Laurent Lecamp, Managing Director of Montblanc’s Watch Division, and Simon Messner, Montblanc Mark Maker and mountaineer, took part in the world’s southernmost race: they faced bitterly cold temperatures of -30o C over a distance of 42.195 km in the Antarctic Ice Marathon.
On December 13, 2023, the 18th Antarctic Ice Marathon took place at 80 degrees south latitude – just a few hundred kilometers from the South Pole, at the foot of the Ellsworth Mountains. 52 men and 14 women took part in this race, which is one of the most demanding, remote and inhospitable in the world.
Among the participants were Laurent Lecamp, Managing Director of Montblanc’s Watch Division, and Montblanc Mark-Maker Simon Messner. Laurent is an experienced trail runner and marathon runner, but for Simon this was his first time tackling this legendary distance. However, Simon had the advantage of being familiar with the extreme weather conditions and barren terrain due to his love of mountaineering. After a joint run, in which Laurent set the pace, they crossed the finish line hand in hand after 4 hours and 29 seconds and were able to achieve 7th place – an achievement achieved as a double.
In addition to their endurance, they also tested Montblanc’s latest watch – the 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen South Pole Limited Edition. This watch was a fitting choice for Simon as it was created in honor of his father, Reinhold Messner, who was the first person to conquer the 14 highest peaks in the world and cross the South Pole on foot. On the latter adventure in 1990, he covered an incredible 2,800 km in 96 days. Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen South Pole Limited Edition
The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen South Pole Limited Edition is part of Montblanc’s Zero Oxygen range, designed to withstand the most extreme conditions and prevent oxidation and fogging. The watch features Montblanc’s glacier dial, which is turquoise for this edition. The bluish hue is reminiscent of the shimmer of the icebergs and glacial ice at the South Pole. The technically demanding dial takes four times more time to produce than the standard version, but results in even more impressive depth and wonderful luminosity.
Limited to 1,990 pieces, this watch is housed in an ultra-light 42mm titanium case and comes with interchangeable straps – a gray textile version and a tapered strap. It is powered by the Maison’s MB 29.25 in-house caliber with a world time complication and a power reserve of 42 hours. The dial shows both the northern and southern hemispheres in the form of two three-dimensional globes rotating counterclockwise. A very special 3D engraving of the Aurora Australis adorns the caseback and completes a timepiece that captivates both explorers and watch lovers.
