Montblanc climbs the white mountain

Simon Messner, son of Reinhold Messner, follows in his father’s footsteps with an ascent of the Mont Blanc and a new Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen LE1786 on his wrist

Simon ascended the Mont Blanc in August 2022, going back to where it all started for Montblanc, with the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen LE1786 strapped to his wrist. He set off from France’s L’Aiguille du Midi and climbed via Mont Blanc du Tacul and Mont Maudit, to reach the Mont Blanc – a route mapped out on the case back of this limited-edition timepiece using Montblanc’s three-dimensional laser engraving technique that is so realistic, it resembles a photograph of the Mont Blanc at sunset.

In-Boutique VR Experience
Montblanc customers were able to join him in the brand’s boutiques and witness this incredible feat with virtual reality glasses, giving them the incredible feeling of being on the mountain with him.

1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen LE1786
Simon tested the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen LE1786 and its zero-oxygen construction all the way up to the 4,810-metre summit. This is only the second model to be devoid of oxygen, after the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen LE290.

The timepiece is adorned with the manufacturer’s new blue glacier pattern dial inspired by the glacial lakes of the Mont Blanc Massif in the Alps, with its captivating texture of glacial ice with its interlocking network of crystals that have been frozen in time for millennia.

The watch is housed in a 42mm bronze case with a bi-directional knurled ceramic bezel with cardinal points. As in all Montblanc 1858 Geosphere models, both the Northern and Southern hemispheres are represented with two three-dimensional globes that turn anti-clockwise and include a day & night indication so that the wearer can see what time it is across the Earth with a simple glance.

There is also a date at three o’clock and a dual time indication at nine o’clock. The dial is enhanced with luminescent highlights on the hour, minute, and dual time hands, as well as on the indexes and cardinal points, for reading in low light. The timepiece is powered by Montblanc’s MB 29.25 automatic movement and comes fitted with a blue Sfumato calf leather strap with beige stitching.

The collection is limited to 1786 pieces, which marks the date of the first ascent of the Mont Blanc by Jacques Balmat on August 8th, 1786.