Nimsdai Purja has set two world records by being the first mountaineer to ascend the summits of Everest, Lhotse and Kanchenjunga without supplemental oxygen in a record-breaking time of just 8 days, 23 hours and 10 minutes and doing the Everest to Lhotse traverse without oxygen in 26 hours on May 16th, 2022. He undertook the challenge wearing the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere ‘0 Oxygen’ watch that was unveiled at the 2022 Watches & Wonders in Geneva. The expeditionput the timepiece through the ultimate test, which saw it and Purja emerge triumphant. 

The Nepal-born British mountaineer Nimsdai Purja set out on his journey on May 7th. He first pushed the boundaries of what is possible by first climbing Kanchenjunga, followed by Everest and finally Lhotse, all without any oxygen to assist him.

“I am thrilled to have completed the challenge I set myself, and in doing so, continue to prove what humankind can do with the right preparation and focus. I am very thankful for Montblanc’s support, not just providing me with this innovative watch built for extreme conditions, but also participating in our collective efforts to tackle the issue of the accumulation of expedition waste that is polluting the environment of the Himalayas,” says Purja.

The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph ‘0 Oxygen is a first-of-its kind timepiece featuring many functions that benefit explorers who need all the tools to work in the harshest of environments. The watch is built in a zero-oxygen environment which results in the elimination of all humidity that causes fogging and oxidization, from the movement. Fogging in a watch occurs when there are drastic temperature changes at altitudes. Apart from this, without any oxygen in the movement and the watch, all the components of the watch will last for longer and will provide greater precision over time. 

The 1858 Geosphere Chronograph ‘0 Oxygen’ features other functions to prepare it for challenging climbs, adventure and experiences.

Here are a few of its technical specifications:

Movement: MB 29.27 with Automatic Chronograph New Manufacture world time complication

Type of movement: New Manufacture automatic movement Chronograph with world time complication 

Number of rubies: 33 

Power Reserve: Approx. 46 hours 

Balance: Flat  

Frequency: 28,800 A/h (4 Hz) 

Hairspring: Flat hairspring 

Displays: Hour, Minute and Chronograph’s seconds hands from the  center 

Date: 3 o’clock, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, 12 hour counter at 9 o’clock, Turning Northern and Southern hemisphere globes at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock with a 24-hour scale and day-night indication 

Case: Titanium case without oxygen with slim curved horns featuring polished and satinated finishing, Start/Stop chronograph titanium satinated pusher, Reset chronograph titanium satinated pusher

Bezel: Bidirectional black ceramic knurling bezel, knurled finishing and engraved cardinal points coated with Super-LumiNova® with blue emission.

Crystal: Scratch-resistant, domed sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating

Back: Plain titanium case back with Everest 3D laser color engraving 

Dimensions: Diameter = 44mm; Height = 17.10mm 

Water-Resistance: 10 Bar (100m) 

Crown: Fluted titanium crown with Montblanc emblem in relief 

Dial: Blue and black coloured glacier dial with white Super-LumiNova® blue line luminescent Arabic numerals, rhodium and white Super-LumiNova® blue line luminescent cathedral-shaped hour-hand and minute-hand, rhodium luminescent time zone hand, Northern and Southern hemispheres globes with shading blue ocean with blue light continents, historical Montblanc logo at 3 o’clock , White date on black background

Strap: Blue Sfumato calf leather strap with titanium deploying buckle.

Certified by the Montblanc Laboratory Test 500H

For more information, visit the Montblanc website here. 

Image Courtesy: Montblanc