The latest Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition 1858 falls into line with the other two recently released models, the Split-Second Chronograph LE 18 and the Monopusher Chronograph Origins. All of them are homage timepieces paying tribute to the rich military history of Minerva. 

Montblanc created the new 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition 1858 to honor Reinhold Messner’s 2004 solo trek of 2000 km across the Gobi Desert. It was a five-week, unprecedented borderline experience that deserves a tribute. 

Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition 1858

The Geosphere is one of Montblanc’s iconic models. With its two distinctive domed turning hemisphere globes, the watch is easily recognizable even from a distance. In the past, we saw quite a few iterations of this beautiful timepiece. Yet, the brand does not cease to amaze us with this new model. Taking inspiration from the rocky terrain color scheme, the watch features a micro-blasted bronze case with slim curved horns. As far as size goes, we talk about 42mm in diameter and 12.8 mm in height. The 1858 Geosphere LE 1858 has a bi-directional bronze bezel with brown ceramic inlay to continue with the theme. For the scale, the brand engraved the cardinal points and coated them with Super-LumiNova. Lastly, to finish off the desert-inspired look, the brand added a matching smoked brown lacquered dial to the piece.  

1858 Geosphere Limited Edition 1858

Flaming Cliffs

Additionally, its case back in itself is a work of art. The engraving is of the Flaming Cliffs, also known as Bayanzag. This is a famous location that received its name from an American paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews. During his 1920 expedition, Andres found fossilized dinosaur eggs and specimens of Velociraptors in this area. Montblanc’s technique gives a 3-dimension almost photograph-like image of the Bayanzag on the back. Laser is the primary tool for this project. Firstly, the brand uses it to decorate the titanium case back with the image and achieve the desired finish. Then, with laser-generated oxidation, the back receives its colors. The level of oxidation determines the color tone. Other than the Flaming Cliffs, the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition 1858 also depicts a wind rose compass. Its decoration takes inspiration from traditional Mongolian ornaments. 

Lacquer over smoke

Montblanc pays equal attention to the watch face. The smoke brown to beige base color receives a final layer of lacquer that covers the dial. The large Arabic numerals and the cathedral hour and minute hands are rose-gold colored and luminescent. The same goes for the northern and southern hemisphere globes. At 3 o’clock, we can find the date aperture, and right next to it is the vintage-style Montblanc logo. 

1858 Geosphere Limited Edition 1858

MB 29.25

The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition 1858’s dial is intriguing, but without the proper caliber, it’s only decoration. Hence the brand equipped the watch with their manufacture caliber, the MB29.25. The movement has 26 jewels and 42 hours of power reserve with a frequency of 28,800 Vph. This caliber controls the two domed hemisphere globes at 6 and 12 o’clock, respectively. Moreover, around them are two fixed 24h scales with a rose gold-coated and brown AM/PM indicator. Setting the watch is easy and can be done through the crown. 

As its name suggests, the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition 1858 comes in 1,858 pieces only. You can get it on a matching brown Sfumato calf leather strap with beige stitching and bronze coated steel folding clasp. If you are interested in the timepieces, the retail price is €5,950. For this, you are getting a limited-edition Swiss Made watch with a manufacturing movement and a useful complication in less than 2,000 pieces. If you’d like to visit the brand’s website, please click here

 

Watch specifications

Brand
Model
1858 Geosphere Limited Edition 1858
Reference
128504
Dial
Smoked brown to beige, lacquered with rose-gold coloured luminescent applied Arabic numerals, rose gold-and beige-coloured luminescent cathedral-shaped hour-and minute-hands, beige-coloured luminescent second time zone hand, beige-coloured luminescent northern and southern hemispheres globes, historical Montblanc logo at 3 o’clock
Case Material
Special alloy of bronze with slim curved horns featuring microblasted-finishing Bi-directional bronze bezel with shiny brown ceramic, knurled finishing and engraved cardinal points coated with Super-LumiNova
Case Dimensions
Diameter = 42 mm; Height = 12.8 mm
Crystal
Scratch-resistant, domed sapphire, antireflective crystal
Case Back
Bronze-coated titanium with Gobi Desert landscape & wind rose compass special engravings
Movement
MB 29.25 with Manufacture worldtime complication
Water Resistance
10 bar (100 m)
Strap
Brown Sfumato calf leather strap with beige stitching and bronze-coated stainless steel triple-folding clasp
Price
€5,950