With their new sports diving watch the 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date, launched in Geneva, Montblanc has ventured into one of the most popular watch product market segments.

Coming in a 41mm stainless steel case (12.9mm thick) with 300m water resistance and a screw-down crown with the Montblanc emblem in relief, diving watches with 300m water resistance a this price point are a highly competitive field.

The point of distinction for this new model is the ‘glacier dial’ which actually reminds me a bit of the pattern on some meteorite dials. This new model comes in three dial colours – blue, green (yes, more green), and black, each with a matching unidirectional ceramic bezel.

So why a glacier-inspired (0.5mm thick) dial? Well we have to go to the model (and brand) name for the answer – the dial pattern is inspired by the crystal patterns at the Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice), the main glacier of the Mont-Blanc Massif. Its texture was achieved using a hand-finished technique called ‘gratté-boisé’ and Montblanc say that their dial makers actually hiked there.

Underneath the case back, which has a relief engraving of an iceberg and a diver, is the automatic MB 24.17 Sellita-based movement which beats at 28,800 VPH and has a power reserve of 38 hours.

This watch comes with either a rubber strap with a fine adjustment system or a stainless steel bracelet that is also adjustable. Or you can have both.

The RRP of the 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date is EUR 2,750 on a rubber strap and EUR 2,950 on a bracelet.

Categories: Divers watches, Hands-on, Montblanc, Watch Profile, watches, Women's watches