Montblanc's 1858 collection consists of timepieces designed as instruments for mountain exploration. Inspired by the pocket watches and Minerva chronographs of the 1920s and 1930s, they are an invitation to enjoy the outdoors by reconnecting with nature. Two years ago, Montblanc launched the 1858 Geosphere, equipped with a new world time display featuring two rotating discs representing the two hemispheres. Since its launch, the watch has been linked to the Seven Summits theme and the "Messner List", the route taken by the mountaineer and considered to be the most difficult of all possible. Today, Montblanc is enriching its 1858 collection with a new Geosphere produced in a limited edition entirely dedicated to Reinhold Messner, the legendary explorer. "Reinhold Messner embodies the values we wish to highlight through the Montblanc 1858 collection. He is a living legend of outdoor exploration and mountaineering. With his irrepressible determination he has left his mark, becoming a source of inspiration for adventurers around the world." says Nicolas Baretzki, CEO of Montblanc. Born on 17 September 1944, Reinhold Messner is an Italian mountaineer, explorer and writer, famous the world over for climbing the highest peaks and for undertaking his variant of the Seven Summits Challenge, known as the Messner List. He made the first solo ascent of Mount Everest and the first ascent of the same peak without supplementary oxygen together with Peter Habeler. He was also the first to climb all 14 peaks over 8,000 metres. In 1989-1990, Messner and the German explorer Arved Fuchs were the first to cross Antarctica and Greenland on foot without using dog sleds or snowmobiles. In 2004, he was the first to walk 2,000 km in the Gobi desert. He has published more than 80 books about his experiences, was a member of the European Parliament (1999-2004) defending environmental issues, and in 2018 received the Princess of Asturias Prize in the Sport category, together with fellow mountaineer Krzysztof Wielicki. He is currently overseeing the creation of a series of museums dedicated to mountaineering and mountains. "A high-performance watch is an essential companion for any adventurer embarking on a major expedition. It excites me to be associated with a watch inspired by Minerva and its rich watchmaking tradition; many adventurers before me have faithfully relied on these professional watches. Moreover, it is a meaningful and personal reminder of the thousands of kilometres climbed during my career as a mountaineer, said Messner. The Montblanc 1858 Limited Edition Reinold Messner is being produced in only 262 pieces. The watch harmoniously combines elements clad in bronze, blue and rose gold, giving the timepiece a vintage aesthetic reminiscent of mountaineering exploration tools of the past. Thus, thanks to a creative and inspiring collaboration with Reinhold Messner, the new Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Messner Limited Edition was born; the limitation to 262 pieces refers to all the peaks over 26,200 feet (about 8,000 metres) that he climbed in his lifetime. The connection between Messner's achievements and the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere can be found in the rotating globes of the timepiece, which feature red dots representing the Seven Summits. The caseback features a drawing of Mont Blanc, Messner's complete list, a compass and two crossed pickaxes. An engraving of Messner's signature has been added to this limited edition. The watch has a 42 mm bronze alloy case with curved lugs decorated with both polished and satin finishes. In addition, the case features a bi-directional rotating fluted bronze bezel with a polished blue ceramic ring and engraving of the four cardinal points coated with Super-LumiNova. The dial is shaded blue, with rose gold and beige coated elements. Finally, it is noteworthy that Montblanc recently announced a partnership with the Messner Mountain Foundation, through a donation in support of educational programmes in the poorest mountain communities, ensuring that children receive a quality primary education that gives them the foundation for proper individual development.
