Montblanc extend their popular 1858 collection with the new Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Gobi Desert watch, a limited edition of 100 pieces designed in collaboration with the brand’s ambassador and legendary mountaineer, Reinhold Messner. Featuring a stunning bronze case, smoky brown dial and rich coffee leather strap, let’s take a look at the new Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Gobi Desert Limited Edition…
Reinhold Messner & the Gobi Desert
You’d be forgiven if you hadn’t heard of Reinhold Messner’s name before today, or if you had, it was because of Ben Folds Five’s 1999 album The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner. Although that album was named after the same gentlemen, Reinhold Messner is awarded recognition for much more than just that. Reinhold Messner is an alpinist legend with a never ending list of feats under his belt. He not only became the first person to summit Everest solo but the first to summit Everest without supplemental oxygen – an act once believed to be impossible. More recently, he became the first person to climb the fourteen highest peaks in the world, crossed the Antarctica and Greenland on foot and at the age of 60, crossed solo the 2,000 kilometres of the Gobi Desert. The latter is the very adventure that Montblanc commemorates in the new Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Gobi Desert Limited Edition alongside that of Messner’s own fortitude and resilience to make it across Asia’s largest desert completely alone.
The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Gobi Desert Limited Edition
Just a glimpse of the new Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Gobi Desert watch and it’s clear to see it’s stealthy, sand-coloured aesthetic was born for the outdoors. It’s 42 millimetre case is engineered from a special alloy of bronze to replicate the colour of the rocky terrain that Reinhold Messner trekked across. It’s not the first time the Swiss watch brand has used the material in its 1858 Geosphere watch, but this might just be our favourite use of it yet. When paired with the brown ceramic bezel and warm brown Sfumato calfskin leather strap, the material delivers a warmer, more luxurious finish than ever before. The bronze case also sits at 12.8 millimetres in height and is fitted with a matching bronze alloy crown with fluted finishing and the Montblanc emblem in relief.
Like all Montblanc 1858 Geosphere watches, the new limited edition is destined for the wrist of an adventurer with a healthy water resistant rating of 100 metres, slim, curved and comfortable lugs and scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass treated with anti-reflective coating – a definite must for those spending time in the desert sun. The bezel is also detailed with knurled detailing for easy manipulation and cardinal points coated in Superluminova. Turning the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Gobi Desert watch over and the brand further salutes the desert with a case back engraved with the Gobi Desert’s famous Flaming Cliffs, also known as Bayanzag. This very sight was on Messner’s route as he crossed Northern Asia and is also the spot to some of the region’s most significant paleontological discoveries. The back also depicts an image of a wind rose compass whose patterns are inspired by traditional Mongolian ornaments.
At the centre, the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Gobi Desert Limited Edition presents a handsome smoked brown dial with a lighter beige colour at the centre which fades out into a dark brown. The backdrop is lacquered finished and applied with rose gold coated hands and matching indexes. The hands are cathedral-shaped as a nod to the original 1920’s Minerva chronographs and coated with glow in the dark Superluminova. The dial is also home to small seconds dial at 9 o’clock, a date window and two hemisphere globes for reading the different time zones for the north and south hemispheres. Both globes are detailed with a 24 hour scale and a day and night indicator. The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Gobi Desert watch is powered by the in-house automatic Calibre MB 29.25 with 26 rubies, a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and a running time of approximately 42 hours.
For more information on the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Gobi Desert watch and to order one of the 100 limited edition pieces, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
Specifications: Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Gobi Desert Limited Edition (MB128504)
- Case Size: 42mm
- Case Material: Special alloy of bronze
- Bezel: Bronze with brown ceramic, engraved cardinal points with Superluminova
- Glass: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Bronze-coated titanium with special engraving
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: MB 29.25 automatic calibre
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, turning Northern and Southern hemisphere globes with 24 hour scale and day-night indication
- Power Reserve: 42 hours
- Jewels: 26
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Smoked brown to beige, lacquered with rose-gold coloured numerals and hands
- Strap: Brown Sfumato calfskin leather with beige stitching
- Buckle: Folding, bronze-coated stainless steel
- RRP: £5,400
- Limited Edition: 100 pieces
