hemispheres respectively. Furthermore, Montblanc highlight the longitude reference meridian on both hemispheres with a black line.
An additional time zone subdial lies at 9 o’clock, while the date is displayed at 3 o’clock. Surprisingly, the mechanism behind these functions is not difficult to set. In crown position 2, the user can adjust the hemispheres. Meanwhile, setting the hour hand in line with the local time is done in crown position 1, as is the date. Finally, the second time zone is set using the corrector at 10 o’clock.
The Calibre
Powering the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition 1858 is the automatic calibre MB 29.25, featuring the manufacture’s own worldtime complication. Along with a frequency of 2.5 Hz, it provides a 42-hour power reserve. Moreover, the watch and the movement within carry the Montblanc Laboratory Test 500 certification. This test involves the watch undergoing a number of tests over 500 hours, including:
Winding Performance and Assembly Control – Checking the winding performance and the timepiece’s final assembly
Continuous accuracy control – Ongoing monitoring of precision in all positions
Functions Control – Overall functioning of the watch
General Performance – Testing the rate and the functions in all positions
Water Resistance – Checking the water-resistance
The new timepiece (Ref. 128504) and two 1815 Geosphere siblings
Price and Availability
Last but not least, the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition 1858 comes with a vintage-style brown Sfumato calf strap with beige stitching and a bronze-coated stainless steel triple-folding clasp. This creates a very different look to its predecessor, which came with a NATO strap. With 1,858 individually numbered pieces available, the desert-inspired, complicated timepiece costs 5,950 euros.
Jaeger-LeCoultre is introducing its most complicated Reverso model ever; the Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185. Costing well over a million euros, it took over six years to develop. Furthermore, for the first time in history, this watch integrates no less than four functioning faces. It also marks the first watch of the brand to display…
Swiss manufacture is introducing the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon Moon, the first timepiece of the maison to combine a moonphase display and a tourbillon. The new timepiece also features a pink-gold case and a peripheraldate display. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon Moon is housed in a 41.5 mm Le Grand Rose Gold case.…
Three new timepieces have arrived, and they’re braced for an inevitably passionate exchange of opinions amongst collectors. The Calatrava collection is, on the one hand, deeply rooted in the history of Patek Philippe. Describing it as an ‘entry-level line’ is actually out of the question, because everything that distinguishes the manufacture and makes it so…
At today's Watches & Wonders, TUDOR introduced us to a new edition of its historic Black Bay model, which is available in a 32, 36, or 41 mm case. It features a novel silver dial, which the horology house and younger sibling of Rolex combines with a steel case. While some might say the dial…
When Piaget presented the world’s thinnest watch, the Altiplano Ultimate Concept, six years ago, it showed the world exactly what masterful, high-precision work can look like. With the invention of the caliber 9P, Piaget can already draw on 67 years of experience in the manufacturing of ultra-thin movements. To celebrate its 150th anniversary, the brand…
Rolex updates the Explorer line and presents the all-new Rolex Explorer with a 36 mm case made of stainless steel and yellow gold. In addition, the house also presents a variant that is made entirely of stainless steel and also measures 36 mm. Both models use the modern calibre 3230 with Chronergy escapement and 70-hour…
At the Geneva watch fair in January 2019 the Swiss watch manufacture, who already presented its first ultra thin watch in 1907, now launched the Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon (Ref. Q1682410) in pink gold. Like the first watches of this collection the design of the new model is simple, but elegant. The roundness of its case, the strong…
Ressence was born in 2010 with the purpose in mind to improve the function of the mechanical watch in the 21st century context. Ressence wants us to make better use of our time by focusing on our relation to it. Marking the 10th anniversary of Ressence, the Belgian-Swiss brand introduces the limited Type 1 Slim…
The independent manufacture Greubel Forsey is presenting a new, sporty timepiece. The Greubel Forsey Balancier S combines sport and chronometry with a titanium case that is water-resistant to 100 metres and a high-precision angled balance wheel. The new model comes on an integrated rubber strap with a titanium folding clasp. The titanium case of the…
For more than 20 years this line is part of the classics of the Geneva manufacture. Now Jaeger-LeCoultre introduces three further models of the 'Master Ultra Thin Collection' on the watch fair SIHH 2019. The new models are available with different special complications: a moon phases, tourbillon or perpetual calendar. The dial of these limited versions are made…
The world of watches is always on the lookout for an icon, and TAG Heuer is certainly delivering the goods with the revival of its breezy, colourful Skipper watch. The timepiece, which is historically a much-loved and distinctive model, has been out of action for the past 40 years. Now, it's returning just in time…
Panerai is presenting groundbreaking innovation with the Submersible Elux LAB-ID: LED panels that provide extraordinary luminosity, with the required energy being fully mechanically stored. The inspiration dates back to 1966 – the year when Panerai patented the LEDs called "Elux". They were primarily used by the Italian Navy, where they were valued for their reliability.…
Parmigiani Fleurier presents the Tonda PF Micro-Rotor Platinum Stone Blue, a limited edition of only 25 pieces that embodies understated luxury. The timepiece features a case and bracelet made of 950 platinum, complemented by a sandblasted Stone Blue dial with appliqués in 18-karat rhodium-plated gold. With a diameter of 40 mm and a height of…