Editor’s note: Like you, we are also excited for the Watches & Wonders 2022 novelties. Before we get to dive deep into them, here’s our preview & Gut Reaction Review (Grr…) of the new Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen. For our detailed hands-on reviews, please head to our dedicated reviews section here. This is NOT a sponsored post.
The New Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen In A Nutshell
Released alongside the Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea diver collection, the brand’s first foray into this segment, the new Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen takes the visual aesthetics of the uniquely textured ‘iced’ dial of the diver and brings to the mix a watch that is totally devoid of oxygen. Why would someone want to choke a watch, you ask? Well, according to the brand, this is done to “guarantee the watch’s performance and precision over time, even in some of the harshest mountain environment”. Mate, as long as my watch works and keeps time accurately, you can use CO2 or O2.
Jest aside, removing oxygen from inside the movement helps against both fogging and oxidisation. And consequently the components will survive longer, which in turn provides greater precision over time.
I like how Montblanc has gone for a rugged, outdoors theme this year with their watches. Both this and the Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea have a practical feel to them, and a feeling of over-engineering (in a good way). Come to think of it, these new Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen remind me of Sinn watches to an extent, and if Sinn had a good looking love child with say TAG Heuer, it could be this new collection.
This limited edition of 290 pieces Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen still retains in the background the same texture that uses the gratté-boisé technique, that allows the brand to etch a 3D a glacier pattern on the dial. This artwork is inspired by the Mer de Glace — Sea of Ice — which happens to be the main glacier of the Mont-Blanc Massif. It also retains the 1858 Geosphere’s Northern and Southern hemispheres display that features two three-dimensional globes and include a day & night indication.
The new Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen ref. 129624 features a 100m water-resistant 44mm diameter and 17.10mm polished light-weight titanium case with bi-directional ceramic knurled bezel with cardinal points.
Inside ticks the Montblanc’s MB 29.27 Manufacture automatic chronograph movement with worldtime complication that beats at the frequency of 4Hz and provides a 46-hour power reserve.
This limited edition new Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen was announced yesterday on 30 March 2022 as part of the Watches & Wonders 2022 March 30 to April 5 (both online and at the Salon).
Quotable
“This model will be tested by alpinist Nimsdai Purja during an expedition to the summit of Mount Everest in May 2022, also without the use of supplemental oxygen”.
Press release
To find out more about the new Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen and their other watches, please head to their website here. All images unless otherwise stated are courtesy are © 2022 Montblanc. Make sure to check out our reviews of other Watches & Wonders 2022 novelties here.
