Montblanc has had a close relationship with its Mark Maker Reinhold Messner, renowned high-altitude mountaineer who was the first to climb all 14 over 8,000 metre peaks. On the occasion of his 80th birthday, Montblanc has unveiled an addition in its 0 Oxygen line, the 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen Limited Edition of 290. The ‘290’ is a significant number that denotes 29,031 feet, the height of the tallest mountain in the world, Mount Everest, that Messner has climbed several times.
The new 44mm timepiece has a lightweight titanium case topped with a domed sapphire crystal, which is put in place with a special joint that keeps the watch devoid of any oxygen in high altitudes that protects it from fogging and oxidation.
The red sfumato glacier dial takes inspiration from the red glaciers found in Antarctica, and brings to life its frozen interlocking network of crystals through the ancient gratté boisé technique. On the dial are two subdials, chronograph minutes at 3 o’clock and hours at 9 o’clock, Northern and Southern hemispheres that highlight the worldtime function and feature the 24-hour scale, day/night indication, and white Greenwich meridians. There’s a date window at 3 o'clock. The Arabic numerals, indexes, and the hour and minute hands are all coated with white luminescence. The cardinal points on the bi-directional stainless steel bezel with black ceramic are coated with blue Super-LumiNova®.
On turning the case, there’s a lifelike three-dimensional coloured engraving of Mount K2, Messner’s favourite mountain peak. It recreates the picture that he had captured on his first ascent there in 1979, when it was a clear day that allowed him to see as far as 200 km. The engraving was made using a laser-generated oxidation process.
Beating inside is the Calibre MB 29.27 with a power reserve of about 46 hours, with its plates and bridges decorated with circular graining, and a gold-plated going train. The watch comes with a black interchangeable textile strap with "rope" pattern and red stitching.
Images: Courtesy Brand
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