On Mont Blanc with Montblanc: experience and adventure

For some time now, in watchmaking, so-called experiences have been worth at least as much as the product itself. Experiences designed for end customers, retailers and the press alike. We in the press had the privilege of being invited by Montblanc to one of these events. And, this being Montblanc, where else could we have been taken but Courmayeur and Mont Blanc?

Two days of adventure and sport, accompanied by three ‘highlights’ from the Montblanc watch collection: the 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen Mount Vinson Limited Edition, the 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen Monte Rosa, and the Iced Sea Automatic 0 Oxygen with an arctic blue dial. We also had the opportunity to see and touch some of the most precious limited-edition writing instruments among the new products from the Hamburg-based Maison. Forty-eight hours – on 9 and 10 December – during which the product was supported by storytelling that expressed Montblanc’s philosophy and heritage of savoir-faire. Participants were immersed in a world of passion, quality and expertise, factors that go beyond the simple object of a watch.

THE SLEDDOG EXPERIENCE

The two days began with an introduction to the world of dog sledding. An afternoon of adventure and immersion in nature thanks to Fabrizio Lovati, a professional dog sledding instructor. Thanks to his work in Val Veny, we too became mushers (sled drivers) for a day — or rather, for an afternoon. After a quick but comprehensive briefing from Fabrizio, we took turns driving the sled, grappling with a pedal to brake and six dogs pulling like mad. On a track in the woods, with Fabrizio’s assistance, we enjoyed a unique experience that transported us into the world of Jack London for a few hours, making us feel as though we were in White Fang and The Call of the Wild.

The day ended at an altitude of 1,700 metres with dinner. After a cable car ride, we found ourselves at La Loge du Massif, a restaurant that is a jewel of wood and stone overlooking Mont Blanc. A chalet where we were welcomed by the Montblanc management, starting with Laurent Lecamp, Managing Director of the brand’s Watch Division, who did the honours. A relaxing evening among friends, where the family atmosphere prevailed over the ‘business dinner’, which ended with dancing and cocktails before descending to the valley by cable car and returning to Hotel Le Massif.

ON THE MONTBLANC GLACIER

The next day, we climbed to high altitude. With the ultra-modern SkyWay Monte Bianco cable car, we reached the 3,466 metres of Punta Helbronner and from there, in two groups of five people each, we set off on a snowshoe hike along the upper part of the Vallée Blanche, one of the most evocative glaciers in the King of the Alps. In the shadow of the Dente del Gigante and blessed with beautiful weather, we were led by two Mont Blanc guides, Anna and Luca, along a route that alternated between well-trodden tracks and fresh snow for just over an hour. It was an experience that tested the stamina and endurance of those participants less accustomed to high altitudes and thin air, but it was truly immersive — an adjective that is often overused and misused. Here, however, we were truly immersed in Mont Blanc and in the true spirit of Montblanc and its watches, designed for adventure and worn on our wrists at high altitude.

After a quick return to the valley by cable car, snowmobiles were waiting to take us to one of the cosiest mountain huts in Val Veny, La Zerotta, in the village of the same name. As a reward for our efforts and commitment, a typical Aosta Valley lunch awaited us, together with our colleagues who had not joined us on the glacier and the Montblanc team. A team that completed the circle of carefully curated hospitality with a moment of conviviality, during which we once again perceived the value of the experience: being taken to the heart of the brand, which in the case of Montblanc is as much about excellence as it is about genuine sincerity and a passion for things well done — whether it is lunch in a mountain hut or a luxury watch.

MONTBLANC 1858 GEOSPHERE 0 OXYGEN MOUNT VINSON

Speaking of watches, all three timepieces we tested feature 0 Oxygen technology, meaning there is no oxygen inside the case — a solution that, on the one hand, prevents the crystal from fogging up in the event of sudden changes in pressure or temperature and, on the other, allows the calibre components to last longer, as they are not subject to oxidation processes.

The Mount Vinson is a tribute to legendary mountaineer and Montblanc ambassador Reinhold Messner. A special edition honouring his ascent of Mount Vinson in Antarctica, the last peak to complete his version of the Seven Summits Challenge. The watch has a 43.5 mm × 13 mm case with water resistance up to 100 metres, designed to reflect the wild beauty of the frozen terrain of Vinson. The middle case is made from a composite blend of quartz fibres, aluminised basalt fibres and blue resin; on the left-hand side is the luminous silhouette of Mount Vinson, which glows white by day and blue by night.

The titanium case back features a laser engraving depicting Mount Vinson, while the dial displays a blue-green and light-grey glacier pattern, faithful to the layout of the Geosphere series. At 12 and 6 o’clock, two domed luminescent globes rotate in opposite directions over a 24-hour period, representing the northern and southern hemispheres. Each globe is surrounded by a two-tone (day/night) scale showing all 24 time zones. The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen Mount Vinson is powered by the MB 29.25 calibre, based on the Sellita SW 300-1, with the innovative world-time complication module developed in-house by Montblanc. It is limited to 986 pieces.

MONTBLANC 1858 GEOSPHERE 0 OXYGEN MONTE ROSA

The 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen Monte Rosa, on the other hand, features a dial with a black glacier motif that evokes the structure of perennial ice, with its latticework of crystals frozen in time. Antarctic ice differs from white ice because, due to its age and weight, it has expelled almost all the air bubbles inside it and can absorb almost every colour in the spectrum. The exclusive technique used to create the dial involves master watchmakers beginning with embossing to create the glacier effect, followed by a special technique known as gratté boisé. Each layer is stamped, lacquered, polished and then left to dry overnight before the next layer is applied.

The watch’s rubber strap features a unique pattern reminiscent of the ropes used by climbers, as well as stitching above the lugs — a distinctive detail of the watches in the 1858 collection. The strap design also includes a mountain profile pattern on the inside to improve breathability and comfort on the wrist. The case back features an engraving of the Monte Rosa mountain range illuminated at sunset, created using a special technique that gives it depth and realism. In addition to the prominent Monte Rosa, Montblanc has added the names of the seven highest peaks on each of the seven continents to the case back. The watch is limited to 100 pieces.

MONTBLANC ICED SEA AUTOMATIC 0 OXYGEN

Finally, the Iced Sea Automatic 0 Oxygen with an arctic blue dial. The 38 mm case is 12.3 mm thick and features predominantly brushed finishes with polished bevelled edges. The unidirectional diving bezel is made of two-tone anodised aluminium and matches the colour of the dial; it features an inverted triangle at 12 o’clock with a luminescent index. New is the blue shade of the dial, which reproduces the colour and texture of glaciers. The Arabic numerals at 12, 6 and 9 o’clock are filled with Super-LumiNova, as are the applied indices.

The hour and minute hands also feature Super-LumiNova inserts, as does the tip of the seconds hand; a date window is positioned at 3 o’clock. The case back bears the classic engraving that characterises Montblanc’s Iced Sea collection watches: a diver and an iceberg in relief. The case back conceals the MB 24.17 automatic movement, a Sellita SW200-1 with a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and a 38-hour power reserve. The watch’s compact size aligns with the trend towards smaller unisex diameters and more compact dimensions.