Montblanc’s 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date Makes A Comeback
5 min read
The latest iteration of the successful Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date launched in 2022 features a unique dial pattern inspired by the ice of the Mer de Glace - one of the Mont Blanc mountain’s largest glaciers. Launched at Watches and Wonders 2023, the grey dial version in its frozen glory captures the illusion of gazing into the depths of a glacier with all its icy textures and minerals frozen in time for millennia.
The 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date in Grey captures the strength of nature with its “frozen” dial crafted using an almost-forgotten age-old technique. Available in a 41mm stainless steel case, the watch comes with a case back featuring a 3D engraving of an iceberg and a black scuba diver.
A Masterpiece Realized In Frozen Hues
Employing a classical technique called gratté-boisé to create the glacier pattern on the dial, the watch appears with an impression of depth and luminosity. The 0.4mm thick dial replicates the veins, grooves, depths, and even the scintillating light interactions of the actual glacial textures at Mer de Glace.
A high-tech laser engraving of the 3D image on the case back garners the timepiece with an amalgam of finishes and contrasting textures.
An ISO 6425 Certified Dive Watch
Revealed at the Watches and Wonders, the 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date in Grey is an extended version of the conventional sports watch - it is a proper professional instrument safe for diving in depths of up to 300m. Conforming to the ISO 6425 norms, the watch offers all the hallmarks of a thorough-bred diving equipment: shock, magnetic, temperature, and water resistance.
Enhancing the timepiece’s all-purpose utility and enabling legible timekeeping display even in oceanic depths, Montblanc has coated the hands, indexes, and the dots at 12 o’clock on the bezel with white Super-Luminova® glowing in a luminescent shade in blue low light, consistent with the glacial vibe. For a faultless display of elapsed time of the dive, the case is incorporated with a uni-directional ceramic bezel on which the first 15-minute indications occur in a contrasting hue.
A Timepiece That Doesn’t Compromise With Wearability, Thanks To An Interchangeable And Adjustable Bracelet
The Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date in grey launched at Watches and Wonders 2023 comes fitted with an interchangeable stainless steel bracelet easy to be swapped with a sporty black rubber strap. The bracelets while being interchangeable are extremely comfortable on the wrist, courtesy of an on-the-go adjustment mechanism.
The bracelet is secured with a double deployant clasp and its aesthetic taper of 20 - 16mm makes it stand out. The ruggedness and safety of stainless steel and rubber materials made them a natural choice for the timepiece that beckons to be explored in oceanic waters.
An all-new Montblanc Boutique Edition Encapsulating The Glacial Spirit
At the Watches and Wonders 2023, the Maison is also introducing a special ‘Boutique Edition’ along with the latest grey model of the Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea Collection. Here the green glacier dial offers a scintillating impression of peeking into the depths of glacial ice, some of which adorn a deep emerald green color resulting from the iron oxides captured in the ice.
While the previous iteration of this green edition featured a green-on-green aesthetic, the latest model pairs the green dial with a contrasting black ceramic bezel. The case back highlights the impression of a 3D-engraved scuba diver in green making this special Boutique Edition a distinct offering in the collection. This Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date Boutique Edition comes in a 41mm stainless steel case and will be available exclusively in Montblanc boutiques across the world.
A 38-hour power reserve automatic movement beating at 28,800 vph powers all the Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date timepieces. Its mechanisms indicate the hours, minutes, seconds, and a date at three o’clock. Buyers also get a recycled and 100% recyclable watch pouch along with the timepiece.
