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Montblanc Celebrates Mountaineering and Deep-Sea Expeditions with 2023 Releases

by Andre Frois . Mar 27, 2023

Montblanc Celebrates Mountaineering and Deep-Sea Expeditions with 2023 Releases

I, for one, love following the evolution of Montblanc, an age-old leather goods and fountain pens brand that has a young but booming watch division. Every spring, I wait with baited breath to see the new Montblanc novelties the moment they are released, because their watchmakers have poured their hearts and souls into these tickers in order to make them stand out, and to gradually grow Montblanc into a respected brand in the horological sphere.

Montblanc became a full manufacture in 2007 and is now synonymous with distinctive icons like the Montblanc Meisterstück watch. An elegant dress watch launched in 1997, the Meisterstück watch collection is distinguished by old-school details and is a tribute to the vaunted 1924 fountain pen of the same name. Montblanc also has a highly sought-after chronograph series dedicated to the inventor of the first inking chronograph, Nicolas Rieussec. First launched in 2008, the Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec series of chronograph watches are differentiated by their horizontally aligned chronograph sub dials, which resemble the dials of the chronograph that Nicolas Rieussec invented in 1821. In the field of complications, Montblanc has also created memorable timepieces like the TimeWriter Metamorphosis of 2010 and Metamorphosis II of 2014, which reveal new dials, new indicators and exquisite finishing at the push of a button.

At Watches & Wonders 2023, Montblanc unveiled head-turning timepieces that remind us of the brand’s close relationship with mountaineering, diving and conservation, and Montblanc’s tireless dedication to chronometric excellence even in the most extreme of environments.

Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen The 8000

Inspired by the 14 highest peaks in the world, which are all more than 8,000m above sea level, the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen reminds collectors of Montblanc’s admiration of mountaineers like Nimsdai Purja, who was the fastest climbed to conquer all 14 peaks, in a record six months and six days in 2019. “Don’t be afraid to dream big” is the motto of this Nepal-born British outdoorsman, who accomplished this unbelievable feat without using supplementary oxygen.

The first person to ascend all 14 peaks without supplementary oxygen was Italian mountaineer Reinhold Messner, who did so in 1986. Messner, however, has divulged that he had embarked on these expeditions without supplementary oxygen because he simply could not afford supplementary oxygen and that lugging oxygen tanks with him would have greatly hindered his ascent.

“Everything begins with a day dream,” Messner famously quipped. Inspired by these incredible achievements, Montblanc dreamed of a zero-oxygen watch, and would launch the Montblanc Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen in 2022. In this case, a case devoid of oxygen means that it is impossible for fogging to occur within the Montblanc Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen. All moisture has been removed from these airtight cases, and oxygen has been replaced by nitrogen.

This year, Montblanc has released the new 44mm Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen The 8000 Limited Edition 290 in collaboration with Messner. Its two rotating globes, representing the northern and southern hemispheres, immediately grab the attention of the admirer. Interestingly, these painstakingly crafted globes are the same color as the stones found at the North Pole and South Pole respectively.

Classic design codes abound in the Montblanc 1858 - Geosphere Chronograph O Oxygen

Montblanc 1858 - Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen The 8000 Limited Edition

Around these globes is a gray Sfumato glacial pattern dial that has been conferred a gradient effect via a traditional Italian technique called gratté-boisé. Gratté-boisé comprises 20 separate steps and takes three times longer to complete as compared to other styles of dial finishing. The 2023 Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen collection’s hue of gray, in particular, is inspired by the rock and ice found at the apexes of these mountains. This timepiece’s stoic appearance is enlivened by orange accents that pay homage to the bright orange mountaineering equipment and apparel.

Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen The 8000

Flip the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen over to enjoy its case back that has been engraved with the visage of K2. Why not Mount Everest instead? Montblanc and Messner chose K2 because it was on the peak of K2 where Messner sat and could see the world clearly, and see as far as 200 kilometres away.

The case back of the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen The 8000 is engraved with an image of K2

This March, Montblanc also announced the new 42mm Montblanc 1858 Automatic Chronograph 0 Oxygen The 8000, a full-titanium 290-piece limited edition created in partnership with Purja. Its unusual strap is inspired by rope that Purja used to race to the 14 peaks. The names of the 14 peaks are engraved on the case back, along with their altitudes and two quotes from Purja. Himalayan praying flags also emblazon the case back, which evoke Everest and Purja’s ancestral heritage.

The case back is engraved with Himalayan praying flags and the highest peaks in the world

Besides the 44mm Montblanc 1858 – Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen The 8000 that is driven by the MB 29.27 automatic movement and the 42mm Montblanc 1858 Automatic Chronograph 0 Oxygen The 8000 that is powered by the MB 29.25 automatic movement, this exquisite collection also comprises the 42mm Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen The 8000 that houses the MB 25.13 with 48-hour power reserve and comes with a stainless steel “zero oxygen” case, fluted bi-directional black ceramic bezel, dark grey Sfumato glacier patterned dial and blue luminescence; along with the 41mm Montblanc 1858 Automatic Date 0 Oxygen The 8000 that contains the MB 24.17 with 38-hour power reserve and comes with fixed black ceramic bezel, dark grey Sfumato glacier pattern and blue luminescence.

The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen The 8000's Sfumato dark grey dial has been given a glacier pattern

Tech Specs

Montblanc 1858 – Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen The 8000 Limited Edition – 290 pieces Ident. 130811

Movement: Self-winding manufacture Calibre MB 29.27; 46-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph and worldtime complications
Case: 44mm; Titanium case without oxygen with slim curved horns featuring polished and satinated finishing; water resistant to 100m
Dial: Sfumato dark grey glacier pattern dial with white luminescent black rhodium-coated Arabic numerals and indexes, white luminescent ruthenium-coated hour and minute hands, luminescent Northern and Southern hemispheres globes with orange Greenwich meridians, and white date on black background
Strap: Anthracite interchangeable textile strap with “rope” pattern and titanium and stainless steel triple-folding clasp with fine adjustment system
Availability: Limited edition of 290 pieces

Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen The 8000 Ident. 130982

Movement: Self-winding manufacture Calibre MB 29.25; 42-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date and world time complications
Case: 42mm; Titanium case without oxygen with slim curved horns featuring polished and satinated finishing; water resistant to 100m
Dial: Sfumato dark grey glacier pattern dial with white luminescent black rhodium-coated Arabic numerals and indexes, white luminescent ruthenium-coated hour and minute hands, luminescent Northern and Southern hemispheres globes with orange Greenwich meridians, and white date on black background
Strap: Anthracite interchangeable textile strap with “rope” pattern and titanium and stainless steel triple-folding clasp with fine adjustment system

Montblanc 1858 Automatic Chronograph 0 Oxygen The 8000 Ident. 130983

Movement: Self-winding manufacture Calibre MB 25.13; 48-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and chronograph
Case: 42mm; Titanium case without oxygen with slim curved horns featuring polished and satinated finishing; water resistant to 100m
Dial: Sfumato dark grey glacier pattern dial with white luminescent black rhodium-coated Arabic numerals, white luminescent rhodium-coated hour and minute hands, white seconds hand, white chronograph hands with orange tips, minute scale with orange indication every 15 minutes
Strap: Interchangeable stainless steel bracelet with taper and double-folding clasp with fine adjustment system

Montblanc 1858 Automatic Date 0 Oxygen The 8000 Ident. 130984

Movement: Self-winding manufacture Calibre MB 24.17; 38-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and date
Case: 41mm; Stainless steel case without oxygen with slim curved horns featuring polished and satinated finishing; water resistant to 100m
Dial: Sfumato dark grey glacier pattern dial with white luminescent black rhodium-coated Arabic numerals, white luminescent rhodium-coated hour and minute hands, white seconds hand, minute scale with orange indication every 15 minutes, with black date on white background
Strap:Interchangeable stainless steel bracelet with taper and double-folding clasp with fine adjustment system

Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea with new dial colors

Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date Ident. 130807

In 2022, the manufacture debuted the Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date, a dive watch that sports a glacial pattern dial. This green glacial pattern dial is inspired by the Mer de Glace, which is the main glacier of the Mont Blanc Massif. This unique dial of great visual depth is achieved through a traditional technique called gratté-boisé.

In 2023, Montblanc rolls out an attractive limited-edition box set that comprises both the green dial and blue dial editions of the Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date of last year, along with a new gray dial variant of this watch. The shade of gray chosen for this 2023 novelty is the exact same shade as that of the ice found atop Mont Blanc.

Each timepiece has been tested in the Montblanc Laboratory Test for shock, magnetic, temperature, and water resistance, and each model also has a different view of Mont Blanc laser engraved on its titanium case back. The blue dial model shows Aiguille du Moine, the green model shows Les Drus, and the grey model shows Les Grandes Jorasses.

Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date Ident. 130793

Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date Ident. 130810

These stainless steel cases with curved horns are accentuated by unidirectional ceramic bezels that each feature a contrastingly colored sector from 12 to 3 o’clock. They showcase the maison’s mastery of polished and satin finishing, and house the self-winding MB 24.17/SW200 which has approximately 38 hours of power reserve.

Limited to 191 editions only, the Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date Coffret comes with a range of interchangeable straps. Through the Plexiglass of the Montblanc Presentation Chest, these three timepieces rest upon a granite-like base that is meant to mimic the rock of Mont Blanc Mountain.

This year, Montblanc has also unveiled a new boutique edition of this watch with a black ceramic bezel, green glacial dial and three-dimensional engraving of a scuba diver in green on its case back.

Tech Specs

Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date Ident. 130793, 130807, 130810

Movement: Self-winding manufacture Calibre MB 24.17; 38-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and date
Case: 41mm; Stainless steel case with curved horns featuring polished and satinated finishing
Dial: Grey or green glacier pattern dial with white luminescent rhodium-coated Arabic numerals and indexes, white luminescent rhodium-coated hour, minute and seconds hands, logo inspired by a vintage Minerva export seal at 6 o’clock, and historical Montblanc logo at 3 o’clock
Strap: Interchangeable stainless steel bracelet or rubber strap with taper and stainless steel double-folding clasp with fine adjustment system

Montblanc Unveiled Secret Minerva Monopusher Chronograph with a Distressed Steel look

Montblanc 1858 The Unveiled Secret Minerva Monopusher Chronograph

You might be familiar with the Montblanc 1858 The Unveiled Secret Minerva Monopusher Chronograph, an ongoing series that features the manufacture’s hand-wound MB M16.29 movement, except that this movement has been turned upside-down. It is the only monopusher chronograph collection that reverses the movement and faces the bridges up on the dial side.

This year’s Montblanc Unveiled Secret Minerva Monopusher Chronograph arrives as an 88-piece limited edition in 43mm case size. For collectors who are bored of the same old case finishings – polished, brushed, DLC, frosted… Well, Montblanc has announced a new finishing concept that is a breath of fresh air.

After it has been coated black, the case of this new Montblanc Unveiled Secret Minerva Monopusher Chronograph is manually washed and brushed with quartzite. This special brushing technique gives these watch cases a distressed finish and ensures that no two cases have the same patina. The distressed case is accentuated by a white gold fluted bezel.

The MB M16.26

Previously available in limited editions of lime gold and stainless steel last year, the Montblanc Unveiled Secret Minerva Monopusher Chronograph retains its signature “V”-shaped bridge, which pays tribute to the V-shape of the Villeret mountain range that faces the Montblanc manufacture, and Minerva arrow hand, which pays tribute to its namesake Roman Goddess.

The direction of the MB M16.29 movement’s hands had to be reversed, which was done so by incorporating 21 new components. To represent the flipping of this movement, the tweaked MB M16.29 was playfully christened the MB M16.26.

The Montblanc Unveiled Secret Minerva Monopusher Chronograph has a distressed steel case, old-school fluted bezel and classic Montblanc crown

The detailed finishing of this sanded German silver movement is a sight to behold. To match the color of the case, gorgeous bridges have been coated with anthracite ruthenium, while other components have been snailed with the diamantage coquille motif.

As if this watch was not unique and exciting enough, Montblanc reiterates that each Minerva watch is made by one dedicated watchmaker. That specific watchmaker thus feels ownership of his or her or their specific timepiece, and is charge of perfecting every step of its creation. A Montblanc client can also visit the manufacture to meet the watchmaker who created that specific watch.

The quartzite-brushed Montblanc Unveiled Secret Minerva Monopusher Chronograph arrives in a new high-end Swiss walnut wood box handmade by expert artisans. Each box has a secret opening system that Montblanc will show each customer after purchase.

Tech Specs

Montblanc 1858 The Unveiled Secret Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Ident: 131155

Movement: Manual winding manufacture Calibre MB M16.26; 50-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and chronograph
Case: 43mm; Distressed steel with satinated and polished finishing
Dial: Skeleton dial with white luminescent ruthenium-coated Arabic numerals and indexes, white luminescent ruthenium-coated hour and minute hands, rhodium-coated seconds hand; rhodium-coated chronograph minute hand with white arrow; white chronograph seconds hand, and historical Montblanc logo
Strap: Black nubuck alligator leather strap with black-coated stainless steel triple-folding clasp with fine adjustment system
Availability: Limited edition of 88 pieces

Montblanc 1858 The Unveiled Timekeeper Minerva Limited Edition

The Montblanc Unveiled Timekeeper is available in steel case and 18K white gold bezel, and in Lime Gold case and Lime Gold bezel

Last but certainly not least, Montblanc has introduced the 42.5mm Unveiled Timekeeper, which is available in steel case and 18K white gold bezel with a blue dial, or in Lime Gold case and Lime Gold bezel with a dark green dial. The former variant is limited to 100 pieces while the latter is limited to 28.

What makes this complication special is its bezel – it starts and stops the Unveiled Timekeeper’s chronograph. One click starts its chronograph function, click it again and the timer stops, and click it once more to reset the hands of the chronograph. Montblanc has applied to file three patents for this self-lubricating chronograph system, which was tested and certified by an independent laboratory.

The Montblanc Timekeeper Minerva has no monopusher because its bezel activates the chronograph

The Montblanc Unveiled Timekeeper fetes the 100th anniversary of its Minerva Manufacture’s first wristwatch chronograph movement. Montblanc divulged that it strove to invent a truly unique chronograph because the maison wants to shine the spotlight on the Minerva Manufacture’s rich heritage. Founded 165 years ago, the manufacture was an acclaimed specialist of chronograph and high-precision wristwatches by the early 20 th century. It was among the first to produce fluted bezels and internal countdown rotating bezels, along with the world’s first manually wound wristwatch with a monopusher chronograph.

Inspired by the Calibre 13.20 from 1923, the Calibre MB M13.21 has the same construction as the 13.20, albeit modernized by contemporary finishes and materials. Other throwback details include retro tachymeter and telemeter scales, bright and luminescent accents, a sunray finished dial, which all evoke mid-century chronographs. You’ll notice too that its 18K gold bezel has been endowed with Montblanc-style fluting. This beautiful timepiece pays homage to many features of old-school chronographs, except that it doesn’t have pushers, as the job of the pusher or pushers has been taken over by its innovative bezel.

You can admire the hand-finished components of the MB M13.21 through the transparent case back of the Montblanc Timekeeper Minerva

Tech Specs

Montblanc 1858 The Unveiled Timekeeper Minerva Limited Edition Ident. 130987 (steel case with blue dial)

Movement: Manual winding manufacture Calibre MB M13.21; 60-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and chronograph
Case: 42.5mm; Stainless steel with satinated and polished finishing, 18K white gold bezel; water resistant to 30m
Dial: Blue with white luminescent rhodium-coated Arabic numerals and indexes, tachymeter and telemeter scales; white luminescent rhodium-coated hour and minute hands; rhodium-coated seconds hand; rhodium-coated chronograph minute hand with red tip; red chronograph seconds hand
Strap: Blue interchangeable alligator leather with stainless steel triple-folding clasp
Availability: Limited edition of 100 pieces

Montblanc 1858 The Unveiled Timekeeper Minerva Limited Edition Ident. 130988(lime gold case with dark green dial)

Movement: Manual winding manufacture Calibre MB M13.21; 60-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and chronograph
Case: 42.5mm; 18K Lime Gold with satinated and polished finishing, 18K Lime Gold bezel; water resistant to 30m
Dial: Dark green with beige luminescent gold-coated Arabic numerals and indexes, tachymeter and telemeter scales; beige luminescent green-coated hour and minute hands; green-coated seconds hand; gold-coated chronograph minute hand with green tip; green chronograph seconds hand
Strap: Green interchangeable alligator leather with 18K Lime Gold pin buckle
Availability: Limited edition of 28 pieces