Montoir MWMOD-01 V2
Classicism in Utilitarian Horology
You know how certain watches or periods of horological design are deemed to be “classic?” And I would add timeless as well, as what is classic ages well and it appears to me that nowadays we rarely create designs that have such qualities. Maybe they will, however, be so in hindsight a few decades from now. But what is sure is that things which pass through the generations unscathed are generally those which are the simplest. Simple in appearance and functionality because less is better and less is more. And an idea I have been meandering about is that of being—we humans and the things we own and make—as natural as possible. Because nature is rather simple although it is complex, or we perceive it as being the latter because we like to complexify things. Because if something is complicated and we understand it, then we are geniuses and superior to all other creatures.
I like simple things as to me they are more natural. Or what is natural is simple. We should keep life as simple as possible and although we don’t need watches, well since we make so many of them, why not set aside a small batch to be just that—simple. That is what we’re going to talk about today by looking at the Montoir MWMOD-01 V2 in black. A straightforward timekeeping device made for adventures which mostly take place underwater but also above it. It has the looks to fit within everyday life and the specifications to do well diving, swimming, hiking, competing in Ultraman or battling the frenzy of shoppers on Black Friday. The MWMOD-01 V2 is the second version of the brand’s first collection and will come in seven (7) colors: Mint, Salmon, Green, Cool Grey, Black, Blue, and Polar White. Prices will start at $375 USD on Kickstarter.

Specifications
I love watches which in appearance seem to be just “watches.” It’s impossible to tell what’s ticking inside or what the case, dial, and hands are made out of. The type of watch which flies under-the-radar though a watch enthusiast will do a double take at your wrist whilst crossing your path on the street. “Oh, that looks nice” he or she would comment internally. “I wonder what brand this is” they would further say to themselves. “Should I ask?” Because watches designed by enthusiasts always have a je-ne-sais-quoi which makes them stand out from the hundreds of whatever watches that are mass-produced by fashion brands and opportunistic watchmakers. And the wearer of an enthusiast-made watch is de facto an enthusiast as well. That’s all I would be thinking if I were to see you wear the Montoir MWMOD-01 V2 and this is a quality certain watches have which I dearly appreciate.

Going back to my point, although visually it looks special, I wouldn’t be able to tell that this watch is a tool watch disguised in everyday horological clothing. For example, it has 200 meters of water resistance thanks to a screw-down crown and case-back. It is equipped with a Swiss Made Sellita SW200-1 caliber which ticks at 28,800 BPH (4Hz) and comes with 38 hours of power reserve. The crystal is a boxed-shaped sapphire with inner anti-reflective coating, and the lume is SuperLuminova BGW9 well applied on the hands and printed hour markers. In terms of dimensions we find a case that measures 40.5mm in diameter, 48mm lug-to-lug, 11.5mm thick (including the crystal) and has a 20mm lug width. The Montoir is shipped on a Tropic FKM rubber strap with quick-release spring-bars.
Doesn’t it all sound handsomely classic? I love it.

Design
As always, it is the design of the Montoir MWMOD-01 V2 which caught my attention and which prompted me to want to review it. And I must admit that I was the most attracted to the black version because I love monochromatic dials (they are simple and straightforward in appearance) but the Cool Grey and Blue were close seconds and thirds. I’m surprised that a new brand can come up with such a classic looking design in 2024/2025 as I thought designers had tried it all. What works here for me is the combination of the comparatively small hands (that is when looking at the size of the hour markers) which remind me of the Nordic Marin Instruments Standard I reviewed a while back. They look elegant although they are placed on the dial of a serious tool watch which makes for a lovely contrast. Both the hour and minute hands are fully brushed so that they are easy to spot whilst the seconds hand is fully painted in white.
We already find a lot of subtle contrasts in shapes and finishing within the handset alone.

The hour markers are more visible than the hands because they are larger and mostly made up of luminescent paint framed by thin white borders. In other words, they claim more visual presence by being larger masses of white paint set against a matte black dial. The markers have a traditional layout showcasing an alternation of batons at the 3, 6, 9, an inverted triangle at the twelve, and circles everywhere else. This is a classic as it gets for a diver and it has worked for many decades for a reason. What is also classic is the branding which accounts for a total of four lines of text which is less common within the micro/independent watch world as it continues to be in the luxury market. Above the pinion we see the brand name and the word “Automatic” and below it we find the indications “Water Resistant” and “200M/660FT.” We don’t need to know all of this but it contributes to giving a classic look to this piece.

If you are as obsessed with dive watches as I am then you will agree that the case has the typical design of a skin diver. That is a fully brushed case with angular lugs, a straight-cut bridge in-between them, and slab-sided flanks. The crown is unguarded and quite noticeable, easy to grab and operate thanks to having deep knurling. The case therefore comes with all stereotypical attributes of skin divers. Moreover, the bezel has a lovely design. The brushed insert is thin and sandwiched between two polished metal rings, and the bezel itself has a flat profile and sits flush against the mid-case. Just like the crown is easy to operate, so is the bezel which comes with 120 ball-bearing type smooth and precise clicks which have quickly become addictive. (It’s one of these rare cases where I find myself just spinning the bezel for no particular reason.) I personally appreciate the fully graduated count-up scale which I find to be useful.

The Heart of the Matter
I’m concerned that some of you might interpret my saying that the Montoir MWMOD-01 V2 looks classic as being something negative. It isn’t and I mean the exact opposite. I believe that classic watch designs are generally better than those which are too singular or out-of-the-beaten-path because they will never go out of fashion which means that you would hold on to them for much longer. In other words, we won’t feel the constant urge to buy new watches because we got bored of our latest purchases. Though I would be the first one to say (and admit) that it’s easy to get bored of a timeless design and to fault once in a while by looking at what is novel and trendy. But we always go back to that which is proven to last forever so much so that we deem these watches to be worthy candidates to be passed on to our children.
While we often hear that one will pass on a Rolex Submariner, Omega Speedmaster, or JLC Reverso onto his or her children, no one says that of a Richard Mille or Panerai. Just sayin’.

So at the heart of the matter is the fact that the Montoir MWMOD-01 V2 is a future-classic (or vintage-modern) diver which comes with everyday looks and all-adventure specifications. The Montoir doesn’t overdo it and gives us enough elegance and legibility to be appropriate for all environments we might find ourselves in—at the office, traveling, or with friends and family on the weekend—and enough specs to perform well in all places. It comes with good dimensions, a good movement which can be serviced anywhere in the world, a scratch-resistant crystal, decent lume, and simple functionality. Visually it is positively boring especially in the black variant, and this is what you are possibly looking for an everyday wear. Yes, I would define the Montoir MWMOD-01 V2 as being a great watch to wear everyday and that in itself is a strong attribute to have.

Conclusion
The Montoir went live on Kickstarter today, Tuesday, January 21, 2025, for a Super Early Bird Price of $375 USD which is a steal. (You can also add a stainless steel bracelet for leather strap for an additional $35.) This watch makes a lot of sense to me in early 2025 because we find less and less classic-looking timekeeping devices on the micro and independent watch market, at least for a reasonable price. With Kickstarter prices ranging $375-$435 USD, I would be hard-pressed to find many more solid options for versatile divers which are endowed with such an elegant and classic appearance whilst doubling as capable tool watches. The Montoir MWMOD-01 V2 therefore makes for a solid offering. And if you haven’t found your calling with the black version, I’m sure you will find the one that fits you best given the six (6) additional colors this model comes with.
Besides checking out the Kickstarter page, you can also take a look at the brand’s website and Instagram page to not miss any key information and to learn more about this launch.
Thanks for reading.