Introducing Montblanc Revives Minerva’s Legacy in the New 1858 Geosphere

In 2018, Montblanc introduced the first 1858 Geosphere, a distinctive world-time watch featuring two rotating hemispheres, a design signature that would go on to define the collection. The "1858" name pays tribute to the founding year of the Minerva manufacture, a legendary name in watchmaking known for crafting chronograph movements in the 1920s and ’30s. During that era, Minerva developed one of the earliest manually wound monopusher chronograph wristwatches. This legacy was honored once again last year with a special edition.

Now, to mark Watches and Wonders 2025, Montblanc unveils, for the first time, an annual calendar version of the Geosphere. The model draws inspiration from the elegant design codes of Minerva watches from the 1950s and is powered by a brand-new Minerva-manufactured movement. Following Richemont Group’s acquisition of Minerva in 2006 and its integration with Montblanc (under Richemont umbrella since 1993), both maisons have collaborated to develop technically sophisticated calibres blending tradition with innovation.

Housed in a 42mm round case with a thickness of 13.3mm, the new Geosphere Annual Calendar is topped with a fixed fluted bezel, a design cue taken from early Minerva watches dating back to 1927. The case offers water resistance to 30 meters. The first version combines a stainless steel case with an 18K white gold fluted bezel. The second version is crafted entirely from Montblanc’s proprietary “Lime Gold,” a unique shade of yellow gold. A domed sapphire crystal protects the dial, while a flat sapphire crystal reveals the caseback.

The annual calendar complication features a prominent double-window big date at 12 o’clock, adjustable via a corrector at 2. The months are arranged around the dial’s periphery and indicated by a red arrow a nod to both Minerva’s chronograph heritage. Uniquely, the month of July is replaced with “Minerva,” commemorating the registration of the Minerva trademark in July 1887.

The silver-white dial combines sunburst and grained finishes and centers on a hand-painted, rotating sapphire globe representing the Northern Hemisphere at 6 o’clock. The globe, requiring four hours to complete, includes a 24-hour scale with day/night indication and a bold orange line for the Greenwich meridian. A Southern Hemisphere version is available on request.

Powering both versions is the all-new manually wound Caliber MB M14.58, developed entirely in-house at Minerva. It features an annual calendar with big date and month indications, and a 3D rotating globe for the worldtimer function. Comprising 336 components, the movement offers a 65-hour power reserve and showcases fine hand-finishing, including Côtes de Genève, hand-chamfered German silver bridges, and snail decoration.

Both timepieces are paired with blue interchangeable calf leather straps with an alligator print, secured by metal-matching triple-folding clasps equipped with a fine adjustment system. The stainless steel version is limited to 100 pieces, while the Lime Gold edition is restricted to just 30.

For the prices the steel version with a white gold bezel is priced at 45,500 USD, which is approximately equivalent to 167,000 AED while the full Lime Gold version priced at 59,000 USD which is approximately equivalent to 216,700 AED.

For more information please visit Montblanc’s official website.