The son of Reinhold Messner, who was the first mountaineer to ascend Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen in 1978, Simon is an avid alpinist and explorer, just like his father. He has already conquered the icy routes of mountains in Oman, Jordan, Pakistan, the Alps, and the Dolomites, and has made movies along with his father dedicated to mountaineering, such as Cerro Torre and Die große Zinne (both 2020), among others. So far, he has produced more than 10 movies that shed a spotlight on their adventures. And, like his father, he is also associated with Swiss watchmaker Montblanc.

In 2020, Montblanc welcomed Reinhold as a Mark Maker or inspiring figure, and since then has created two timepieces in his honour—the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Messner Limited Edition (262 pieces), and the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition (1858 pieces). Last year, Simon ascended Mont Blanc wearing the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen Limited Edition 1786. And now, for the Antarctic Ice Marathon, the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen South Pole Exploration Limited Edition was strapped to his wrist.

The cover watch of our 2023 ‘Sports Watches’ edition, the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen South Pole Exploration Limited Edition is from the brand’s 0 Oxygen collection that takes inspiration from Simon’s father and his climbs without supplemental oxygen. The watch therefore has been created devoid of oxygen, which helps protect it from fogging at drastic temperatures such as that of the South Pole, and also from any wear and tear inside. The sfumato dial of the watch reflects the beauty of the glacial ice of the Antarctic with the use of an ancient technique called gratté-boisé. The case is crafted with titanium and on the caseback, in vivid colours, is the aurora australis recreated with 3D engraving. This 42mm watch is driven by the automatic MB 29.27 world time complication with a power reserve of about 42 hours.

We spoke to Simon before he embarked on his marathon...

WatchTime India: You are participating in the Antarctic Ice Marathon wearing a Montblanc watch on your wrist. How do you hope it will help you?

Simon Messner: Time plays a vital role, and the watch helps in that, and in the progress of your journey. In climbing you need a partner, and a watch could be that.

WTI: What do you particularly enjoy about the watch?

SM: I was wearing a similar watch from Montblanc last year and was just amazed. It was zero oxygen inside the case and useful in temperatures at -14°C when you have to read the time. It is something great. It was something I never [thought] could exist.

WTI: Last year you summitted the Mont Blanc wearing a 0 Oxygen, a watch whose concept is inspired by your father. What was that like, and what did you most enjoy about the timepiece?

SM: A watch is always more than just a piece of accessory. It was a huge opportunity to visit Montblanc’s manufacture last year, and it was just amazing to see how difficult it is to handle those small things. It was just an eye-opener—watchmaking is an art. Since I was a child, I have always seen my father wear a watch on his wrist and it looked so old, so worn out, which was the most beautiful thing because when you wear a watch on something like a mountain, or on an adventure, it just somehow becomes a part of your journey, it becomes a part of your life. So, the watch that I wore that was inspired by my father, it became a part of my journey and it was the part I liked the most.

WTI: As an explorer and alpinist, what sort of watches do you enjoy?

SM: This is a difficult question, there are so many different watches. Since I am a climber and I like to go out and explore without using too much technology, I don’t even take a phone when I am climbing. When outdoors, I just be with myself. So, I would say I like watches that are not too technical. For this kind of watch, we just need to keep its movement and it works, which is amazing.

WTI: I read that you were afraid of heights while growing up. What motivated you to overcome this fear and become a climber?

SM: As a boy I was really afraid of heights. Two metres up was the maximum; otherwise, I used to panic. I wanted to explore myself more deeply, to understand where this fear was coming from, and I think this was the inspiration for my climbing. It took many years to overcome this fear. I would say that everybody, every alpinist, knows what their fears are, and it’s just that they have learned over the years to handle it. My fears are now my best friend because they show me where I can go and where I should stop.

WTI: What was that one challenging moment on an expedition?

SM: There have been so many over the years, but I can remember one when I was in Nepal in 2017 and we were trying to climb a very difficult mountain. It was 5 o’clock in the evening and it was raining. We started to put up our camp and all of a sudden, an avalanche came. It was unexpected, and it was a huge wave that nearly swept us down the mountain. We were extremely lucky and it shows that the mountains are always dangerous and you have to know where to stop.

WTI: The one lesson you have learnt from your father that is with you on all your adventures?

SM: It’s very simple. He said, “Okay Simon, you’re free to go, it’s your life, but you are never allowed to fall.” This is a very simple sentence but he is absolutely right. If you don’t fall, you’re not in danger or at least not that much, and if you handle your climbing and you know exactly where to stop, you’re quite safe. It is a simple rule, but it will be with me for my whole life and my adventures.

WTI: Your favourite expedition story?

SM: It was four years ago when I was in Pakistan—together with good friend Martin Sieberer, we climbed for nearly three days to reach the summit of an unclimbed peak. It was quite dark and it started to rain and snow and there were strong winds. We were covered in fog and had no idea where to go, and there was this short moment when we were looking into each other’s eyes and we both knew it was getting really dangerous. We had to be ready, careful, and pay attention. And without saying anything, it was clear, just by looking into each other’s eyes. It was a powerful moment.

WTI: What brought you into film-making?

SM: I was studying molecular biology, something very different, and most of my time was inside my laboratory. It was very interesting but it was not my life. Then one day my father came to my room and said, “Simon, why are you not doing mountain films, it’s much more interesting.” And I said, “Yeah, why not? Why not try?” We are both no experts in film-making, but we know the history of climbing and so we started to produce our first documentary. As of today, we have done more than 10 movies and our goal was and still is to make the audience see and know how alpinism developed. Alpinism is a very long tradition, especially in the Alps, and so it’s important to pass this knowledge and also the way of thinking to the future generations.

WTI: What keeps you calm and motivated on an expedition?

SM: When you go on an expedition you think of the mountain for years. The motivation is always there, but it’s just not easy to stay calm. It is something that I learned over the years and it may sound funny but if you’re going to climb a mountain, most of the time it is just sitting around and waiting. And this, for me at least, is much more difficult. You can go out of the tent and do something but the waiting is the most difficult thing 

It is something I and every alpinist had to learn.