Monta
- Founded
- 2016
- Based in
- St. Louis, Missouri, USA (watches made in Switzerland)
- In our catalog
- 5 watches from $1,850 to $2,550
Monta is an American brand that makes Swiss watches with an obsessive eye for detail. The cases, dials and bracelets are finished to a level you'd expect from watches costing two or three times as much, and the designs are clean and modern. It's a favorite among enthusiasts who know where to look.
History
Michael DiMartini and David Barnes, who had built Everest Horology Products (a maker of high-end straps for Rolex watches), started Monta in St. Louis in 2016. Their first watch was the Oceanking dive watch. Justin Kraudel, a member of a local watch club, joined in 2017 and became a co-owner and the brand's president.
Monta's watches are designed in St. Louis and made in Switzerland with Sellita-based movements. The brand has grown slowly, keeping production small and refining each model.
Signature models
- Oceanking: A dive watch with a ceramic bezel and 300 m water resistance.
- Triumph: A field watch with a clean, modern dial.
- Noble 40: A sporty everyday watch with an elegant dial.
- Skyquest: A GMT watch with a two-tone bezel.
What it's known for
Monta's cases have sharp polished and brushed surfaces, the dials are layered and detailed, and the bracelets have quick micro-adjustment. They're understated but well made.
Price and positioning
Monta watches cost from about $1,800 to $2,600, which is less than a Tudor and about the same as a good Oris or Christopher Ward. Side by side with those, Monta's finishing and bracelets hold up surprisingly well.
Monta watches in our library
- Monta Triumph ($1,850)
- Monta Noble 40 ($1,895)
- Monta Atlas ($2,150)
- Monta Skyquest ($2,435)
- Monta Oceanking ($2,550)