Montblanc Take on Mont Blanc with 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen LE1786

With a name like Montblanc, the watchmaker has a certain resonance with the mountains which, as ambassador Nims Purja explained in our recent interview with him, is the ultimate trial of physical and mental fortitude. The man himself wears the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen, which has now been updated with the 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen LE1786.

The new edition is inspired by the tallest mountain in the Alps, Mont Blanc, and it was taken on an expedition to Mont Blanc’s summit by Simon Messner, the son of legendary mountaineer Reinhold Messner – the first man to climb Everest without supplemental oxygen.

The idea of no supplemental oxygen resonates with the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen LE1786 because its movement, the MB 29.25 automatic, contains zero oxygen. The lack of oxygen prevents unwanted mist forming in the watch at high altitudes and protects the movement from oxidation, improving its longevity.

This calibre is only the second movement constructed in this way, following the MB 29.27 chronograph used in the Everest edition. It’s interesting because the MB 29.25 isn’t a new movement, which means presumably Montblanc can produce any movement with ‘0 Oxygen’. In terms of specs, MB 29.25 has a 42-hour power reserve and features hours, minutes, 12-hour second time zone, world time and date functions.

Stylistically, the 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen LE1786 has had a few deviations from the original 0 Oxygen. Most obvious is the updated case which is now made from bronze with a diameter of 42mm as opposed to the previous version’s 44mm in titanium. Bronze is a popular watchmaking material because it patinas over time, a physical representation of the adventures it’s been on.

On the watch’s caseback you’ll find an engraving of Mont Blanc marked with the route Simon Messner took it on during their expedition together. For budding mountaineers, that route starts at France’s L’Aiguille du Midi before progressing via Mont Blanc du Tacul and Mont Maudit to reach Mont Blanc.

Regarding availability and price, there are 1,786 pieces available for £5,500. If you’re wondering about the relevance of the number 1786, which is both the limited edition quantity and part of the watch’s name, 1786 is the year of the first recorded summiting of Mont Blanc.