Greek Brand Monovant Presents the new Rheon Bronze with Smoked Dials

When Monovant introduced the Rheon Royal Lapis last year, the young Greek brand delivered a watch that was simple, sturdy, and regal. The deep blue lapis lazuli dial with a tiny diamond made a statement without relying on excess. Its clean display suggested that perhaps we need much less than we think we do. Apologies for drifting into philosophy, but Monovant invites such thoughts, given that the Rheon collection draws inspiration from Greek culture and mythology. It clicked with those looking for a simple Swiss-powered wristwatch housed in a tonneau-like case. Now, the brand is building on that foundation with the new Rheon Bronze, offering two textured fumé dial options.

In place of the lapis lazuli used on the Royal Lapis, the Rheon Bronze goes for a fine-grain textured dial available in either brown or blue fumé. There are carved indexes at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, while 60 bronze accents surround the dial and double as minute indexes. These not only help with timekeeping at a glance but also visually reduce the size of the dial opening and also make it look round. Pairing well with the display are new rose gold hands filled with Super-LumiNova C3, promising good legibility once the lights go down.

There are other subtle changes, too. The handset moves away from the more rounded shape seen on the Royal Lapis in favour of sharper, more angular hands. Monovant has also removed the logo from the dial altogether. It is a small detail, but one that you will appreciate if looking for a de-branded dial. The brown dial blends well into the case of the Rheon Bronze, while the blue version offers a little more contrast.

The case remains wearable at 40mm in diameter, 47mm lug-to-lug, and 9.6mm thick. Monovant swaps steel for marine-grade bronze, a material chosen not only for its strength and corrosion resistance but also for the warm gold-brown patina it develops over time. The semi-polished finish is more matte than glossy, but the watch still looks dressy. Turning the watch over shows an engraved grade-5 titanium caseback featuring an owl holding an olive branch. Monovant does not explain the motif, but it is difficult not to think of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and her sacred owl.

Protecting the dial is a sapphire crystal with double-sided anti-reflective treatment, helping the colours and textures stand out more clearly. The screw-down crown and 50-metre water resistance are enough for everyday wear, so a rainy day or a splash shouldn’t really be a problem. Completing the package is a handmade leather strap crafted in Greece using Italian calf leather, with dark-tanned edges that work well with the warm tones of the bronze case.

Powering the Rheon Bronze is the Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement, a proven alternative to the ETA 2824. Running at 28,800 vibrations/hour and offering a 42-hour power reserve, it is used here in a no-date configuration with D3 refined decoration. A proprietary carbon-fibre ring surrounding the movement is also used to improve shock resistance.

Limited to 50 pieces each, the Rheon Bronze is priced at EUR 1,250, with pre-orders benefiting from a 15 per cent discount ahead of deliveries. For more information, please visit monovant.com.

Sponsored post: This article is sponsored by Monovant. However, it reflects the writer’s opinion and has been written in accordance with MONOCHROME’s editorial policy.