Montblanc Releases the New 1858, Iced Sea, and Star Legacy Novelties at Watches and Wonders 2024

1858 is very significant for Richemont-owned Montblanc. It was the year in which watchmaker Charles-Yvan Robert, who was inspired by the Roman goddess of wisdom, associated with trades, professions, and arts, created the Minerva in Villeret, close to Le Locle. Among other things, Montblanc has unveiled a raft of 1858 variants, including Minerva editions, at Watches and Wonders 2024, being held in Geneva, to underscore the line’s historical significance. 

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GMT India closely examines the timepieces on offer.

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Montblanc 1858 0 Oxygen Capsule Collection

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Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen

This 42 mm stainless steel watch (Ref. 133303) gets slim curved horns, featuring polished and satinated finishing. It also gets a bidirectional stainless steel and green anodized aluminium bezel, knurled finishing, and engraved cardinal points coated with Super-LumiNova® with green emission. The Sfumato green glacier pattern dial with white luminescent rhodium-coated Arabic hour markers has a date window at 3 o’clock with a green background. The luminescent Northern and Southern hemispheres at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock respectively get green Greenwich meridians. Powering the watch is Calibre MB 29.25 with a 42-hour power reserve. Turning the watch over showcases the titanium caseback with a 3D laser colour engraving of the Mont Blanc mountain. This timepiece is finished on an interchangeable stainless steel bracelet with taper and double-folding clasp facilitated by an adjustment system. 

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Montblanc 1858 Automatic Chronograph 0 Oxygen

Housed in a 42 mm stainless steel case (Ref. 133298), this model gets a bidirectional stainless steel and green anodized aluminium bezel, knurled finishing and engraved cardinal points coated with Super-LumiNova®  with green emission. There is a Sfumato green glacier pattern dial with rhodium-coated Arabic hour markers, white luminescent rhodium-coated hour and minute hands, white seconds hand, white chronograph hands, and a minute scale with white indication every 15 minutes. The dial also gets a bi-compax chronograph configuration with a black small seconds display at 9 o’clock and a black 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock. Powering the watch is Calibre MB 25.13 automatic chronograph movement with a 48-hour power reserve. The caseback is crafted from stainless steel and comes with the Mont Blanc Mountain engraving, cardinal points and two crossed ice picks.

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Montblanc 1858 Automatic Date 0 Oxygen

This time-and-date-only watch comes in a 41 mm stainless steel case with a fixed stainless steel and black ceramic bezel , knurled finishing and engraved cardinal points coated with Super-LumiNova® with green emission. There is a Sfumato green glacier pattern dial with white luminescent coating,   rhodium-coated Arabic numerals, and white luminescent rhodium-coated hour and minute hands. There is a black date on white background at 3 o’clock. Powering the watch is Calibre MB 24.17 with a 38-hour power reserve. Turning the watch over showcases the stainless steel caseback with the engraving of Mont Blanc Mountain, cardinal points, and two crossed ice picks. This watch is finished on an interchangeable stainless steel bracelet with a taper and double-folding clasp, along with a fine adjustment system.

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Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen Carbo₂

This watch is slightly larger, compared with the stainless steel novelties. Sized at 43.5 mm, the piece is made from titanium and Carbo₂. This worldtimer gets a bidirectional titanium ceramic bezel, a black-and-white Sfumato glacier pattern dial with white luminescent black rhodium-coated Arabic hour markers, and luminescent Northern and Southern hemispheres with blue Greenwich meridians. There is a black date on white background at 3 o’clock. Powering the watch is Calibre MB 29.25 with a 42-hour power reserve. Turning the watch over showcases titanium caseback with a 3D laser colour engraving of Mont Blanc Mountain. This model is finished on a black interchangeable textile strap with a rope pattern and a double-folding clasp with a fine adjustment system.

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Montblanc 1858 The Unveiled Timekeeper Minerva Limited Edition

Limited to 100 pieces, this monopusher chronograph comes in a 42.5 mm distress steel case (Ref.133246) with satinated and polished finishing. There is an 18 ct white gold unidirectional fluted bezel with a grey dial sporting white luminescent rhodium-coated Arabic hour markers, a tachymeter and telemeter scale on the outer periphery of the dial, and a blue seconds hand. Instead of having a separate monopusher, the timepiece maker has turned the bezel into the monopusher. The wearer will rotate the bezel clockwise, one click will start the chronograph; a second click will stop it; and a third click will reset the chronograph. Powering the watch is Calibre MB M13.21 with a 60-hour power reserve. Turning the watch over showcases the stainless steel caseback with a special engraving paying tribute to the Minerva legacy. The watch is finished on a grey interchangeable calf leather strap with alligator print and a stainless steel triple-folding clasp.

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Montblanc 1858 The Unveiled Minerva Monopusher Chronograph

Limited to 100 pieces, this 43 mm stainless steel watch (Ref. 133296) gets an 18 ct white gold fluted bezel. The timepiece also gets a skeleton sapphire dial with white luminescent Arabic hour markers. The monopusher is integrated into the crown. This model has undergone testing for 500 hours and is certified by the Montblanc Laboratory. Powering the watch is Calibre MB M17.26 with a 50-hour power reserve. Turning the watch over showcases the stainless steel caseback with the historic Minerva Manufacture special engraving. This watch is finished on a blue interchangeable Sfumato calf leather strap with alligator print and a stainless steel triple-folding clasp.

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Montblanc Iced Sea 0 Oxygen Deep 4810

Diver’s watches from Montblanc combine elegant aesthetics with robustness and functionality. These timepieces are designed to withstand the pressures encountered under water, featuring water resistance to significant depths. This 43 mm titanium case watch (Ref. 133268) has a shield protecting the screw-down crown and a knurled unidirectional turning bezel with black anodized aluminium Super-LumiNova®. There is a blue Sfumato glacier pattern dial with white luminescent rhodium-coated Arabic hour markers and a logo inspired by a vintage Minerva export seal at 6 o’clock. Powering the COSC-certified watch is Calibre MB 29.29 with a 120-hour power reserve. Turning the watch over  showcases the titanium caseback with 3D laser colour engraving featuring underwater ice. This timepiece has 4810-metre water resistance. Finishing the watch is an interchangeable black rubber strap with a taper and a stainless steel double-folding clasp with a fine adjustment system.

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Montblanc Iced Sea Collection

Two variations have  been launched: a stainless steel case with a burgundy dial (Ref. 132291) and a bronze case with a black dial (Ref. 133300). Both models are sized at 41 mm. Even the crown at 3 o’clock is crafted from the same material as that of the respective case. While the stainless steel model gets rhodium-coated Arabic hour markers, the bronze model gets hour markers with rose gold coating. Both models come with a black numeral, white background date window at 3 o’clock.

Powering the watches is Calibre MB 24.17/SW200 with a 38-hour power reserve. Turning each watch over reveals the 3D engraving of an iceberg and a diver. While Ref. 133300 is finished on a black interchangeable rubber strap with a brown outline, taper, and a bronze-coated stainless steel double-folding clasp, Ref. 132291 is accompanied by an interchangeable stainless steel bracelet with taper and a stainless steel double-folding clasp.

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Montblanc Star Legacy Capsule Collection

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Crystal collector Jacques Balmat was helped by Dr Michel-Gabriel Paccard, who was passionate about botany and minerals, to find a way to the top. At 6:23 pm on August 8, 1786, the duo reached the summit, making history. In honour of Jacques Balmat and his trusted colleague, Montblanc has unveiled a Star Legacy capsule collection with Burgundy dials. The new collection is limited to 1786 pieces for each watch.

The first model is the time-and-date-only variant: Montblanc Star Legacy Automatic Date 39 mm (Ref. 133243). This stainless steel watch has a burgundy tone glacier pattern dial; the Montblanc emblem is visible at the centre with rose gold-coated Arabic numerals, rose gold-coated leaf-shaped hour and minute hands, and rose gold-coated baton-shaped seconds hand with the Montblanc emblem on the counterweight. This model is powered by Calibre MB 24.17 that has a 38-hour power reserve. At 6 o’clock rests a date window as well.

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Next in the lineup is the Montblanc Star Legacy Chronograph 42 mm Limited Edition (Ref. 133245). The model has chronograph pushers at 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock, a burgundy-tone glacier pattern dial with a black 60-second counter at 9 o’clock, a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, and a date window at 6 o’clock. There is an inner bezel with a minute track. Powered by the automatic movement Calibre MB 25.13, this timepiece has a 50-hour power reserve.

Last in the collection is the Montblanc Star Legacy Moonphase 42 mm Limited Edition (Ref. 133244). This watch is quite identical to the Date variant. The burgundy dial has a moon-phase complication at 6 o'clock; expect a bigger aperture for the moon display. This watch, housed in a 42 mm stainless steel case, is powered by the automatic MB 24.31, delivering a 50-hour power reserve. All three models are finished on interchangeable burgundy tone calf leather straps with  stainless steel triple-folding clasps.

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Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph 43 mm Meisterstück 100 Years

In this new version (Ref. 133232), the black dial comes with a luminescent motif. The date has been moved to 6 o’clock. The day-and-night indicator has been smartly integrated into the off-centred hour circle. All adjustment and setting are performed via the three-position onion-shaped crown, adorned with the Montblanc emblem. The unique chronograph pusher is positioned at 8 o’clock. This 500-piece limited-edition timepiece gets 60-second and 30-minute counters on rotating discs with a central index. The Montblanc Star Legacy Rieussec chronograph is powered by the calibre MB R200, a modern, automatic and integrated chronograph movement featuring a columnwheel and a vertical clutch. Its two barrels can store up to 72 hours of power reserve.

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Montblanc Star Legacy Orbis Terrarum Around The World In 80 Days Limited Edition

Limited to 360 pieces, this 43 mm stainless steel watch (Ref.131627) gets an onion-shaped crown at 3 o’clock. The blue dial gets a rotating disc with applied three-dimensional rhodium-coated Northern Hemisphere continents and meridians, surrounded by the 24 cities of the 24 time zones. After the reference city is at the top, all that a wearer needs to do is hit the pusher at 8 o'clock. The minute and hour hands will automatically align to show the current time in the selected city. Additionally, there is a day/night indication that provides a summary of the sun's orbiting around the earth through the use of a rotating disc that changes from bright blue during the day to dark blue at night. Powering the watch is Calibre MB 29.20 with a 42-hour power reserve. Turning the watch over showcases the titanium caseback with representation of the majestic elephant, Kiouni. The watch is finished on a blue interchangeable Sfumato-effect calf strap, with alligator print, Chinese coins, and Boteh leaves pattern on the lining, and a stainless-steel triple-folding clasp.