Taking on the harshest element with a vengeance
From the rooftops of the world to the southern-most point of the Earth, this is the year (2023) of Montblanc, as it seems to be on a determined path to conquer the world’s harshest environment and condition in its sturdy strides, taking no hostages along the way, and nothing is going to stand its way.
The latest adventure is one of the most challenging endeavours Montblanc has undertaken so far, as it set to conquer the South Pole of the Antarctic where the temperature fluctuates between -20C and < -65C, making the frozen continent the coldest desert on the planet. It is inhabitable.
On the 19th December 2023, Montblanc partnered with its latest collaborator, Simon Messner on this incredible, dangerous and exhilarating expedition to Antarctica with the Antarctic Ice Marathon. Simon, the adventurer extraordinaire, is no stranger to the extreme, as it is in his blood, as his father is none other than another Montblanc ambassador Mark-Maker Reinhold Messner, who made history on two occasions himself.
Simon began his journey to cross Antarctica at the foot of Ellsworth Mountains, some few hundred miles off the South Pole with snow-covered terrain with temperatures around
-20C (The warmest as it is the middle of Summer in the South Hemisphere) with threatening severely strong winds. Armed with this expedition is one of his companions on the trip and a piece of vital equipment, the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen South Pole Exploration Limited Edition.
This specially engineered time-telling machine is created especially for these extreme outdoor adventures. It is inspired by the glacial ice blue of the Antarctic ice and icebergs that cover the landscape. Hence, the Ice Blue dial and bezel. Cool or cold, whichever you prefer, is strangely alluring as it draws you into its blue depth of hard boulder of ice formed over the millenniums from refreezing and refreezing. The ice blue indicates the absence of oxygen, as in the expression “your face turning blue” when you hold your breath for too long. This seductive blue may carry a mortal connotation, but it is also one of the most beautiful shades of blue.
The designer must have spent a great deal of time to get that perfect shade. It is then anodised onto the bi-directional aluminium bezel with a fluted edge, and on it are engraved the cardinal points coated with SuperLuminova with green emission.
The bezel then frames a gradient smoke blue dial it gets lighter and colder as it graduates into the centre of the dial. The dial is treated with Sfumato ice blue, reminiscent of the glacier pattern and decorated with white SuperLuminova large and bold Arabic numerals and indices with SuperLuminova coated Cathedral hour and minute hands with green emission. The second time zone sits at 9 o’clock with an indicator given the same treatment. The main attraction to this GeoSphere 0 Oxygen South Pole Exploration Limited Edition is the Northern and Southern Hemisphere globes positioned at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock. They display the time in 24 hours with the day and night indicator, each with their respective hemisphere decorating their dial. They enable you to read the time on the two different hemispheres simultaneously.
The movement that drives the watch with precision paid homage to the highest peaks in the world in the Himalayas earlier this year, the rather fabulous Manufacture automatic Calibre MB 29.25 with Worldtime complications.
The multi-talented handsome watch is encased in a decompressed 42mm titanium case with zero oxygen to prevent fogging. It has a titanium case back with a 3D laser colour engraving of the Antarctic landscape with the southern version of the Southern Lights, the Aurora australis. To complete the watch is an interchangeable titanium bracelet and a grey textile strap. This alluring watch is limited to 1990 pieces. Perfect for those who live life dangerously and those who transverse the globe frequently with an adventurous spirit or just looking over the weekends and holidays.
