Montblanc 1858 Geosphere
A new high for explorers and adventurers
Though its name has been firmly ensconced at the pinnacle of fine writing instrument manufacture since 1906, it wasn’t until 1997 that German brand Montblanc turned its precision engineering skills to watchmaking. In neighbouring Switzerland, it established Montblanc Montre SA in the municipality of Le Locle in the Swiss Jura Mountains and its debut collection — named Meisterstück after its famous 1924 bestselling fountain pen — was immediately and widely acclaimed by the horological cognoscenti.
In the years since, Montblanc has expanded its offering into a wider range of luxury watches, many paying tribute to a spirit of adventure, exploration and pioneering mountain-climbing heritage, of which the 1858 Geosphere is a terrific example. “We have created this watch with modern explorers and adventurers in mind, a trend that is growing incredibly, especially for the new generations with a new sense of coming back to nature and finding again the magic of the wild,” says Davide Cerrato, managing director of Montblanc watches. “The story of exploration is also present through a connoisseur detail. We have made direct reference to one of the most compelling hiking challenges, the Seven Summits — scaling the seven highest peaks in different continents. The peaks are indicated on the maps on the two globes on the dials by red dots and the names of the peaks are engraved on the back of the case.”
The Geosphere 1858’s most eye-catching special feature are these two globes which revolve in opposite directions to show two time zones and are finished in Super-LumiNova for exceptional visibility. The 42mm case comes in brushed steel or bronze, the rotating bezel has ceramic compass-point inserts, and there’s a choice of aged calf leather and bund straps handmade in Florence, or special Nato straps woven in eastern France on traditional machines from last century. “We can proudly say that everything is unique in the Geosphere and that’s why we are sure it will become the strong icon of Montblanc’s sport offer,” says Cerrato. “This timeless design will allow this watch to be still relevant and cool in 50 years’ time.”
£4,500; montblanc.com