Montres Monnier Fortune

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A few years ago I got it into my head that I wanted a Kienzle Atlantis. This was a huge 43mm hand wind watch that I couldn't find in the US for under $400. Then I was pointed to a watch and jewelry store in the Netherlands, DWF (Dutch Watch Fashion), a Kienzle dealer. Mr. Richard Kies sold me the same Kienzle for much less. Kienzle then switched ownership/management and pulled back all of their authorized dealers. Mr. Kies then decided to create something new! He has branched out into the wristwatch market with Montres Monnier, available on their website.

The result is Montres Monnier. This model is their top of the line, the Fortune. They have several other models in this first year of production. 43 mm wide using a Valjoux 7750, it has great proportions. One of their marketing "strengths" is that they make no bones about this being an un-modified movement. The plus here is that if, after the warranty period, the watch needs work, any competent watchmaker can work on it. Not bad thinking, in my opinion. The case is 14.5 mm thick but rests comfortably into your wrist at a lower profile than the number suggests. The 22mm bracelet tapers to 20mm at the deployant clasp, and is very thick, solid and comfortable. It comes in a nicely polished wooden box in Chinese Rosewood, with a black padded interior.

You can see the standard chrono function pushers and signed crown. The crown is not screw-down. This, to me, is a bonus. I don't plan on diving with this watch, so the usefulness of a no-hassle crown outweighs the water-resistance of the screw-down. This watch has a sapphire crystal and solid polished caseback engraved with the Montres Monnier logo. Water resistance is rated at 5 Atm. The case and bracelet are nearly all brushed with only a few polished accents... nice combination.

The deployant clasp is much like the double or butterfly clasp for leather straps.

Great bracelet and clasp. No hair-pulling, feels very, very comfortable, and that's saying a lot about a big, heavy watch! I'd like to see solid end-links though. The company also includes a bracelet pin removal tool with each watch that comes on a steel bracelet! While it isn't the most expensive link-removal tool out there, it certainly did the job and saved me a trip to the jeweler! Resizing the bracelet was quite easy.

The bracelet closes for a very clean look. I really like the hands on this model. Each register has a hand that is counter-balanced all the way across the dial. Round at one end with an arrowhead at the other makes it pretty easy to tell the ends apart. I like watching the counter-balanced second hand go 'round!

The glossy white dial reminds me of old American "single-sunk" pocketwatch dials. Really nice! Now, if only it had some red accents like the old pocketwatches! The hands are well designed and the luminous material in the hour, minute and the tip of the chrono minute hand glows quite well after exposure to light. I'm really excited about it. It's my first large white dialed watch in a sea of black dials, so it stands out. The fit and finish are very good, and the bracelet is great.

I swapped out the bracelet for the feel of a nice leather strap and deployant clasp. Wow! Give the watch an entirely different feel and look.