Montblanc connects the mountain and the sea with the Montblanc Iced Sea 0 Oxygen Deep 4810.
Nestled across the French, Italian and Swiss borders, Massif Mont Blanc towers majestically over the European Alps, its highest point peaking above the continent’s other mountains. The mountain has been a source of inspiration and aspiration for Montblanc since the maison’s beginning in 1906, to the extent it is reflected in its namesake. Beyond the symbolism of Mont Bdilanc, the digit 4810, representing the mountain’s height above sea level in metres, had an affinity with Montblanc when it was first introduced in the Montblanc Meisterstück writing instrument nib as an engraving. Since then, 4810 bore special significance for the maison, and more tellingly, this year at Watches & Wonders Geneva with the launch of the Montblanc Iced Sea 0 Oxygen Deep 4810.
Montblanc’s foray into the oceans is no longer foreign to the maison after the Montblanc Iced Sea Collection was released in 2022 as Montblanc’s first-ever dive watch in over 100 years. While the Montblance 1858 Iced Sea was rated to an industry standard 300m water resistance, the Montblanc Iced Sea 0 Oxygen Deep 4810 pushes the boundaries with a 4810m water resistance 16 times deeper than its counterpart. Unsurprisingly, Montblanc’s magical numbers appeared in the collection’s namesake, inverting Mont Blanc’s height to connect the ocean’s watery depths to the mountain’s towering peak.
Given the harsh and extreme conditions almost 5000m beneath the ocean’s surface, state-of-the-art engineering is the bare minimum standard required to instil confidence in the watch’s wearer. Montblanc’s answer is the Zero Oxygen innovation, with the Montblanc Iced Sea 0 Oxygen Deep 4810 being the latest benefactor of the maison’s Zero Oxygen program. By eliminating oxygen from within the watch case, the risk of fogging experienced during drastic temperature changes and components’ oxidation is completely neutralised. In doing so, all the calibre lasts longer and will provide continued precision over a longer time.
Titanium was chosen for the watch’s 43mm case since it is approximately 30% stronger than stainless steel and corrosion-resistant when in contact with seawater. Titanium’s inherent greyish hue offers the Montblanc Iced Sea 0 Oxygen Deep 4810 an air of seriousness, pairing ideally with the Blue sfumato glacier pattern dial. Inspired by the ancient ice pattern in the Mer de Glace, one of Mont Blanc’s largest glaciers, interlocking ice crystal patterns are recreated on the watch’s dial with the gratté-boisé technique. The almost forgotten decoration, notorious for being painstaking in its process, imbues the dials with a unique texture and sense of depth. Flipping the watch over reveals a special caseback adorned with a three-dimensional engraving of what divers see when diving beneath the ice. The mesmerising effect is achieved by laser-generated oxidation that imbues the metallic surface with matte and shiny finishes to create contrasting colours and textures.
Beneath the “frozen” dial lies Montblanc’s manufacture calibre MB 29.29, which offers up to 120 hours of power reserve. Further adjustments to the movement ensure it attained COSC-certified accuracy and precision over five days. Other vigorous testing under the Montblanc Laboratory Test 500 ensures the Montblanc Iced Sea 0 Oxygen Deep 4810 meets ISO 6425 standards for dive watches and whatever adventures beckon.
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