MONTBLANC – 1858 GEOSPHERE 0 Oxygen Bronze Edition 1786

 

MONTBLANC – 1858 GEOSPHERE 0 Oxygen Bronze Limited Edition 1786 - 2022

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

Montblanc Markmaker Reinhold Messner is among the world’s most acclaimed mountaineers.  

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

He was the first man to climb all 14 of the world’s peaks and was the first climber to undertake a solo ascent of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Simone Messner © Montblanc

 

Now in his late seventies, he has passed his passion and baton on to his son Simon.

Passing the Passion and the Ice Peak

Simon Messner was born on 8th November 1990 and is the son of Reinhold Messner. Along with his three sisters, he has been mountaineering since a very young age. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Simone Messner © Montblanc

Like his father, he shares a passion to preserve the tradition of climbing, taking all necessary measures to protect the mountain environment by using as little equipment as possible and having never used supplemental oxygen on his ventures.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Simone Messner © Montblanc

Many different goals can be set while mountaineering, but for Simon, the most important thing is the experience gained.  

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

The idea of racing to reach all of the world’s summits is not what drives him the most, it is more about being as close as possible to the mountain in the purest sense.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Simone Messner © Montblanc

To underline his respect for mountaineering and the environment, he will ascend the Mont Blanc in August 2022, going back to where it all started for Montblanc, with the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen LE1786 strapped to his wrist.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Simone Messner © Montblanc

He will set off from France’s L’Aiguille du Midi and climb via Mont Blanc du Tacul and Mont Maudit, to reach the Mont Blanc – a route that is mapped out on the case back of this limited-edition timepiece using Montblanc’s three-dimensional laser engraving technique that is so realistic, it resembles a photograph of the Mont Blanc at sunset. 

 

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

In-Boutique VR Experience

In addition to ascending the Mont Blanc, Simon will be documenting his adventure and filming the final stretch to the summit.  

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Simone Messner © Montblanc 

Montblanc customers will be able to join him in the brand’s boutiques and witness this incredible feat with virtual reality glasses, giving them the incredible feeling of being on the mountain with him.

Zero Oxygen

Simon will be testing the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen LE1786 and its zero-oxygen construction all the way up to the 4,810-metre summit.  

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Simone Messner © Montblanc 

This is only the second model to be devoid of oxygen, after the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen LE290. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

The exclusion of oxygen has several benefits for explorers who need their equipment to work in the harshest environments. Zero oxygen inside the movement not only eliminates fogging, which can occur with drastic temperature changes at altitude, but also prevents oxidization.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Simone Messner © Montblanc

Without oxygen, all the components last far longer and will provide greater precision over time.

Blue Glacier Pattern Dial

The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen LE1786 is adorned with the manufacturer’s new blue glacier pattern dial. The Maison’s designers found inspiration in the glacial lakes of the Mont Blanc Massif during a trip to the Alps.  

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Ascending via the Chamonix Valley to the Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice), they were captivated by the texture of the glacial ice with its interlocking network of crystals that have been frozen in time for millennia.

Research and Development on the Mer de Glace

Full of ideas, they returned to the Manufacturer to try and figure out a way of translating what they had seen onto the face of a watch.  

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Simone Messner © Montblanc

This was no easy feat as not only had it never been done before by Montblanc, but a watch dial measures a mere 0.5 mm in height, making it very difficult to create the illusion of looking into the depth of a glacier.

The Iced Sea Frozen Dial

After several trials, the Maison found a technical solution to create an impression of genuine depth and luminosity. The dial makers employed an almost-forgotten ancestral technique called gratté boisé as the base.  

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

The result captures Montblanc’s spirit of exploration, both in terms of the adventures the watches are made for, but also the way in which they are designed and created.

All the Details

The timepiece comes in a 42mm bronze case with a bi-directional knurled ceramic bezel with cardinal points.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Like with all Montblanc 1858 Geosphere models, both the Northern and Southern hemispheres are represented with two three-dimensional globes that turn anti-clockwise and include a day & night indication so that the wearer can see what time it is across the Earth with a simple glance.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Simone Messner © Montblanc

 

There is also a date at three o’clock and a dual time indication at nine o’clock. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

The dial is enhanced with luminescent highlights on the hour, minute, and dual time hands, as well as on the indexes and cardinal points, for reading in low light. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

The timepiece is powered by Montblanc’s MB 29.25 automatic movement and comes fitted with a blue Sfumato calf leather strap with beige stitching.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Simone Messner © Montblanc

The collection is limited to 1786 pieces, which marks the date of the first ascent of the Mont Blanc by Jacques Balmat on August 8th, 1786, a number that brings the adventure full circle in a genuine celebration of the mountain that started it all!

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Simone Messner © Montblanc

--------------------------------
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Model:  Montblanc 1858 GEOSPHERE 0 Oxygen Bronze Blue Dial Special Edition (1786) 

Ref.  Ident No. MB129415

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Movement
Montblanc Manufacture Calibre MB 29.25 (with world time complications)
Movement type: self-winding mechanical movement with universal time display
Number of rubies: 26
Power reserve: about 42 hours
Balance wheel: flat ring
Frequency: 28,800 times/hour (4 Hz)
Hairspring: flat

Display: central hour hand, minute hand, hour and minute, date display at "three o'clock" position, second time zone display at "nine o'clock" position, northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere display at "twelve o'clock" and "six o'clock" position, Equipped with 24-hour time scale and day and night display

Case
Special alloy of bronze, satin-finished, with thin curved lugs, two-way rotating blue DLC-coated bronze bezel, engraved with the basic orientation logo on the surface Coated with Super-LumiNova® white coating, grooved on the side
Crystal:  Convex sapphire crystal glass table mirror, anti-scratch, anti-reflective coating
Back: Special alloy of bronze case back, engraved with the pink Mont Blanc landscape and wind rose compass decoration under the setting sun
Dimensions Diameter : 42 mm in diameter; 12.8 mm in thickness
Water resistance:  about 100 meters (10 bar)
Crown: Special alloy of bronze fluted crown with Montblanc emblem in relief
Dial
Blue lacquered dial with sun decoration, rhodium-plated white luminous Arabic numeral hour markers, rhodium-plated white luminous cathedral-style hour and minute hands, white luminous second time zone hands, rhodium-plated white luminous southern and northern hemispheres, "three o'clock" position Decorated with the classic Montblanc brand logo style
Wristband
Blue calfskin strap decorated with the same color stitching, with stainless steel folding clasp

Limited edition: ❱❱❱ 1786 piece

 🔴Price USD 8’100 / EUR 8’000

Certified by the Montblanc Laboratory Test 500

(* Super-LumiNova® is not a trademark owned by Montblanc)

=====================--------
------------------------------
Press releases - 2022
-----------------------------
--------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
www.facebook.com - Montblanc
---------------------------------------------------------------
www.Montblanc.com

AUDEMARS PIGUET – Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon GMT 44 mm Titanium

AUDEMARS PIGUET – ROYAL OAK Concept Flying Tourbillon GMT Titanium 44 Green Ceramic Bezel 2022
 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

 NEW THE ROYAL OAK CONCEPT FLYING TOURBILLON GMT TAKES ON GREEN HUES

Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet is delighted to present a new animation of its Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon GMT in 44 mm.  

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTOFor the first time, the complicated timepiece’s titanium case is topped off with a green ceramic bezel for a highly contemporary look. 

 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

The black architectural movement, visible through the dial and sapphire caseback, features green CVD-coloured inserts matching with the bezel’s hue – a powerful contrast furthering the watch’s high-tech aesthetic.

STYLISED GREEN ACCENTS

The new Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon GMT model encompasses a sandblasted titanium case enriched with a bezel, crown and push-piece, all crafted in green ceramic and finished by hand with an alternation of satin-brushing and polished chamfers. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Although green ceramic was first introduced at Audemars Piguet in the Royal Oak Offshore collection in 2018, this material makes its first appearance this year on the Royal Oak Concept.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Zirconium Oxide (ZrO₂) powder, modified to obtain a green pigmentation once baked, is mixed with dedicated binder content before being transformed into ceramic through a complex industrial flow requiring different stages of high-precision machining. The exact composition of ceramic remains the secret of its manufacturers. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

The components achieve their final green colour only once they have been sintered at more than 1,400°C. Reaching a homogeneous colour represents an additional challenge as ceramic’s final colour depends on the sintering temperature, which allows no variation. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

The Le Brassus artisans have then finished each ceramic component with the same detailed and meticulous hand-finished as they would if they were honed from precious metals, endowing the timepiece with a rich play of light.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

As per Royal Oak Concept design codes, the architectural movement ticking within takes centre stage on both the dial and caseback sides. To further enhance the introduction of green ceramic, the hand-wound Calibre 2954 has evolved to contrast the movement’s black PVD bridges with evocative green CVD-coloured inserts. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

A very thin layer of green colouring, specifically developed for the occasion, has been applied by Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD). A precursor gas is injected into a chamber, which is then heated until the gas breaks down and bonds to the surface of the different elements. In addition to offering a rich play of light, this technique ensures colour homogeneity across the components, as well as unalterable colouration over time.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

The timepiece’s contrasting tones are illuminated by pink gold accents. The pink gold hands filled with luminescent coating and the applied AP monogram at 12 o’clock are echoed by the pink-gold-toned flying tourbillon cage and escapement components peeking through the openworked bridges.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

The transferred white hour-markers on the black inner bezel add yet another bright touch.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

A green rubber strap, fitted with a sandblasted titanium AP folding clasp, completes the watch’s avant-garde design. The timepiece also comes with an additional black rubber strap.

THE ROYAL OAK CONCEPT TURNS 20

The Royal Oak Concept saw the light of day in 2002 to celebrate the Royal Oak’s 30^th anniversary. For the occasion, Audemars Piguet released a 150-piece limited edition inspired by Concept cars that combined titanium with Alacrite 602, a light yet highly resistant alloy mainly used in the aeronautical industry. While the bezel retained the Royal Oak’s trademark octagonal shape, the massive rounded 44 mm case, whose ergonomic curvature matched the natural shape of the wrist, brought this timepiece to new horizons. To complement the case’s futuristic aesthetic, the dial exposed the advanced hand-wound mechanism, while providing a variety of innovative functions: a crown position indicator, a dynamograph displaying the mainspring torque and a linear power-reserve display. The tourbillon cage and its shock-absorbing bridge was also visible at 9 o’clock.

Although originally conceived as a one-off limited edition, the Royal Oak Concept established an entirely new aesthetic for 21^st-century Haute Horlogerie and led to the creation of a collection. In 2008, Audemars Piguet released the Royal Oak Carbon Concept Tourbillon and Chronograph in a pioneering case made of forged carbon, ceramic and titanium, while the movement ticking within premiered the use of carbon components. A platform of experimentation ever since, the Royal Oak Concept has seen the addition of unyielding materials, avant-garde designs and innovative complications attuned to the timepiece’s futuristic identity.

In 2011, Audemars Piguet launched its first Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon GMT in a case crafted in titanium and black ceramic. The dial showcased the openworked movement’s tourbillon cage, blackened hour-glass-shaped upper bridge, crown position and second time zone indications. The Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon GMT witnessed another evolution in 2014 with the release of a variation uniting titanium with white ceramic.

In 2015, Audemars Piguet released the patented Royal Oak Concept Laptimer in collaboration with Michael Schumacher, the first mechanical timepiece able to measure multiple consecutive lap times on the racetrack. This watch also represented the first collaborative venture of the collection. The same year, the Manufacture unveiled its Royal Oak Concept Supersonnerie prototype, also known as RD#1. This patented technology resulted from eight years of research in collaboration with EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne and a host of experts, including musicians, to recover the acoustic tonality of older chiming watches.

In 2018, Audemars Piguet launched its first Royal Oak Concept Selfwinding Tourbillon Chronograph Openworked, with three models in white, blue and red hues. The same year, the Manufacture also premiered its first ever flying tourbillon in the Royal Oak Concept collection, fitted on the first Royal Oak Concept for women – a line of powerful 38.5 mm models originally covered in diamonds. The flying tourbillon also equipped the latest GMT movement cased in a timepiece interweaving titanium and black ceramic. This new generation of Flying Tourbillon GMT powered by Calibre 2954 introduced a new movement aesthetic with asymmetrical blackened titanium bridges enriched with pink-gold-toned accents. A new version of the Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon GMT followed in 2020 featuring a titanium case, a grey ceramic bezel and an architectural movement juxtaposing electric blue ALD-coloured (atomic layer deposition) bridges and slate grey inserts.

The flying tourbillon took on a marvelous air in 2021 with the release of the 250-piece limited edition Royal Oak Concept “Black Panther” Flying Tourbillon in 42 mm to mark the beginning of the brand’s long-term partnership with Marvel.

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

Inspired by the universe of Black Panther, the watch’s case associated titanium with black ceramic in a unique aesthetic recalling the cutting-edge suit of Marvel’s hero. For its part, the dial featured a highly contemporary hand-painted rendition of Black Panther comprised of white gold.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

20 years on, the Royal Oak Concept collection continues to chart new territories with new materials, colours, contrasts and more to come in 2023.

 “Born in Le Brassus, raised around the world.”

-----------------------------------------
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Model: Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon GMT

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

 Reference: 26589IO.OO.D056CA.01

Movement
Hand-wound Manufacture Calibre 2954

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Frequency of balance wheel (Hz): 3 (=21,600 vibrations /h)
Total diameter: 35.60 mm (15 ¾ lignes)
Number of jewels: 24
Power reserve: 237 h (10 days)
Number of parts: 348
Functions
Flying tourbillon, GMT 24h, functions selection, hours and minutes.
Complications: Tourbillon
Case
Sandblasted titanium
Size: 44 mm
Thickness: 16.1 mm
Glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback, green ceramic bezel,
green ceramic push-piece and screw-locked crown, sandblasted titanium push-piece guards.
Water Resistance: 100 m
Dial
Openworked
Second time-zone indicator at 3 o’clock on sapphire plate,
crown position indicator at 6 o’clock,
flying tourbillon at 9 o’clock
Pink gold Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating, black inner bezel.
Bracelet
Green rubber strap with sandblasted titanium AP folding clasp.
Additional black rubber strap


============
---------------------------------
Press Release - 2022
---------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
Audemars Piguet (Marketing) SA
Route de France 16 - Case postale 16
1348 Le Brassus - Switzerland
Phone : + 41 21 642 39 00
Fax : + 41 21 642 34 02
--------------------------------------------------------------------
www.facebook.com - Audemars Piguet
------------------------------------------------------------------------
www.AudemarsPiguet.com