The first thing I asked William Trubridge when I met him was, “How do you do it?”
For context, William Trubridge holds the world record for diving, being the first diver to go deeper than 100m. His record – which is, for all intents and purposes, modern humanity’s record – is 102m, a feat he accomplished unaided, and in a single breath. At those depths, the pressure is a crushing 10 bar, which is about 115000 kilograms of force being exerted to a square meter, or three times the pressure inside a car tire. At those depths, it’s not just about breath control anymore.
If you want to see what that looks like, here’s a video of the dive from Trubridge’s YouTube channel:
“It’s like spinning plates,” Trubridge told us. We were at Montblanc‘s fascinating underwater-themed booth at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2024, fitted to further the theme set out by the Montblanc Iced Sea 0 Oxygen Deep 4810, its first deep-sea watch. “You have to keep them all spinning at the same time. If you don’t keep up with one element, everything falls over. I have to train my adaptation to low oxygen, high carbon dioxide, lactic acid. I have to train up my power and technique, my swimming strokes. I have to train the flexibility of my lungs and body. There’s a mental aspect as well, where I train to stay calm and relax in these situations. All of those things are equally important.”
In all, Trubridge holds 18 freediving records and has won six world championship titles in Freediving. He is an extraordinary man, no doubt. Some quarters of the press describe him as ‘The World’s Deepest Man’ for his feats. For his many achievements, the Maison has inducted him into its family of Mark Makers – a family of extraordinary people who have pushed the boundaries of their respective sport, industry or art form. He is in esteemed company – other Mark Makers include the likes of actor Cillian Murphy, footballing legend Zinedine Zidane and filmmaker Spike Lee. In his new role, William Trubidge is fronting the perfect watch for his status – the Montblanc Iced Sea 0 Oxygen Deep 4810.
The watch builds on Montblanc’s Iced Sea Divers line of watches and the ‘0 Oxygen’ special series, but pushes the boundaries of what Montblanc watches can achieve even further. With a few nifty engineering and architectural modifications, the Maison has built a timepiece that can be submerged to depths of 4810m – the inverse of the height of Mont Blanc itself. It features a robust 43mm titanium case, complete with a protective shield over the screw-down crown, making it well-suited for diving.
“It’s an incredible timepiece,” Trubridge says. “It combines so many different innovations, and at the same time it has a timeless elegance to it. It has functionality, combined with a beautiful aesthetic. I’ve taken it diving in the French Alps, and it can take the really extreme environments.”
The Montblanc Iced Sea 0 Oxygen Deep 4810 is powered by the in-house automatic MB29.29 movement, which offers an impressive five days of power reserve. This movement, built for incredible depthsAs with Montblanc’s other 0 Oxygen timepieces, there is zero oxygen within the watch, which prevents fogging, for maximum legibility, and oxidisation, which maximises the lifespan of the components.
Like all Iced Sea watches, the dial of the Montblanc Iced Sea 0 Oxygen Deep 4810 is inspired by the Mer de Glace, one of the largest glaciers on Mont Blanc. The design features an intricate pattern of interlocking crystals, reminiscent of ice that has been frozen for thousands of years, creating a dial with authentic depth and radiance. This unique crafting method, known as gratté-boisé, is not only distinctive in the realm of watchmaking but also takes four times longer to produce than a standard dial.
The dial’s blue hue is enhanced by a sfumato effect, a painting technique developed during the Renaissance, most famously used by Leonardo da Vinci. The term “sfumato” comes from the Italian word “sfumare,” meaning “to tone down” or “to evaporate like smoke.” It refers to the delicate gradation of colors and tones used to create a soft, gradual transition between colors and edges. This technique gives the appearance of depth, volume, and form in a way that lines and borders are blurred, mimicking haze, or nebulous, icy depths. This creates strong ties and allusions to the motif of deep-sea ice.
There is a nice bit of art for ice water dives as well, as the watch also features a caseback that boasts a 3D engraved depiction of the underwater view seen beneath ice. This captivating visual is rendered in a three-dimensional colored relief, produced through a technique where laser-generated oxidation textures the metal, creating a striking interplay of matte and glossy surfaces that enhance the contrast in colors and textures.
The watch also features an interchangeable black rubber strap which is tapered in a V-shape and can be easily adjusted directly on the wrist, even when wearing a wetsuit.
To showcase the credentials of the watch, Montblanc held a photoshoot with Trubridge in icy Tignes in the French Alps, very close to Mont Blanc (the mountain) itself. There, Trubridge plunged into sub-zero glacial waters, the Iced Sea 0 Oxygen Deep 4810 on his wrist. This was physically challenging to say the least. Trubridge said after the experience, “I had to constantly remind myself that the intense feeling of cold was really only information coming to my awareness.”
To most people, the point of a deep sea watch is questionable. Most of us, we can safely say, will never submerge to such depths. But a prestige watch like the Montblanc Iced Sea 0 Oxygen Deep 4810 exists to be emblematic of the spirit that the likes of William Trubridge, who push the limits of human capability. Despite its amazing power reserve and the fact that it can qualify as an everyday use watch, its purpose is higher than that.
Trubridge said, “Freediving…is a journey into yourself, a victory over fear and instinct, and an exercise in mental discipline, telling your body to relax despite the fact that literally every cell is clamoring for air. A lot of people say they feel claustrophobic when they’re underwater, but I can’t relate to that. Claustrophobia happens when the walls are closed in around you. Underwater, there are no walls. It’s underwater that I feel the most free.”
In the Montblanc Iced Sea 0 Oxygen Deep 4810, with its robust architecture and classic design, we are reminded of that – to stay true to our purpose, to remain focussed, and to keep things simple. That’s how we climb the highest heights, and conquer the deepest depths – and that is also how we find true freedom.
That’s how we embody the spirit of William Trubridge.
Specs
Case Titanium case with curved horns featuring polished and satin finishing, knurled unidirectional turning bezel with black anodized aluminium, water resistance of 4810m
Movement Manufacture Calibre MB 29.29 automatic movement, power reserve of 120 hours
Price S$13400
