SIHH: Montblanc Cylindrical Tourbillon Geosphères Vasco da Gama

Montblanc takes you on a journey—not to the latitudes explored by Christopher Columbus, but invites you to sail in the wake of Vasco da Gama, the first navigator to find the route to India via the south, thus creating a bridge between the two hemispheres.

The Tourbillon Cylindrique Geosphères Vasco da Gama watch pairs a cylindrical tourbillon with a triple time-zone display.

So, how do you tell the time?

In practical terms, the owner can read local time on the central hands (hours and minutes), check the reference time at 6 o’clock, and see the time in every part of the world using the two 24-hour discs around the globes.

The dial

Let’s explore the dial within its 47 mm red-gold case. At 6 o’clock, the reference time is indicated by a hand-crafted 12-hour compass rose.

The two engraved and painted hemispheres display the world’s 24 time zones across the northern and southern hemispheres, with a day/night indication.

The 18K gold dial is built on several levels. The upper section is devoted to the tourbillon, held by an arched, convex bridge. On either side, the dial is wave-pattern guilloché.

The lower section of the dial carries the hemispheres and the reference time at 6 o’clock. The globes complete one full rotation every 24 hours—north clockwise and south counter-clockwise.

The movement

The hand-wound calibre MB M68.40 comprises 281 components and delivers a 48-hour power reserve.

The tourbillon with cylindrical hairspring was miniaturised by Montblanc to fit within the tourbillon cage. An aesthetic and technical choice that enhances the overall precision.

The crown allows the wearer to set the reference time and the world-time display on the 24-hour scales of the two globes.

The pusher at 8 o’clock sets local time in another time zone with each press, independently of the other time indications.

The caseback features the names of 48 cities with their corresponding time zones, along with a sapphire crystal offering a fine view of the movement’s attractive decorations.

The watch is limited to just 18 pieces.

An opinion?

The watch is splendid. The globes are mesmerising, and the architecture leaves ample room for the tourbillon. The watch is true to the story behind its creation—its themes and its “storytelling”—down to the smallest technical and visual details (compass rose, hemispheres, wave-pattern guilloché, etc.).

Its price: 250,000 euros