This 1858 Geosphere, the latest edition of the brand’s “0 Oxygen” collection, also features a CARBO2 middle case.
Montblanc’s 1858 Collection of watches has been designed as tool watches for mountain exploration, taking inspiration from the legendary Minerva pocket watches and chronographs from the 1920s and 1930s. During Watches & Wonders 2023, Montblanc introduced the 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen The 8000 Limited Edition. This timepiece was part of their Capsule collection, which paid tribute to the world’s 14 highest peaks (see article here!).
This was the brand’s first introduction of the “0 Oxygen” concept to watchmaking and the rest of the world. Essentially, what Montblanc did was use innovative technology to ensure that there was zero oxygen retained inside the case. Eliminating oxygen from the watch removed fogging, which occurs when there is a drastic change in altitude. As these timepieces are designed for avid climbers and mountaineers, this innovation improved the practicality of the timepieces.
Another major benefit of having zero oxygen in the case is that it prevents oxidization. By removing the harmful effects of oxidization, the parts of the movement and watch will last a lot longer, and will retain the level of precision the timepiece has been designed for.
Now, for Watches & Wonders 2024, Montblanc has taken the concept of zero oxygen and taken another further stride in improving the timepiece for those with daring, adventurous spirits. This latest Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen CARBO2 features a middle-case construction that contains CO2.
Montblanc has created this new watch case material using a pioneering process that captures CO2 from biogas production and mineral waste produced by recycling factories. This is all thanks to the process of calcium dissolution and carbonation. The cases can also be considered partially environmentally friendly in how the creation process is carried out.
Alongside the technical aspect of the case construction, the CARBO2 material also has a graphic aesthetic. The resulting mix of carbon fibre and CACO3 gives the timepiece its dark shade and unique carbon fibre pattern, which will be different on each individual watch. On top of the carbon fibre pattern, Montblanc has also gone a step further and engraved on the 43.5mm titanium case a luminous blue outline of the Mont Blanc mountain on the side that only the timepiece’s wearer can see.
Limited Edition 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen Timepiece _ Side profile showing outline of the Mont Blanc mountain 
Limited Edition 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen Timepiece _ Side profile showing Lume outline of Mont Blanc mountain
The brand states that “the older glaciers are, the less oxygen they contain and the denser they become, resulting in a deeper blue colour that has been depicted on the case band–shining white by day and luminous blue by night. To achieve such a result, Super-LumiNova®and a layer of protective varnish is applied by hand with particular care. An image of the Mont Blanc mountain also adorns the titanium caseback, created using Montblanc’s 3D laser technique that depicts the colour, depth and realism of this natural wonder.”
The dial retains the iconic look of the 1858 Geosphere that I personally love, with the northern and southern hemisphere globes sitting aesthetically, with the Arabic hour indices 2,4,8 and 10 placed on either side, giving the timepiece a well-balanced look. The dial also comes with a black sfumato glacier pattern dial that captures the texture of glacial ice with its interlocking network of crystals that have been frozen in time for millennia. This pattern has been crafted using a special technique called gratté-boisé, with the overall process taking four times longer than standard techniques.
Montblack has given this latest 1858 Geosphere their MB 29.25 automatic movement. Before it was termed the MB 29.25 movement, it was first developed and shown in a tourbillon timepiece back in 2015. Montblanc then went and reconstructed it to fit the two rotating globes at 6 and 12 o’clock. Montblanc has also put the MB 29.25 movement through vigorous testing methods, such as the brand’s Laboratory Test 500 certification, which is a number of tests that are carried out on the fully cased timepiece over a three-week time period to simulate real-life conditions better. The MB 29.25 movement can give out an approximate power reserve of 42 hours.
Final Thoughts
The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere is one of my favourite timepieces from the brand. While it may not have any real-world applications to me, just seeing the northern and southern hemisphere globes rotating slowly over a 24-hour period is a pretty cool feature. Montblanc has updated this timepiece with different colour and material variations. Still, they have certainly outdone themselves with the zero-gravity case and are now implementing an environmentally friendly method of construction with the CARBO2 material.
What I like in particular about this model is the differing material finishes on the case. Firstly, with the CARBO2 middle case construction, each individual timepiece will have a slightly different aesthetic look due to the nature of carbon fibre and how it differs from one construction to another. While the case is part CARBO2 and part titanium, it has a matte-like finish. The bi-directional titanium ceramic bezel has a beautiful polished finish, which contrasts nicely against the matte case. The cardinal points of the bezel also have Superlumi-Nova, so, during low conditions, it gives off a blue emission, mimicking the blue outline of the Mont Blanc mountain found on the side of the case.
The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen CARBO2 is a limited edition timepiece, with only 1969 models being produced!
Reference: 132300
Specification
- Case: 43.5 mm x 13mm thickness
- Case Material: Titanium case with the middle case construction being CARBO2 fibre with captured CO2 and satinated finishing, white outline of Mont Blanc Mountain on the left side with blue emission
- Dial: Black and white sfumato glacier pattern dial. Worldtime with turning northern and southern hemisphere globes, 24-hour scale and Day & Night indication, Dual time indication, date by disc.
- Crystal: A scratch-resistant, domed sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating. A special blue gasket allows 0 oxygen inside the watch case.
- Water resistance: 100m (10 Bar)
- Movement: Self-winding automatic in-house calibre MB 29.25
- Movement Frequency: 4Hz (28,800 VpH)
- Power reserve: 42 hours
- Bracelet: Black Interchangeable textile strap with rope pattern and double-folding clasp with fine adjustment system.
