The Low-Down

Reinhold Messner is a legend in mountaineering and exploration, with a string of accolades and accomplishments that is unprecedented. In 1978 he ascended Everest without supplemental oxygen. Two years later he managed the feat again, but this time he did it alone, making Messner the first person to climb the world’s highest peak solo. In 1986 he became the first person to climb all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre-plus mountains. He was also instrumental in popularising the high-speed low-drag alpine style of climbing, a self-sufficient approach considered by many to be the purest form of mountaineering.

Touching the skies isn’t the extent of Messner’s achievements, though. He’s also credited as the first man to cross Antarctica without sled dogs or snowmobiles. In 2004, at the age of 60 (after serving a stint in European Parliament), he trekked across Mongolia’s Gobi Desert on foot.

This is the second Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition to pay tribute to Messner, but this time around we’re drawing aesthetic inspiration from his solo desert trek.

IMHO

Before we explore the numerous Gobi-esque details of this suitably rugged 42mm watch, let’s brush up on the details of this model. The Geosphere first launched in 2018, and was the capstone for the brand’s 1858 collection, a heritage-leaning assortment inspired by the “spirit of mountain exploration”. Since the initial release, the watch has evolved a little — take, for example, the blocky, applied luminous markers — but the core premise remains the same. The 1858 Geosphere is a distinctive take on a dual timer, with two domed, rotating hemispheres occupying much of the real estate. You can read the second time zone off these domes thanks to the fixed 24-hour scale surrounding them, or you can use the second time hand conveniently located at nine. It’s worth noting that at night this watch really puts on a show, as the land masses, hands, numerals and even the compass markers in the ceramic bezel are all luminous.

As for this limited edition (of 1,858 pieces, naturally), the desert inspiration comes through loud and clear, starting with the bronze case. Bronze has been a significant part of the 1858 family, and in a watch inspired by the colours and tones of the Mongolian desert, it’s a natural choice. So too is the glossy brown ceramic bezel insert. But where this watch really starts evoking the sands of the Gobi is the dial. Fading from smokey brown to beige, this dial is very cool and plays well with the case and Montblanc’s trademark Sfumato brown leather strap.

There’s also a charming detail on the rear. The caseback is solid, but that doesn’t mean it’s boring. It displays an engraving of Bayanzag or the Flaming Cliffs, a famous landmark of the Gobi passed by Messner that is also a site of significant paleontological discovery. The titanium caseback is engraved and finished by laser. Colour is applied through laser-generated oxidisation, resulting in a surprisingly vivid glimpse into the Gobi.

Tech Specs

Movement: Self-winding calibre MB 29.25; 42-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, date, dual time, rotating domes depicting Northern and Southern Hemispheres with day/night indication
Case: 42mm; bronze with titanium caseback; water resistant to 100m
Strap: Brown Sfumato calf leather with beige stitching and bronze-coated steel triple-folding clasp
Price: EURO 5950
Avalability: Limited to 1,858 pieces