There is a certain charm about Montblanc watches that takes you on a nostalgia trip back to the 1970s and 1980s. There is no denying that Montblanc is one of the few remaining watch brands that carry that rustic element with them. That is a particularly impressive feat considering it was founded over a hundred years ago. The company came into existence in 1906 and started using the ‘Montblanc’ moniker in 1910. The company’s name itself is a reference to the ‘White Mountain’, the highest peak in the Alps range and the eleventh highest peak in the whole world.
Introducing: The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere in Blue
By now it should be clear that Montblanc is closely associated with mountaineering and it has numerous watches that signify the same. One such timepiece is the 1858 Geosphere, a watch that catches you off guard from the moment you look at it. It’s just that gorgeous! The watch evidently takes design elements from Minerva as it has that tool watch aura around it. In fact, every watch in the 1858 series has that peculiar old school charm. For those who do not know, Minerva is a watchmaker that has been in the watch business for over 160 years. It was bought up by Richemont, Montblanc’s parent company in the year 2006.
The key attraction in this watch was the dual hemisphere representation of world time, which was essentially a great original idea at the time it was released in 2018. Creative director and head of watchmaking for Montblanc Davide Cerrato led the brand to great heights and there is no doubt about it. He spearheaded the brand to a major resurfacing and helped it push through barriers that earlier seemed impossible to break.
A few days ago, Montblanc announced the release of its new watch, the 2020 1858 Geosphere. Unlike the previous versions, this one is not as rustic and old school as watch enthusiasts would have expected it to be. On the contrary, the new 1858 Geosphere looks modern, sleek, and lean.
How Does It Compare To Earlier Versions?Â
Once again, for those who do not know, the 1858 Geosphere was actually a tribute to a climbing challenge known as the Seven Summits. The challenge consisted of mountaineers who set out to conquer the tallest mountain peaks in all the seven continents. The Seven Summits is also mentioned on the case back of the timepiece. This trend has been taken from the previous iterations.
When we compare the 2020 model to the older variants, the distinction is subtle yet enough to set them apart from each other. The first 1858 Geosphere gave off a strong vintage vibe. This was ironic as the watch itself was new and belonged to an era that was moving towards rather avant-garde watch designs. With the latest edition, Montblanc has decided to add some upgrades. The watch also looks as it belongs to the present day in terms of appearance and aesthetics. That being said, that typical Minerva charm is still very much there. This includes the hour markers, the railroad-style minute track, and of course, the Montblanc logo. Although the new watch still dons the vintage nature of the collection, the nuances are very low profile. The choice of colour is also a topic of discussion for many. The brand chose the colour blue because it symbolizes ice, glaciers, and snowy peaks.
What’s New?Â
Every new release comes with a set of new features or at least something that sets it apart from its predecessors. The all-new 1858 Geosphere is no different. The watch has a dial with a new theme, smoky blue. The hour markers in the previous versions came in a faux-patina tone. However, in the latest edition numerals are kept white with a hint of patination on top. They also get Super LumiNova treatment. Speaking of which, the world time sub-dials have a fair share of luminescence which makes them a very eye-catchy ordeal. The case in the previous watches was made of stainless steel and bronze. This time around the cases are made of grade-5 titanium. The case is 42 mm in width and 12.80 mm in thickness. It also offers a water resistance of about 100 meters, which is a tad bit disappointing, given the adventure watch status of the 1858 Geosphere. Buyers are provided with a choice between a blue-coloured Sfumato leather strap and a ‘grains of rice’ metallic bracelet.
From the movement standpoint, the watch is exactly the same. The watch comes fitted with a Calibre MB 29.25 movement with an in-house manufactured world time complication. Other than that, the timepiece also offers a date display. The self-winding movement beats at 4 Hertz and offers a power reserve of about 42 hours. The world timer sub-dials are situated at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock representing the northern and southern hemispheres, respectively. The dials have a day/night indication as well as 24-hour markings.
Honest OpinionÂ
The titanium case material is new to the collection. It will prove to be beneficial because it will make the watch lighter and more manageable. Another feature that makes this material more suited for adventure-style watches is its durability. Grade-5 titanium is notorious for its endurance and scratch-resistant properties. In addition to that, Montblanc claims that this material is also immune to temperature changes thanks to its below-par thermal conductivity.
Now getting into the appearance department, the timepiece is simply too cool for school. The overall blue theme suits it perfectly and provides it with a modern aesthetic. Buyers who used to feel hesitant because of the rustic elements in older models of the 1858 Geosphere can finally make the purchase without any second thoughts. The Geosphere might be aimed towards capturing the markets of today, but it is still a no non-sense watch that possesses a high degree of functionality and toughness.
The watch comes along with a dual-metallic bracelet where the inner links are made of stainless steel while the other bigger links are made of titanium. Earlier, the models used to come with a leather strap. They looked marvellous as the leather complemented the patina aesthetic. However, this type of bracelet is more suited to the motto of the collection. Montblanc even goes further and provides a Nato strap with the watch. In fact, the brand also offers an option where buyers can get a leather strap variant in case they do not like the new metallic bracelet.
The Geosphere was always designed for exploration and adventure. Today, it is offered in a lighter and sportier version that is ready for its new journey. The execution is smooth and the end result is just fantastic. This modern era tool watch is truly a gem among today’s timepieces and clearly a stroke of genius from Montblanc.
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Archives