What a joy that feels like you're stepping into another world. That is what Montblanc did with their booth at Watches and Wonders 2025. Resembling the front of a ski resort, vintage suitcases pile the sides of the threshold, where a Montblanc flag is planted, ski equipment sits next to a rustic mailbox. The only things missing to bring home the feel of the alps are a mountain goat and wanton yodelling but that's just me.

There are experiential areas within, like a room that emulates a high-altitude setting (sounds of the wind, aircon switched to the highest level) so as to demo the 0 Oxygen tech (this will come up later in the story). The O Oxygen feature removes oxygen from within the watch to prevent the formation of droplets and fogging, which allows for legibility. There's also the cosy spot in the middle of the booth that's decked out in wood panelling and a vintage fireplace; further back is a library of books if you wanna peruse by the "fire".

Aside from the atmosphere, there are the novelties to witness. Montblanc's offerings are the watches that are inspired by the frigid arctic landscapes. The Montblanc Iced Sea collection now has a new 38mm diameter case. Four new Automatic Date models sport two new glacier-patterned dials in either white or blue. Borne from the gratté-boisé process (last seen in the 0 Oxygen Deep 4810) that takes waaaay longer than working on a standard watch dial; it may be a tedious operation but the results of these patterns give way to the illusion of depth and luminosity. There's also sfumato effect on the dials, where the colour darkens towards the edge of the face.

The white versions have a white ceramic inserted bezel, while the two-toned blue versions have anodised aluminium inserts. Powered by MB 24.17 automatic movements with a 38-hour power reserve, white luminescent hands sweep across the dials; a scuba diver and an iceberg feature on the caseback. Both watches have either a stainless steel tapered bracelet or a matching-coloured rubber strap; both are easily interchangeable and have a fine adjustment system.

The 0 Oxygen tech (toldja) will be in all future Iced Sea models. Owners with previous Iced Sea models can upgrade their pieces with the 0 Oxygen feature by either sending the watches to a Richemont centre, or by sending the watch to a Montblanc boutique.

For the Ice Sea Automatic Dates 41mm, we have an aged finish, where each timepiece develops its own patina and unique appearance. With black ceramic inserts, the bezel is treated with a two-step laser process for its first 15 minutes for a different texture. As usual, 0 Oxygen tech is included with all Iced Sea watches.

For a classic look, there's a new 1858 Automatic Date 0 Oxygen 41mm now in bronze and brown. Like the Ice Sea pieces, we have a sfumato effect on the dial, a MB 24.17 movement and 0 Oxygen tech. Rounding up the look, we have luminescent rose gold-coloured hands, Arabic numerals, a date at 3 o'clock and along the railway track around the dial's periphery, there are five-minutes markers.

New Minerva manufacture movements (with a 65-hour power reserve) make their debut in two new Montblanc 1858 Annual Calendar Geosphere Limited Editions (42mm). You have an annual calendar (hours, minutes, seconds, date, and month indications), a large date at 12 o'clock and a worldtimer function. Two things of note here: the months are stencilled around the dial periphery—"July" is replaced with "Minerva", where on 30 July 1887 is when the Minerva trademark is registered—and the hand-painted, three-dimensional, rotating globe at 6 o'clock. The latter is interesting because the globe features a Northern Hemisphere (the Southern Hemisphere is available on request) and a Day & Night indication. Crafted from sapphire crystal, it takes four hours for the globe to be hand-painted on the underside by a Swiss artisan. The 1858 Annual Calendar Geosphere timepieces come in either a Lime Gold 750/1000 (18 karats) (30 pieces) or in stainless steel (100 pieces).

The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen Monte Rosa Limited Edition (100 pieces) is a re-edition of the 2020 rose gold model. With new updates like the 0 Oxygen tech, a sfumato dial and a rubber strap with a pattern inspired by mountaineering ropes. Powered by a Caliber MB 29.25, the watch also has a date at 3 o'clock and dual time indication at 9 o'clock and the 1858 Geosphere trademark—the Northern and Southern hemispheres, represented by two 3D globes that rotate anticlockwise. Another limited edition piece is the 1858 Split Second Chronograph which comes in 100 pieces worldwide. Housed in a 44mm stainless steel case with a white gold fluted bezel; a burgundy dial with a sunray effect; black chronograph counters; and white luminescent Arabic numerals. The 1858 Unveiled Minerva Chronograph (43mm) features a reversed chronograph movement (MB M17.26). On the dial side of this monopusher calibre, you can see the flipped-over mechanical complication; the signature Minerva arrow and Montblanc's "V"-shaped bridge are also seen. The 1858 Unveiled Minerva Chronograph is limited to 100 pieces.

And finally, we have the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen Mount Vinson Limited Edition. A tribute to a legendary alpinist and Montblanc ambassador, Reinhold Messner, who completed his version of the Seven Summits Challenge (now known as Messner's List) by reaching the summit of Mount Vinson, Antarctica’s highest peak. Limited to 986 pieces (after the year that Messner finished his challenge in 1986), the 43.5mm timepiece has a composite middle section that's made from a blend of quartz fibres, aluminised basalt, calcium carbonate, and light blue resin—designed to mimic the trapped-air crystal networks found in ancient Antarctic ice.

Again the dial has a sfumato glacier pattern that's brought about by gratté-boisé. Framed by a titanium bidirectional bezel with a light grey anodised aluminium insert, its cardinal points glow in Super-LumiNova blue. Within, the watch is powered by a Calibre MB 29.25 that drives a worldtime complication. Dial-side, you can see Montblanc’s signature twin rotating hemispheres—one for the north, one for the south at 12 and 6 o'clock, respectively. Again, the timepiece has 0 Oxygen tech. On the caseback: a 3D laser-engraved rendering of Mount Vinson in titanium, finished using a high-tech combination of relief engraving and oxidation-induced colouring. For the first time in the 1858 line, Montblanc introduces a rubber strap in a blue-green rope pattern. Tapered, interchangeable, and equipped with a fine adjustment clasp.

Our favourite feature of the Mount Vinson Limited Edition is the the left flank of the case—a luminous silhouette of Mount Vinson, a white beacon by day, glowing blue by night. (We wished that more watchmakers would utilise the sides of the case; last year, Montblanc's 1858 The Unveiled Minerva Monopusher Chronograph showcase the complication through its dial side.)

For more information, visit the Montblanc website