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Lot Essay
In support of ELA’s incredible work, Montblanc celebrates the geology of the Mer de Glace by offering this fascinating and impressive diver’s watch, featuring a distressed steel case that is completely devoid of oxygen. The caseback bears a 3D engraving of an iceberg and diver and is engraved 'Unique Piece'.
A Dial of Ice and Wood
The Iced Sea Unique Piece features a striking dial embedded with fragments of ancient wood, often millennia old, that have been preserved while trapped in glacial ice. To create this complexly layered dial, Montblanc's watchmakers first worked with mountaineers in France's Chamonix Valley to source subfossil wood from the Mer de Glace's moraine, a large layer of natural debris pushed against Mont Blanc's northern slope by the glacier. The sourced wood is then cut into shavings and arranged in a seemingly random, yet carefully distributed, array. The result is a natural-looking pattern of scattered subfossil wood. Next, a transparent resin is applied over the wood shavings, and a black colour is applied below, thus forming a sheet from which the dial is made. Finally, this resin surface is treated with a frozen finish that mimics the striated crystalline patterns of ice.
Glaciers in Motion
Over centuries, the slow movement of glaciers has carved some of Earth's most stunning geological features. As glaciers form and recede, they expose and relocate fertile soil. In the process, many felled trees become preserved as subfossils and are pushed into a glacier's moraine, the dense mass of sediment a glacier deposits at its outer edge. Montblanc pays homage to this special geological formation, also found in the Mer de Glace, the largest glacier on the Mont Blanc massif. Its geologically complex moraine, developed over time, has been captured in the dial of the timepiece with shavings of preserved trees found at the glacier.
The Earthy Tones of Distressed Steel
Finding inspiration in the elements, Montblanc presents a reimagined take on its Iced Sea Automatic Date Unique Piece, featuring a distressed steel finish. To achieve this, Montblanc has treated the stainless steel case and bracelet with a black coating, which is then distressed by washing and brushing with quartzite, a very hard mineral sourced from the Mont Blanc mountain itself. This process results in a blackened, distressed appearance that offers an organic aesthetic.
A Case for Adventure
The Montblanc Iced Sea Automatic Date 0 Oxygen Unique Piece features a 41 mm stainless steel case that allows the watch to withstand the demands of high-pressure underwater environments. The timepiece is water-resistant to 30 bar (approx. 300 metres), with subtle chamfering and elevated finishing along the gently curved lugs. Notably, the case is also fitted with Montblanc's 0 Oxygen technology. By removing oxygen from the case, the risk of condensation inside is mitigated, allowing enhanced performance in conditions where drastic fluctuations in atmospheric pressure and temperature are common.
Distressed Steel Bracelet
The distressed steel bracelet is polished and brushed to complement the case. Easily removed and replaced using Montblanc's quick-change strap system, this bracelet also offers the convenience of a fine-adjustment system within the folding clasp.
Mechanical Prowess
At the heart of this timepiece is Montblanc's Calibre MB 24.17, a self-winding mechanical movement featuring hours, minutes, centre seconds and a date complication. The MB 24.17 offers approximately 38 hours of power reserve and beats at 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour).
A Dial of Ice and Wood
The Iced Sea Unique Piece features a striking dial embedded with fragments of ancient wood, often millennia old, that have been preserved while trapped in glacial ice. To create this complexly layered dial, Montblanc's watchmakers first worked with mountaineers in France's Chamonix Valley to source subfossil wood from the Mer de Glace's moraine, a large layer of natural debris pushed against Mont Blanc's northern slope by the glacier. The sourced wood is then cut into shavings and arranged in a seemingly random, yet carefully distributed, array. The result is a natural-looking pattern of scattered subfossil wood. Next, a transparent resin is applied over the wood shavings, and a black colour is applied below, thus forming a sheet from which the dial is made. Finally, this resin surface is treated with a frozen finish that mimics the striated crystalline patterns of ice.
Glaciers in Motion
Over centuries, the slow movement of glaciers has carved some of Earth's most stunning geological features. As glaciers form and recede, they expose and relocate fertile soil. In the process, many felled trees become preserved as subfossils and are pushed into a glacier's moraine, the dense mass of sediment a glacier deposits at its outer edge. Montblanc pays homage to this special geological formation, also found in the Mer de Glace, the largest glacier on the Mont Blanc massif. Its geologically complex moraine, developed over time, has been captured in the dial of the timepiece with shavings of preserved trees found at the glacier.
The Earthy Tones of Distressed Steel
Finding inspiration in the elements, Montblanc presents a reimagined take on its Iced Sea Automatic Date Unique Piece, featuring a distressed steel finish. To achieve this, Montblanc has treated the stainless steel case and bracelet with a black coating, which is then distressed by washing and brushing with quartzite, a very hard mineral sourced from the Mont Blanc mountain itself. This process results in a blackened, distressed appearance that offers an organic aesthetic.
A Case for Adventure
The Montblanc Iced Sea Automatic Date 0 Oxygen Unique Piece features a 41 mm stainless steel case that allows the watch to withstand the demands of high-pressure underwater environments. The timepiece is water-resistant to 30 bar (approx. 300 metres), with subtle chamfering and elevated finishing along the gently curved lugs. Notably, the case is also fitted with Montblanc's 0 Oxygen technology. By removing oxygen from the case, the risk of condensation inside is mitigated, allowing enhanced performance in conditions where drastic fluctuations in atmospheric pressure and temperature are common.
Distressed Steel Bracelet
The distressed steel bracelet is polished and brushed to complement the case. Easily removed and replaced using Montblanc's quick-change strap system, this bracelet also offers the convenience of a fine-adjustment system within the folding clasp.
Mechanical Prowess
At the heart of this timepiece is Montblanc's Calibre MB 24.17, a self-winding mechanical movement featuring hours, minutes, centre seconds and a date complication. The MB 24.17 offers approximately 38 hours of power reserve and beats at 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour).