Dizzying Heights

Montblanc debuts the Zero Oxygen 8000 Capsule Collection, with four new models that celebrate the exploits of mountaineers and Montblanc Mark Makers Nimsdai Purja and Reinhold Messner

Montblanc sees its watches as potent symbols of adventure, challenge, strength, and elevation both physical and spiritual. With the Mont Blanc forming the backdrop to the brand's identity, the Swiss watchmaker channels the alpine heart of Switzerland and taps into the spirit of mountaineering all over the world. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Montblanc Zero Oxygen 8000 Capsule Collection this year, which is all about the world's 14 highest peaks, each towering more than 8000 meters above sea level. How does one link watches with such dizzying heights? The watchmakers at Montblanc had a much better way of achieving this than simply letting the brand's name speak for itself...

Ascending the world's tallest peaks is an incredibly challenging and perilous endeavour, not least of all due to the severely limited oxygen levels at such altitudes. Climbing to 8,000 meters sans supplemental oxygen is a challenge to the human spirit itself, demanding meticulous preparation, peak physical condition, technical expertise, extensive experience, and unwavering mental fortitude. Now, what if your watch had been engineered to work without any oxygen at all...but that sounds completely crazy.

Each successful ascent and descent of one of the world's most extreme mountains represents a triumph that pushes the boundaries of human capabilities in every way. Furthermore, the unpredictable mountain hazards, including storms, avalanches, and extreme cold, poses constant threats. Consequently, only a handful of mountaineers have conquered all 14 peaks, and even fewer still have achieved this feat without the aid of supplemental oxygen. To Montblanc's watchmakers, the idea of making a "zero oxygen" watch gained appeal, especially when they figured out a way to potentially improve the performance of the watch by doing so.