Introducing the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere UltraBlack Watch

The watch for “travelholics” links a rich Minerva past with the future of Montblanc watchmaking. The Manufacture Worldtime complication boasts two turning domed hemisphere globes that make a full rotation every 24 hours for a new and innovative way to keep track of different time zones whilst on the move.

The new Montblanc 1858 Geosphere UltraBlack watch reaches out to a global generation of leaders and professionals. Why? Because it’s part of the manufacturer’s “What Moves you, Makes you” campaign, first launched last year. The brand’s new range of inspiring designs is synonymous with the messages conveyed by the likes of newcomers, Cillian Murphy and Peggy Gou, who have just joined the company’s Move Maker family. The actor and singer sit alongside names such as writer Chen Kun, actress Xin Zhi Lei, award-winning director Spike Lee and actor Taron Egerton. Let’s be clear though, the 1858 Geosphere is geared towards avid travellers, professional businessmen and passionate globetrotters too. It features distinct cathedral-shaped hands and unique northern and southern hemisphere globes. The world timer watch continues the Minerva legacy of over 160 years whilst pointing a finger towards the future – a world full of successful entrepreneurs, entertainers, scientists and much more.

Time zone-zone hopping with a modern exterior

The Montblanc UltraBlack collection is forging a clear future for itself and the new 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition watch is taking a lead role in promoting values of versatility and flexibility. The watch is a multi-faceted tool that combines the ease of time zone-zone hopping with a resolutely modern exterior. There are just 858 pieces of the new UltraBlack version of the Geosphere watch available worldwide - a number that nods to the year of the birth of Minerva’s manufacturing journey – 1858. I have touched before on the significance of the Minerva heritage. You can take a look at the bronze Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition watch here for a little more information on that. But in short – Minerva watches during the 1920s and 30s were flourishing. The manufacturer was thriving, producing watches for military use - literally shaping history with the many innovative materials and technology to emerge as a result of this period in watchmaking. The 1858 product line reinterprets some of the best designs from the Minerva legacy around this time.

Dedicated to the holy grail of mountaineering adventures, the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere UltraBlack watch is dedicated to the Seven Summit mountaineering challenge but with its new distressed stainless steel case measuring a diameter of 42mm, it evokes a very contemporary personality.

It’s good to be different

According to Montblanc’s latest tagline - “What Moves you, Makes you” -  everyone is writing their own story of success. Everyone is unique and individual. In the case of the new Montblanc 1858 Geosphere UltraBlack watch, being different is certainly a good thing. Think “two in one” when you think about the clever design of this travel companion. The 1858 Geosphere, regardless of whether we’re talking about the bronze limited edition version, its steel sibling, or this distressed stainless steel model, is altogether different. A typical world timer watch is normally aligned to London and shows the appropriate northern hemisphere. You can, whether it’s day or night, see what time it is in London, which is aligned according to its longitude and latitude position. If you leave the watch in local time, you can see what the rest of the world is up to using the cities skimmed around the outer wheel. There is a slight limitation with this, however. It won’t show you the southern hemisphere. But the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere will.

You get both hemispheres in one dial with the 1858 Geosphere watch. It is, in effect, two world timers in one. It has no city ring around the outer edge but still highlights local time with the thicker longitude line. Both the primary and secondary hour hand can be set via the crown and the hidden pusher respectively. The two domed globes revolve in opposite directions, completing a full rotation every 24 hours. The 24 time zones surround each scale, as well as a day and night indication which appear in different colours for optimum contrast. Timekeeping is aided at night by luminous material applied to the surface of the Arabic numerals around the hour track and the stunning cathedral-shaped hands that make an appearance throughout the entire 1858 watch collection.

Mountaineering references

To highlight Montblanc’s dedication to the Seven Summit Mountaineering Challenge, red coloured dots make an appearance on the two hemispheres. These indicate the seven summits including the Mont-Blanc mountain itself. On the back of the distressed stainless steel case is an image depicting two ice picks surrounded by mountains such as Mount-Everest, Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Vinson and Puncak Jaya – all iconic peaks that have inspired the founders of Montblanc.

The other details…

The 1858 Geosphere UltraBlack Limited Edition watch boasts contrasting silver and white elements on its stealthy black dial. As well as a 24-hour scale and a date aperture, the display is surrounded by a black bi-directional rotating bezel with the cardinal points mapped out at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock depicting North, East, South and West. The 100-meter water-resistant stainless steel case boasts an unusual distressed finish and its bezel is finished in a Microbille-Poli effect. A domed sapphire crystal glass front has been treated with anti-reflective properties and protects the surface of the dial from various damaging effects.

The new Montblanc 1858 Geosphere UltraBlack Limited Edition watch is powered by the Calibre MB 29.25, which produces a 42-hour power reserve. Its design is based on the Sellita SW300-1 and comprises 26 jewels and a flat hairspring. The watch is completed on a stylish smooth black leather strap and encloses against the wrist with a steel fastening. To learn more about the new Geosphere watch from Montblanc, you can check out the full spec here or call our Jura Watches team on 01335 453453.

Technical Specifications of the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere UltraBlack Limited Edition watch

• Case: 42mm – distressed stainless steel – 100-meter water-resistant – domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass front – bi-directional rotating bezel in black with cardinal points
• Dial: Black – world timer with turning northern and southern hemisphere globes - 24-hour scale - day/night indication - dual time indication - date by disc – luminous Arabic numeral hour markers – cathedral-shaped hands
• Movement; Self-winding MB 29.25 – automatic – flat hairspring – 42-hour power reserve – 26 jewels
• Strap: Black – smooth calfskin leather – stainless steel fastening
• Price: £5,600
• Availability: 858 pieces manufacture red worldwide