Montblanc 1858 Geosphere: a watch that should be on your radar

The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere is a creation with some killer looks and a serious price. I took it for the test to see if it is as good as it looks.
Price
This watch will set you back 6000 Euros. There is also a steel version for 5300 and a very handsome one at 6100, but prices are high still.
Reference
MB125567
MB125565
Size
The 42mm titanium case has a nice finishing with brushed and polished parts. The the water resistance is 10 bar.
Movement
The base movement is a Sellita SW300, but the turning globes are shown by a module that was made by Minerva. This construction should keep the price low, allthough it's definitely not cheap.
#Montblanc
Montblanc really does make a couple of creations that really do have a personality of their own.
The brand Montblanc is mainly famous for its pens and leatherwear, but a few decades ago the decision was made to step into the world of horology. They’ve now got a few production facilities in Switzerland, and one of them is the Fabrique d’Horlogerie Minerva. It was acquired by Richemont, the parent company of Montblanc in 2006 and they’ve put a lot of effort to integrate that heritage into the company. So you’ll see Minerva design cues in for example the hands.
Why I chose it
I have visited the Montblanc in La Chaux de Fonds and Villeret on quite a few occasions in the last ten years, and I have seen collection mature.
Now one of the coolest pieces is this collection is the 1858 Geosphere and it immediately shows why it’s different. I think this watch definitely shows why Montblanc should be on your radar.
About Fresh Faces
Promising independent, well-informed real-life watch videos. And if possible with some fun.
I’m a watch enthousiast and professional with 10+ years of experience, who stubbornly believes watches should be intelligent, clever and arousing.
Independence guarantee
All of my reviews are made independently. Watch companies do not get to see the video before it is published.
All of the watches are borrowed from the watch companies and returned as soon as necessary. No covert advertisements are accepted without mentioning.
If the watch company in question does have specific wishes, I always mention this in the video.
Voluntary gifts such as financial support by fans are appreciated and accepted.
My wrist size
17 cm / 6.7 inch
You're invited to follow me here as well: / watchthefreshfaces
#montblanc #watches #geosphere

[@jiddybit]

Just wanted to say I came across your channel yesterday and you left quite an impression on me with your Max Bill Automatic and Mega Solar video. Fantastic stuff! Your reviews are full of personality, and I like that you feature a lot of watches that aren't maybe in the view of the watch community.

[@WatchTheFreshFaces]

Thank you so much for your kind words! Much more to come this year! Welcome to the club and spread the word 😁

[@dorinsa116]

Nice review! I first saw the 1858 Geosphere at Montblanc’s Las Vegas boutique in 2018 but the price WAS a bit steep for me then. However it remained on my radar until I saw it again at a store in Tokyo this past spring and ended up buying it. No regrets so far!

[@msteaks1939]

Great review. Not knowing the connection, I saw the North Flag and immediately bought it. Same with the Geospheres (the original, in steel). The two pieces with the most standout and functionally-stylish wrist presence and best overall wear-experience in my collection (including an Explorer 39 and a 16710 Pepsi GMT).

[@WatchTheFreshFaces]

Wow that is a very nice collection indeed! And thanks for the kind words :)

[@msteaks1939]

@@WatchTheFreshFaces No, thank you. I am trying to go Rolex-free, and your videos just might the thing by which to escape the king (with apologies to Hamlet). Even more eerie is that the third watch I am keeping in my new "taste and style over excess" collection is the Max Bill in anthracite. Such a stunner. The only question now is do I keep a Speedmaster (cream dial, moon phase, blued hands and markers) and a Seiko Turtle, or the two-in-one Longines Heritage 1967 Chronograph-Diver. Jeez, what an a**hole I sound like. Only in a world ruined by social media could that ever be considered a sacrifice.

[@Kciroy]

Amazing review! I fell in love with the bronze version a while back and been trying to find some in-depth reviews of the Geosphere. I wasn't aware of the specific calibre in the watch but seeing the prices are 4-5k now i'll be taking my time to think about buying it

[@WatchTheFreshFaces]

Thanks! Yeah same here - I think Montblanc is definitely onto something with this direction, but it needs more watchmaking guts imo. Like in the days of mr Lambert.

[@joelopic]

I own Rolexes. Although they may have an in-house movement. This is still a nicer watch

[@joelopic]

What a nice looking and interwating watch. I wonder why you dont hear much about it in the hyped world of marketing horology

[@geoffwatches]

4:17 'titanium'! Nice review; 'best watch in the world' though?! Maybe best lume, that looks wicked.

[@WatchTheFreshFaces]

Boom, you're right! Titanium indeed. Shit. Sorry about that, and thanks for letting me know. And also thanks for your kind words!

[@john-carlosynostroza]

Nice job. Maybe consider showing more of the watch since the videos 70% looking at you and books...

[@moa8247]

😂

[@dfk5182]

Yes, totally agree that the price stops me from buying it

[@WatchTheFreshFaces]

You're not the only one... Let's hope some people in Hamburg will hear us, the voice of the people 😉

[@vasiliymedvedev1532]

Skill issue

[@hen5996]

Hello my friend what do you think about the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen Limited Edition? it is beautiful.. but is it worth my money?

[@WatchTheFreshFaces]

Ok, that is a very, very good question. I went to the Montblanc booth to get myself personally informed on this piece. First of all, it is a very interesting watch, with lots of interesting details. Let's start with that zero-oxygen technique. This is, to my knowledge the only watch in the world using it atm. It's useful as it limits oxidization and fogging inside the dial. And it fits their narrative of mountain-inspired watches. Nice. The oxygen is replaced by nitrogen in their premises in Le Locle. It's done with special machinery, quite interesting. They say it should need less service, but the warranty stays the same (2 yrs). But I think the movement is definitely just as interesting: a combination of a chrono module and the Geosphere module (both in-house, Minerva-developed) built on top of a Selitta. The chrono-geo-combo is a first as well. Just as impressing is the dial. This glacier-effect is reached using quite a lot of different processes, including brushing the dial by hand and 4x(!) polishing and lacquering the dial. The bezel is made of ceramic, which is a nice modern touch combined with that titanium case. The case is quite large and thick, so you need to have big arms. A thing I personally like about MB are their straps, which are made in a pelleteria I visited some time ago - I think this sfumato colour is really nice, but that's personal taste obviously. €8k is quite a lot of money for a Montblanc, but adding all of these details up, I think it is actually quite a good buy. Really interesting watch. The best of MB this fair, I think.

[@hen5996]

@@WatchTheFreshFaces Wow! I didn't expected such a detailed review! Cheers for that! so I guess it all comes down to the fact will it be a good fit on my wrist so I might go and try it on.. but another thing I was wondering about the value and value retention of MB watches. Do you think a watch like this will increase in value over the next few years? I keep hearing that MB watches are 'fine' but not for the price of an Omega etc... thanks again!

[@rodsalvador3608]

@@hen5996 i'm in the same position as you, debating value retention. right now, i don't think the brand cache is there. but give it a decade or so; in house movement development and serious engineering should give the older models some interest. (like old Tudor ETA's). right now, just buy it if you love it and any value retention will be a bonus

[@mbronkhorst2162]

That Minerva thing seems to ne a great thing with the globe ( + global time) on it.

[@WatchTheFreshFaces]

Absolutely! Always handy to see what time it is on Antarctica ;)

[@gregsnyder4268]

6k 😬 should be 2-$2500 then I’d be interested

[@WatchTheFreshFaces]

I really would've loved to see a Minerva movement for that price

[@gregsnyder4268]

@@WatchTheFreshFaces agreed! Keep up the good work brother!!

[@WatchTheFreshFaces]

Thanks! More goodness coming up! 😁

[@radidoc4832]

No running seconds!!!😮

[@willelliott5052]

I just purchased mine for 4,000 Euro shipped. I have to pay my local sales tax and import duty.

[@raymondvdb2286]

Yeah, too expensive... too bad!

[@japd7897]

You appear most of the time on screen instead of the watch.

[@WatchTheFreshFaces]

Had a lot to tell 😉 Kidding, thanks for the feedback, I'll take it into account!