Monta has been on a re-sizing streak lately, and the Noble is the latest model to get the treatment. Today, the St. Louis-based brand announced the Noble 40, a 40mm version of one of its most well-regarded designs. It arrives in two dial options, black lacquer and sunburst blue, and it’s available for preorder starting April 9th at 10:00 AM CT. At first glance, the proportions look right and the overall package feels like a natural evolution for the collection.
For those unfamiliar, the Noble has always been Monta’s clean-cut, do-everything watch. It sits in a space that a lot of brands try to occupy but few execute with this level of finishing. We’ve been pretty open about our appreciation for Monta’s build quality here at TBWS, and the Noble line has always seemed attractive. The move to 40mm follows a broader pattern we’ve seen from Monta recently, including the Triumph, which also stepped up in size.
I’m still working through how I feel about that one, but here the sizing looks well-proportioned from the press photos. The case measures 10.5mm thick with a 47.8mm lug-to-lug span, and if Monta’s track record with case geometry holds, it should wear comfortably on a range of wrists.
Construction sticks to what Monta does well. The case is 316L stainless steel with a mirror-polished bezel and integrated crown guards. The bracelet features Monta’s fully articulating links and their 3-slot quick-adjust clasp, which has been one of the better clasps in this price range for a while now. Water resistance is rated at 200 meters, and the sapphire caseback gives a view of the movement. Speaking of which, the Noble 40 runs the MONTA caliber M-22, based on the Sellita SW300, delivering 56 hours of power reserve.
The dial options are straightforward. The black lacquer version looks clean and classic, while the sunburst blue gets a lacquer top layer for added depth. Both keep the layout simple with applied indices and the familiar Monta handset. There’s nothing particularly adventurous here in terms of design direction, and I think that’s the point. Monta seems content to let the execution do the talking rather than chase trends with wild colorways or complications. Whether that restraint holds your attention over time is a personal question, but the approach is consistent with what has made the brand successful so far.
Pricing starts at $1,595 for the first 100 orders, moves to $1,750 at the preorder tier, and lands at $1,895 for full retail. Production is set at 200 pieces over a 12-month window, and Monta is clear that this isn’t a limited edition. Delivery is expected in the first half of July. That early-bird pricing tier is an interesting move and should create some urgency for folks already sold on the brand.
We’ve learned over the years that Monta watches tend to reveal themselves best in person. The finishing, the way light plays across those polished surfaces, the feel of the bracelet on the wrist. These are things that press photos can only hint at. I’m happy to see the brand still iterating on its hits, and I’m curious to see how this one wears once we can get our hands on it. You can learn more on Monta’s official site.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.