The watchmaker starts the year with a limited edition model that celebrates Sichuan’s highest peak.

The Montblanc 1858 collection was launched by the brand in 2018 to celebrate its roots, the peak it was named after, and the spirit and sport of mountaineering in general. From the 1858 Geosphere to the Iced Sea, each watch offers details related to the world’s highest peaks.

The Iced Sea is its range of diving watches (sounds ironic, but it’s not) inspired by the glaciers that create high-altitude lakes, one of the most challenging spots to dive in. The dials of the Iced Seas have a textured treatment with wisps of white that resemble the glacial ice freezing. Its production is based on an ancient technique called gratté boisé (which translates to scraped wood) that requires 30 steps to achieve – the most intricate we’ve ever heard used for a diving watch dial.

The design of the Iced Sea is also distinguished by a two-toned bezel, with a second colouring on the 15-minute countdown of the diving bezel. The first models from the collection come in blue, black or green dials with matching bezels inspired by Mont Blanc’s Mer de Glace glacier.

Minya Konka Edition

To kick off 2023, Montblanc is introducing a new limited edition dedicated to the third highest peak in the world outside of the Himalayan range, Mount Gongga or Minya Konka. The mountain is home to the Hailuogou glacier, which ranges from 2,850m to 6,750m. It’s famed for its red rocks, home to red algae which are sustained by the glacial water.

The 1858 Iced Sea Minya Konka Limited Edition has a bold red dial that reflects the blood red of the sky at twilight as the sun sets over the mountain range. The bezel is in black ceramic, with a dark grey 15-minute counter section, while a 3D engraving of the mountain at sunset can be found on the caseback.  
The caseback’s engraving is achieved by using laser etching to create a relief image in 3D. This makes the design highly realistic, with matte and shiny surfaces that add to the colour contrast of the image. In addition, the words ‘Gong Ga Rui Xia’ (which translates to the auspicious pink clouds of Mount Gongga) are engraved on the back of the watch in Chinese.

The 285-piece limited edition comes with an interchangeable steel bracelet and a black-and-red rubber watch strap. Both are fitted with an easy-swap lug system, so you can switch from casual elegance to sporty effortlessly. It’s sized at 41mm and certified to the ISO 6425 standard with a 300m water resistance. The watch also comes with a recycled and 100% recyclable watch pouch for travel. It’s available at Montblanc boutiques in China, Singapore, and Malaysia and retails for S$5,500 (MYR 15,900).   

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