Nature is probably one of the greatest enigmas of the world, inspiring explorers, adventurers, and scientists to travel the planet in search of better understanding. One of these mysteries is the existence of green icebergs in the glacial Southern Ocean surrounding the Antarctic continent. Where most icebergs are blue or white, occasionally these large blocks of ice come in a mysterious deep green, a phenomenon that has provided the inspiration for a brand-new Montblanc 1858 0 Oxygen capsule collection.
Capturing the spirit of mountain exploration and the beauty of Antarctica’s glacial landscape, this trio of timepieces includes a Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen, a Montblanc 1858 Automatic Chronograph 0 Oxygen, and a Montblanc 1858 Automatic Date 0 Oxygen.
Uncovering the Mystery
This green hue of glacial ice comes from a natural wonder that is found solely in Antarctica. Called emerald icebergs or “jade bergs” for their deep green color, this colored ice has intrigued scientists for decades. Icebergs are typically white or blue in color depending on the amount of air present in the ice. Ice bubbles allow the light to go right through, bounce around, and return to the surface quickly. This makes the ice look whiter because less light is being absorbed. When the ice is compressed and lacks no bubbles whatsoever, this creates a longer pathway for the light so that – to the human eye – it looks clear and turquoise in color.
From time to time, unusual green icebergs appear in the Southern Ocean, but until recently, no one really knew why. However, recent research has revealed that two distinct processes result in green glacial ice.
The first is that the base of the ice shelves needs to be made up of bubble-free ice. The second is the presence of yellow-red glacial dust that has been brought up from Antarctica’s bedrock. The mix of yellow and blue results in an incredible emerald green color, providing inspiration for this Montblanc 1858 0 Oxygen capsule collection.
The Glacier Dial
Each emerald green dial in the Montblanc 1858 0 Oxygen capsule collection is fitted with a green sfumato glacier-patterned dial that replicates the color of these beautiful icebergs. The sfumato effect is an old Italian technique that allows tones and color to merge gradually into each other, producing softened outlines and hazy forms.
To provide the glacier pattern, Montblanc’s 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 four times longer than a standard dial to complete and requires over 20 separate steps. The result captures the texture of glacial ice with its interlocking network of crystals that have been frozen in time for millennia.
Zero Oxygen Technology
All three of the new Montblanc 1858 0 Oxygen capsule collection timepieces join the Maison’s series of “Zero Oxygen” watches 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 special zero oxygen gasket – green to highlight the dial – and a certificate attesting to the use of this special but invisible technology, and guaranteeing that the timepiece has been successfully enclosed without oxygen.
Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen
This first Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen timepiece is powered by the MB 29.25 automatic movement with Manufacture worldtime complication and a 42-hour power reserve, which includes rotating Northern and Southern Hemisphere globes, a 24-hour scale, Day & Night indications, dual time display, and a date. The timepiece is housed in a 42mm stainless steel case with a fluted bi-directional green anodized aluminium bezel with luminescent cardinal points and is fitted with a green sfumato glacier patterned dial and an interchangeable steel bracelet with a taper and fine adjustment system.
The caseback for this model features a technicolour image of the Mont Blanc mountain thanks to a complex laser-generated oxidation process. This special engraving technique creates a three-dimensional relief by structuring the metal with matte and shiny finishes for additional contrast. The resulting image is impressive in terms of precision and gives the illusion of a photograph. This technique has become a staple in the Montblanc watch repertoire and results in the image remaining engraved over time without moving. This view of the Mont Blanc mountain is combined with the Montblanc emblem surrounded by the cardinal points and two crossed ice picks, which recall the mountaineering spirit of the collection and are present on the embossed casebacks of all the 1858 collection timepieces.
Montblanc 1858 Automatic Chronograph 0 Oxygen
The Montblanc 1858 Automatic Chronograph 0 Oxygen is housed in a 42mm stainless steel case without oxygen and is powered by the MB 25.13 automatic chronograph movement with a 48-hour power reserve. The green sfumato dial is adorned with 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. The chronograph seconds are indicated using a central seconds hand. Matching the sub-dials, this timepiece comes with a black bi-directional ceramic bezel with luminescent cardinal points. It is fitted with an interchangeable stainless steel bracelet with taper and fine adjustment system and an engraved caseback featuring the Mont Blanc mountain, cardinal points and two crossed ice picks
Montblanc 1858 Automatic Date 0 Oxygen
Last but not least is the Montblanc 1858 Automatic Date 0 Oxygen. A millimeter smaller than its counterparts at 41mm, this timepiece is powered by the MB 24.17 automatic movement with a 38-hour power reserve. It features Montblanc’s zero oxygen technology, comes with a green sfumato glacier-patterned dial, a fixed black ceramic bezel with luminescent cardinal points, an interchangeable stainless steel bracelet with taper and fine adjustment system, and an engraved caseback featuring the Mont Blanc mountain, cardinal points and two crossed ice picks.
