The Case for Casebacks: Montblanc CEO Laurent Lecamp Talks Visual Storytelling
The luxury brand is reinventing artistic engraving with cutting-edge technology.
By Rhonda Riche
Editor-At-Large
In 2023, after an almost 93-year absence, Rolex introduced a watch (the 60th Anniversary Platinum Daytona) with an exhibition caseback. Finally, we could see that balance wheel spin! More importantly, this action indicated that display casebacks were now de rigueur.
However, watch enthusiasts also have a deep respect for tradition. Thus, the pendulum is already swinging back to intricately embellished solid casebacks.
If you’ve seen the brand’s Wes Anderson-directed short film, you know Montblanc is one of the best at spinning yarns. So, it makes sense that the brand is keen to uphold the tradition of caseback decorations that convey a spirit of adventure and exploration.
We sat down with Montblanc CEO Laurent Lecamp to discuss the Maison’s cutting-edge techniques for caseback decoration.
Solid State
According to Lecamp, there are technical reasons to favor solid casebacks over exhibition. Solid casebacks are tougher with better water resistance, making them more in line with the ethos of a dive or field watch. “Yes, we want to reposition, but our focus is not on following trends but on respecting the rules for the DNA,” Lecamp told Watchonista.
So, while Montblanc has its fair share of display backs, the brand is also aware of the practicality of keeping some of its timepieces fully enclosed, especially considering that a big part of its watch DNA tells a story of adventure, as evidenced by models like the Iced Sea Automatic and the 1858 0 Oxygen.
That is to say nothing of its collections, such as the Star Legacy, or heritage models, like the brand’s Minerva timepieces, which more often than not have a more classic, sometimes even traditional, aesthetic.
But that doesn’t mean a solid surface can’t be as captivating as a sapphire crystal.
The 1858 Automatic Date 0 Oxygen, introduced at Watches and Wonders 2025, is one such example. The 41mm stainless steel case is built so that the insides are devoid of oxygen (an advantage for explorers because it prevents fogging and oxidation) and promotes a longer movement life. Turn it over to reveal an engraving of the “Spirit of Exploration.”
This image commemorates the first recorded ascent of Mont Blanc in 1786, by guide Jacques Balmat (1762-1834) and doctor and alpinist Michel Gabriel Paccard (1757-1827). This engraving has become as emblematic to Montblanc as the hippocampus is to Omega or the lion is to Grand Seiko.
New Moves
The newest chapter in the Montblanc story is how the brand has embraced new technology. For instance, the 42mm 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen Monte Rosa Limited Edition is fitted with a black sfumato glacier pattern dial that captures the texture of glacial ice.
The timepiece is housed in an elegant rose gold 750/1000 (18 karats) case that is, again, totally devoid of oxygen and has a fluted bidirectional rotatable bezel, with a black ceramic insert with luminescent cardinal points.
Powered by the MB 29.25 calibre with Montblanc’s Manufacture worldtime complication, this automatic movement includes rotating Northern and Southern Hemisphere globes, a 24-hour scale, day and night indications, dual time display, and a date. However, since the subject is casebacks, we must take note of its three-dimensional, colored laser engraving of the Monte Rosa mountain.
“The mountain is an inspiration for me,” explained Lecamp. “We developed a specific color to capture the delicious nature. We use a laser for the base, but it’s not about machines, and it’s not about human beings creating the image. It’s about living and letting nature be the guide.” “I think [buyers] want to have adventures and lead that life,” Lecamp continued. “It’s like a little sculpture. These little details make it easier for the customers to wear the watch.”
Lightness also makes a watch easy to wear.
Carbon Footprint
The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere CARBO₂ 0 Oxygen – a limited edition of 1969 pieces – is the most interesting example of pushing the limits of materials, technology, and artistic expression.
This timepiece explores the concept of oxygen, an element that’s essential for life, especially when mountaineering. The case uses a material called CARBO₂, which is made using CO₂ captured from biogas production and recycling facilities.
“I know we’re not supposed to have favorites,” said Lecamp, “but seeing this caseback for the first time was an ‘oh wow’ moment.” As he explained, CO₂ is a hot topic these days. That’s why Montblanc decided to forge new paths by harvesting gases that are a waste product of recycling plants, and, at the same time, recovering certain minerals, which contain calcium.
Everything gets mixed into a powder that is combined with carbon fiber to create the case. “We then partnered with a color company to create a case that looks and feels like the weather and the change in the air as you go up the mountain,” added Lecamp. “You’ve got all these elements coming together; for me, that’s what it feels like to capture the spirit of the mountain and the glaciers.”
To add to this sensation of the majesty of nature, the 43.5mm watch also comes with a 3-D laser engraving of Mont Blanc, colored a luminous blue, on the reverse.
“Our message with these cases and casebacks is about transforming the experience of what’s inside the watch to the outside,” said Lecamp as our interview came to a close. “For us, it’s a growing business that we mean to apply to our next stage.”
For more information about the brand and its watches, check out the Montblanc website.