Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Monceau Model 01 Revives A Historic Swiss Name
This once respected Swiss brand makes a return as an integrated sports watch with compact dimensions and fair pricing.
We all know that there are tons of brands that are dormant or defunct that are deserving of a revival, and a number of those are actually being brought back through passion and perseverance. One brand to add to that list is Monceau, a once-respected Swiss watchmaking name now in the hands of Simon Ryan. A designer by trade, Simon is also a devoted watch enthusiast and collector. The name Monceau was established in the early 1950s and made a range of mechanical watches, including Valjoux 7734-powered chronographs, but most likely succumbed to the Quartz Crisis in the 1970s. Though the company’s history is a bit murky and details are scarce, it’s now revived with a fun and well-thought-out, sensible luxury sports watch, the Model 01.
The case of the Monceau Model 01 is relatively compact, something Simon was adamant about. He believes a watch should be comfortable first and foremost, and a width of 39mm and a height of 10.2mm (or 8.4 without crystal) certainly helps in that respect. The design has a faceted profile, in keeping with the luxury sports watches we know and love. The finish is predominantly brushed, with a few polished touches to highlight. On top, the domed sapphire crystal keeps things clear and protected, while a see-through sapphire crystal caseback does the same around the back. At 200m water-resistance, the Model 01 also delivers a reassuring robustness.
The dial comes in four different options, which are split into two duos. All feature the same rippled texture, which is inspired by the red dunes of Riyadh, the black volcanic sand at the base of Reynisfjara in Iceland, and the frozen landscapes of the Antarctic. The difference comes from being solid in colour for the Icelandic Black and Antarctic White dials, or fumé Atacama Grey or Riyadh Red for the other two. These are then finished with applied solid blocks of luminescent material, paired with central hour, minute and seconds hands, filled with Super-LumiNova inserts. At the bottom, there’s a traditionally placed date window with a framed and bevelled rectangular outline.
To keep with the tradition of vintage Monceau models being powered by hand-wound movements, the new Model 01 comes powered by a Sellita SW210-1. The Élaboré grade movement is the manual counterpart to the automatic SW200-series and was used for its slim construction. At just 3.5mm in height, it’s the prime reason for the watch’s rather slender proportions. It runs at a frequency of 28,800vph and has a running time of 42 hours. Next to the central hours, minutes and seconds, it also displays the date. The finishing is rather nice, being a top-grade movement, of course, with Geneva stripes on the plates and bridges and an engraved ‘M’ Monceau logo.
The Monceau Model 01 comes with a brushed and polished integrated stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp that incorporates a sliding micro-adjustability system and removable end-links. The H-shaped links are faceted to complement the profile of the case. It will be launched on Kickstarter from tomorrow, 30 May 2025, with Early Bird prices starting at GBP 599 – EUR 720 – USD 745, and a future retail price of GBP 849 – EUR 999 – USD 1,049 following the conclusion of the campaign. Upon the launch, two strap options will also be offered for the Model 01.
For more information, please visit monceau-watches.com or the dedicated page on Kickstarter.
2 responses
Sweet!
Decent looking design, like numerous other integrated bracelet models, the distinction is in the dial. Hope they fare well, lots of competition in this range.