Montblanc unveils a new capsule collection that pays tribute to the world’s 14 highest peaks and the inspiring alpinists who dared to climb them

Montblanc 1858 – The 8000 Zero Oxygen

All four of the Montblanc 1858 Zero Oxygen 8000 Capsule Collection models join the Maison’s series of “Zero Oxygen” timepieces that feature several benefits for explorers who need their equipment to work in harsh environments. Zero oxygen inside the case not only eliminates fogging, which can occur with drastic temperature changes at altitude, but also prevents oxidization. Without oxygen, all the components last longer and will provide unfaltering precision over time. Each timepiece comes with a certificate as proof of this special, yet invisible, technology and guarantees that it has been successfully encased without oxygen. 

The Sfumato effect combined with the glacier dial

For the Montblanc 1858 Zero Oxygen 8000 Capsule Collection, each timepiece is fitted with a Sfumato dark grey Glacier pattern dial that replicates the colour of the rock and ice at 8000 meters and fades darker towards the exterior of the dial. The Sfumato effect is an old Italian technique that allows tones and colours to shade gradually into one another, producing softened outlines and hazy forms. The addition of the Sfumato technique here is a nod to the visual effect of being at high altitude and observing mountains as far as the eye can see.
To provide the glacier pattern, the dial makers employed a special technique called gratté-boisé as the base, giving the dial the impression of genuine depth and luminosity. This time-consuming process takes three times longer than a standard dial to complete and requires over 20 separate steps.

Orange Touches

Orange is an important colour on the mountain. It is featured in mountaineering outfits and equipment so that alpinists can be visible against snow and ice in bad weather and improve their chances of being spotted in case of an emergency. The colour is also found on the Tibetan amulets that are made of Dzi and coral beads and worn by mountaineers – Messner included – as they are believed to bring positive spiritual power. This orange hue has been included on the dials of the Montblanc 1858 Zero Oxygen 8000 Capsule Collection for a touch of colour that stands out against the icy grey background. 

Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen The 8000 Limited Edition 290 – 44mm

Following his recording breaking ascent to Everest with the first Montblanc 1858 0 Oxygen timepiece in May 2022 without supplemental oxygen, Mark Maker Nimsdai Purja continues to serve as the inspiration for the latest edition of the watch that’s ready to accompany him on his next adventure - the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen The 8000 Limited Edition 290.

The timepiece is powered by Montblanc’s Manufacture automatic chronograph with worldtime complication, Calibre MB 29.27, which has a power reserve of approx. 46 hours. The timepiece includes two 3D turning globes with the Northern Hemisphere at 12 o’clock and the Southern Hemisphere at six o’clock. North Hemisphere feature 14 orange dots, marking the location of the 8000m peaks, surrounded by Day&Night indicators. Both hemispheres also use the colour orange to mark the Greenwich reference meridian for easy setting of the worldtime function.

The 44mm titanium case, which has been assembled without oxygen, comes with a fluted bi-directional black ceramic bezel with cardinal points, and a 3D coloured laser engraving on the caseback. The engraving showcases the list and profiles of the 14 Eight Thousander peaks according to Nimsdai. The engraving also includes the name of the watch, two inspirational quotes from Nimsdai, three Himalayan prayer flags for good fortune, and the mention “Limited Edition.
The watch comes with an interchangeable anthracite textile strap, the design of which has been inspired by the rope – a vital tool to any mountaineer.

Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen The 8000 – 42mm

The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen The 8000 is inspired by Montblanc’s Mark Maker Reinhold Messer, who was the first mountaineer to climb all 14 of the planet’s highest peaks, and is considered among the greatest alpinists and explorers of our time. 

The timepiece is powered by the MB 29.25 automatic movement with Manufacture worldtime complication, which includes turning Northern and Southern Hemisphere globes, a 24-hour scale, Day&Night indications, dual time display, and a date. The timepiece comes in a 42mm titanium case with a fluted bi-directional black ceramic bezel with the cardinal points and is fitted with a Sfumato dark grey glacier pattern dial with orange accents, and an interchangeable titanium bracelet with a taper and fine adjustment system. 

The caseback for this model features the K2, the world’s second-highest mountain that was chosen by Reinhold Messner himself. The K2 is widely considered the most difficult, technical, and dangerous summit to climb due to the unpredictable weather which can whip up winds in an excess of 200 km/h. 

Montblanc 1858 Automatic Chronograph 0 Oxygen The 8000 – 42mm

The Montblanc 1858 Automatic Chronograph 0 Oxygen The 8000 is powered by the MB 25.13 automatic chronograph movement with a power reserve of approx. 48 hours. It comes in a 42mm stainless steel “zero oxygen” case and is adorned with a fluted bi-directional black ceramic bezel with the cardinal points; a dark grey Sfumato glacier patterned dial; and blue luminescence on the hour and minute hands, applied Arabic numerals, and cardinal points.

The caseback is engraved with the “Spirit of Exploration” pattern and the watch is fitted with an interchangeable tapered stainless steel bracelet with a fine adjustment system.

Montblanc 1858 Automatic Date 0 Oxygen The 8000 – 41mm

The 1858 Montblanc Automatic Date 0 Oxygen The 8000 comes in a 41mm stainless steel case, again without oxygen, and features a fixed black ceramic bezel with the cardinal points. The dial is fitted with the same dark grey Sfumato glacier pattern as the other models in the capsule collection and includes applied Arabic numerals; a central seconds hand; a date at three o’clock; as well as blue luminescence on the hour and minute hands, numerals and cardinal points. Other details include a minute scale with orange indications every 15 minutes, an interchangeable tapered stainless steel bracelet with a fine adjustment system, and an engraving of the “Spirit of Exploration” on the caseback. The watch is powered by the automatic calibre MB 24.15 with approx. 38 hours of power reserve. 

All four models in this capsule collection celebrate Montblanc’s connection to the mountain while showcasing some of the latest technical novelties, converting these timepieces into professional sports watches for explorers who demand enhanced performance on their adventures.