Montblanc Partners with Mountaineer Reinhold Messner for the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition Messner 262

Inspired by Minerva's early pocket watches, the Montblanc 1858 collection was conceived as a luxurious tool watch for mountain exploration. Now, the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere limited edition has been released in collaboration with world-renowned mountaineer Reinhold Messner.

Montblanc "Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition Messner 262"

Like its predecessor in 2018, the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition Messner 262 features a distinctive world time display with two rotating discs representing the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This model features several special features as a tribute to Reinhold Messner, the Italian explorer, mountaineer, and author who achieved such remarkable feats as the first person to summit Mount Everest solo and cross Antarctica on foot without a dogsled or snowmobile. The 42mm bronze case features a combination of polished and satin finishes, a blue dial, and rose gold accents. The knurled bidirectional rotating bezel features a blue ceramic insert and a compass motif to indicate direction.

　A notable feature of this watch is the two discs representing the hemispheres, with eight red dots representing the mountains of the seven continents and the summit of Mont Blanc, as recorded in Messner's List, where Messner faced many challenges. The watch also features a date display at 3 o'clock and a subdial for the second time zone at 9 o'clock, along with the cathedral-shaped hands characteristic of the 1858 collection.

　To ensure readability in the dark, multicolored luminous materials are cleverly applied. The hands for the hours, minutes, and second time zones, as well as the compass display on the bezel, are coated with green Super-LumiNova, while the globe continents, Arabic numerals, and indices are coated with blue Super-LumiNova. The solid caseback is engraved with the Montblanc mountain motif, a compass, two climbing picks, and "Messner's Wrist." The movement is the caliber MB29.25. Based on the Sellita SW 300-1, it is combined with a module developed in-house by Montblanc, beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour and boasting a power reserve of approximately 42 hours.

　The blue NATO strap featured on this watch is also new to Montblanc. It is handcrafted in France on a jacquard loom using a complex process, resulting in a lightweight yet quick-drying strap. Each fine thread is individually dyed to ensure the color remains resistant to fading over time.

　Only 262 units will be available worldwide, a nod to the more than 26,200-foot mountains Messner conquered during his illustrious career.