In Conversation With Laurent Lecamp

Montblanc Watch Division managing director Laurent Lecamp dissects the underlying message of this year's novelties.

- Asaph Low

IS THERE A COMMON THEME THAT UNITES THIS YEAR’S NOVELTIES? MY OBSERVATION IS THAT EXPLORATION IS THE UNDERLYING MESSAGE — THE ICED SEA ENCOURAGES ONE TO DIVE DEEP, THE 1858 GEOSPHERE URGES ONE TO TRAVEL OUTDOORS, AND THE 1858 UNVEILED MINERVA CHRONOGRAPH TAKES ONE BACK TO MINERVA’S GLORY DAYS.

It’s very clear. We’re exploring the world, but we’re doing this in a way that is always in accordance with our roots. The (Montblanc Iced Sea 0 Oxygen) Deep 4810 is inspired by the world of mountaineering, even if we’re going to the depths of the oceans. We are going minus 4810 metres since the altitude of the Mont Blanc mountain is 4810 metres. Our key Mark Maker is Reinhold Messner — the first to climb the 14 highest summits in the world, the eight-thousanders, with no supplemental or additional oxygen. And what are we doing? A watch with no oxygen inside. We’re still living with the concept of mountaineering but applying it in the world of diving. Why? The reason is William Trubridge, our new Mark Maker. He has dived 102 metres unaided in one single breath with no additional oxygen. Do you see the connection? No oxygen for Messner, no oxygen for Trubridge. We’re still in the universe of Montblanc but pushing the boundaries to a level nobody expected us to be, and we’re doing this at a high level. The Deep 4810 is powered by a manufacture movement with 120 hours power reserve that has COSC, ISO 6425 and zero oxygen certification, something that none of the other dive watches have. We’re going deeper with Minerva’s innovations this year, such as a new chronograph without pushers. We’re exploring new routes because our Mark Makers like William Trubridge and Reinhold Messner explored new routes before finding the summit.