I have a soft spot for oversized analog-digital watches from the 1980s. The chunky cases, multiple pushers, and LCD displays all remind me of a time when watchmakers were trying to cram as much technology as possible onto your wrist. There’s something fun about that approach, even if most of us rarely need an hourly chime or a second time zone. Praesidus seems to be having some fun with it too, judging by the new Montar Ana-Digi.
This is a pretty interesting departure for a brand that’s largely associated with military-inspired field watches like the one I reviewed. Praesidus has typically leaned into designs that reference American military history, so seeing something that looks like it belongs in an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie caught my attention. The resemblance to Seiko’s original H558 “Arnie” is hard to ignore, especially with the oversized case and analog-digital layout.
I think there’s room for this kind of watch in the Praesidus catalog. The brand already has a connection to practical, military-inspired designs, and the Montar explores a different period of tool-watch history. Whether that translates into something people actually want to wear every day is another question.
The Montar Ana-Digi measures 44mm across and 13.5mm thick, with a sandblasted stainless steel case finished in black IP coating. A rotating bezel carries both compass and dive-timer markings, while four pushers handle the various digital functions. These are fairly substantial dimensions, although they’re consistent with the kind of watch Praesidus is referencing. I’d be interested to see how the case sits on a smaller wrist.
The dial is where things get a little more interesting to me. Praesidus uses a two-layer arrangement, with traditional analog hands and luminous hour markers positioned above a negative LCD display. The analog timekeeping operates independently of the digital functions, so you can still read the current time while using the stopwatch, alarm, or second time zone.
I like that arrangement. In my opinion, having the analog display available at all times makes the additional complications easier to justify, even if the stopwatch ends up getting used mostly to time your morning coffee.
The watch runs on a BJS052 multifunction quartz module, with an hourly chime, calendar functions, and a backlight. There’s Super-LumiNova on the hands, indices, and bezel markings. Other details include 100 meters of water resistance, a sapphire-coated mineral crystal, and a 22mm canvas hook-and-loop strap.
That crystal is worth a closer look. Sapphire-coated mineral glass is different from a solid sapphire crystal, and I’d be curious about how it holds up over time. The negative LCD display also raises some questions about legibility in different lighting conditions.
Praesidus is offering four colorways: Graphite, Cinder, Flint, and Canyon. Graphite is probably my pick, with its restrained accents and olive strap, although the brighter options have a little more of that unmistakable 1980s personality.
All four versions are priced at $275, which I think is reasonable for the combination of functionality and design. For context, the existing Montar GMT carries the same price despite using a polycarbonate case and a more conventional analog layout. The initial Ana-Digi batch consists of 200 watches, with shipping expected in early December 2026.
My take is that this is an interesting move for Praesidus. I’ve always associated the brand with fairly traditional military-inspired watches, and I like seeing it explore something a little different. The Montar Ana-Digi has a familiar aesthetic, a useful collection of complications, and a price that seems appropriate. I’m curious to see whether the design works as well on the wrist as it does in the product photos.
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.