Montblanc debuted a limited edition version of their 1858 Geosphere today — inspired by renowned explorer Reinhold Messner’s 2004 solo trek across the Gobi Desert.
The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition aptly comes in a desert color scheme, which is symbolic of the five-week journey that Messner completed across Northern Asia and the unforgiving Gobi Desert. The caseback also pays homage to this remarkable test of human endurance, with a unique engraving that shows the Gobi Desert’s famous Flaming Cliffs, also known as “Bayanzag.”
“Montblanc uses a very special technique to highlight the Gobi desert on the back of the watch giving it an authentic rendering in 3-dimensions, providing depth and realism as if it was a photograph. Made of titanium, the metal must first be structured, which means that the decoration will be engraved by laser, taking into consideration the relief of the drawing. Then the desired finish (matt and shiny) is also achieved by laser. Finally comes the coloring phase. The colors are created with laser-generated oxidation. It is the level of oxidation that determines the final color obtained (and desired). Montblanc is one of the most advanced Swiss Maisons to use this technology on such a large surface,” according to the brand.
Already a key reference within the Montblanc 1858 line, this 100-piece limited edition features a world-time complication that was developed in-house. Using two turning hemisphere globes (one representing the Northern hemisphere that rotates anti-clockwise, and the other representing the Southern hemisphere rotating clockwise), the wearer can see whether it’s day or night in two different time zones — at a glance. Further, a second-time zone indication is located at 9 o’clock, and a date aperture linked to the main hands is located at 3 o’clock.
The bronze alloy case measures the same as previous Geosphere models at 42 mm x 12.8 mm. For this limited edition Montblanc gave the dial a special smoked brown and beige lacquered dial treatment, combined with gold-plated hands cathedral-shaped hands, and gold-plated applied hour markers. Topping it off is a knurled bronze bi-directional bezel with a polished brown ceramic insert, which can be used in combination with the hour hand to determine your compass bearing.
For a discrete look that blends in during the day and stands out at night, a beige lume that glows green has been applied to the hands, hour markers, the bezel, and even the rotating globes.
The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition is paired with a matching vintage-brown Sfumato calf strap with beige stitching and retails for $6,500.
