The Montoir Dive Watch is an impressively affordable first effort from a new microbrand
Borna BošnjakThere’s a myriad of dive watch types out there, and the category is undoubtedly the most popular with budding brands. US-based Montoir is the latest in line looking to fight in the hotly contested sub-US$500 category with the Dive Watch MWMOD-01. The simplicity of the name implies the manner in which the rest of the watch is executed, as this is just about the most simple, non-contentious way to go about designing a diver. With a style reminiscent of the dive watches for the masses that followed the pioneers of the 1950s, the MWMOD-01 adds a modern Sellita movement for good measure.
While the Montoir Dive Watch is fairly simple, it’s by no means featureless, and this is a challenge that many brands struggle with when coming up with a minimalist design. The printed markers are a mixture of circles, rectangles and elongated triangles, with plenty of icy SuperLuminova for after-dark legibility. Purists will also surely appreciate the symmetrical, no-date layout. The devil is in the details, and my favourite has to be the minute track hashes extending just enough to touch the indices. One unusual feature on this style of watch is the needle seconds hand, as it tapers starting from the counterbalance, accompanied by a noticeable brushed finish. At launch, there will be five dial colours available, with a professional-looking orange and trendy cyan joining the black, blue, and white pictured here.
If you’ve seen any of these mid-century, recreational diving-style watches, you’ll be familiar with the look. The case is very simple, with wide top surfaces finished in a vertical brush – it’s utilitarian all-round. The dimensions are somewhat upsized compared to vintage examples, measuring in at 40.5mm in diameter, 11.5mm in height and 48mm lug-to-lug.
This height is inclusive of the box-domed sapphire crystal which sits just proud of the flat, slim bezel with an aluminium insert. The large, unguarded crown sports the Montoir M in the appropriate script, which admittedly does feel a little modern for the style of watch the brand went for. Finally, the 20mm lug width and quick release-equipped FKM rubber straps make the Dive Watch an absolute strap monster owing to its simple design.
Just like the rest of the super-minimal dial text, the teeny Swiss made script hiding on either side of the 6 o’clock minute hash indicates the Dive Watch’s movement origin. It’s powered by a Sellita SW200-1, which is a commendable effort at the launch price points. Interestingly, this particular SW200 variant is the date version, so I’m hoping that Montoir went to the trouble of removing the ghost date position when interacting with the crown. Having said that, the Montoir MWMOD-01 is nothing short of an excellent value proposition at its pre-order prices, so I’d happily put up with a ghost date.
Montoir Dive Watch MWMOD-01 pricing and availability
The Montoir Dive Watch is available now on Kickstarter. Price: US$375 (Super Early Bird, first 24 hours, 50 pieces), US$399 (Early Bird, first seven days, 150 pieces), US$435 (standard Kickstarter pre-order), US$750 (retail)
| Brand | Montoir |
| Model | Dive Watch |
| Reference Number | MWMOD-01 |
| Case Dimensions | 40.5mm (D) x 11.5mm (T) x 48mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 200 metres, screw-down crown |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | Black, blue, white, cyan, orange |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Strap | FKM rubber |
| Movement | Sellita SW200-1, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 38 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds |
| Availability | On Kickstarter from 10/10/2023 |
| Price | US$375 (Super Early Bird, first 24 hours, 50 pieces) US$399 (Early Bird, first seven days, 150 pieces) US$435 (standard Kickstarter pre-order) US$750 (retail) |