Ten years is a pretty respectable milestone for an independent watch brand, and Monta is marking the occasion with two limited editions of its Triumph and Skyquest models. The new Neuchâtel X collection introduces silvery opaline dials, vintage-inspired hands, and a few interesting details that should be familiar to anyone who’s spent time looking at mid-century sports watches. Both are limited to 100 individually numbered pieces, and I think there’s plenty here to appreciate beyond the anniversary connection.
That connection is pretty specific, though. Monta says every watch it has produced was developed in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, where the original Triumph was conceived at the Beau Rivage Hotel. The town has remained part of the brand’s development process ever since. For its tenth anniversary, Monta has decided to revisit some of the older tool watch designs that influenced its earliest models.
The opaline dials are the clearest changes, and I think they give both watches a noticeably different personality. Monta has generally favored fairly traditional sports watch configurations, so seeing these familiar cases paired with lighter, silver-toned dials is refreshing. Both watches also use beige-colored Super-LumiNova, which glows green and contributes to the vintage appearance.
I’m particularly interested in the Triumph Neuchâtel X. Its dial retains the oversized Arabic numerals at three and nine, along with the familiar hour marker arrangement. Here, Monta has used painted black lacquer around the luminous plots in place of conventional applied markers. The hands receive a glossy black finish that complements the rest of the dial furniture.
To me, there’s something appealing about this combination. The printed details and warm lume give the Triumph an older appearance, while the opaline background keeps things relatively bright. It’s also an interesting direction for a model that recently entered its second generation.
The Triumph retains its 40mm stainless steel case, measuring 10.5mm thick and 47.8mm lug-to-lug. Water resistance is rated to 200 meters, and the automatic Monta Caliber M-22, based on the Sellita SW300, offers a 56-hour power reserve. A sapphire crystal and steel bracelet with a quick-adjust clasp complete the package.
The Skyquest Neuchâtel X carries the same general dial treatment, although its changes are a little more pronounced. Monta has introduced an entirely revised printed layout, exclusive dial typography, and a new sword-style handset. Combined with the red-and-blue aluminum 24-hour bezel, I think the result leans further into the vintage GMT aesthetic.
The Skyquest measures 40.7mm across, 11.8mm thick, and 47.4mm lug-to-lug, with 300 meters of water resistance. Inside is the automatic Caliber M-23, based on the Sellita SW330 GMT movement, with a 56-hour power reserve. It’s a caller-style GMT, which may give some collectors pause at this price. Still, the movement choice is consistent with the existing Skyquest.
Pricing comes in at $1,895 for the Triumph and $2,485 for the Skyquest. In my opinion, those figures seem reasonable within Monta’s established lineup, particularly given the familiar case construction and bracelet specifications.
I like that Monta has used this anniversary to experiment with details that might otherwise seem out of place in its regular collection. The painted indices on the Triumph and the Skyquest’s new handset are especially interesting to me. I’d be curious to see how the opaline finishes and warm lume work together in person, since those details will have a considerable influence on how these watches actually look.
Both watches debuted at Windup NYC on October 16, with public online sales opening today through Monta’s website.
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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.