The Quartz Crisis of the 1970s devastated the traditional watchmaking industry, claiming hundreds of brands that couldn’t adapt to the electronic revolution.
Among the casualties was Monceau, a name that disappeared from wrists and disappeared from memory—until now. The brand’s resurrection comes in the form of the Model 01, a compelling tribute to the sports watches that survived that turbulent decade, available through Kickstarter until June 15th at prices starting from £599.
Rising From the Sands
What makes this revival particularly intriguing isn’t just the nostalgic brand resurrection story, but how Monceau has interpreted classic 1970s sports watch design for contemporary collectors.
The Model 01’s 39mm tonneau-shaped steel case captures the bold, architectural aesthetic that defined an era when watches needed to make visual statements to compete with quartz alternatives. Wide facets around the case edges create that distinctive barrel silhouette, while seamlessly integrated lugs flow into the steel bracelet with convincing visual cohesion.
At £679 retail (or £599 for early backers), the Model 01 positions itself in the sweet spot where serious specifications meet accessible pricing. The 200-meter water resistance and robust construction suggest this isn’t merely a fashion piece trading on vintage aesthetics—it’s a genuine tool watch that happens to look fantastic while performing its duties.
Desert Dreams Meet Swiss Precision
The star of the show is undoubtedly the three-dimensional sand wave dial, a pattern that’s gained significant traction in contemporary independent watchmaking.
Monceau offers four distinct interpretations inspired by famous global landscapes: Antarctic white, Atacama grey, Icelandic black, and the striking Riyadh red that evokes desert sunset. Each dial captures light differently throughout the day, creating subtle texture variations that prevent the design from becoming monotonous.
Readability remains paramount despite the textured surface. Solid Super-LumiNova hour markers stand proud from the dial, ensuring excellent visibility while glowing reliably in darkness. The angular hands feature central lume strips that complement the marker design, creating visual harmony between all luminous elements.
Even the date window at 6 o’clock receives thoughtful treatment with color-matched backgrounds—a detail that demonstrates attention to cohesive design often overlooked by larger manufacturers.
The technical foundation comes courtesy of the Sellita SW210-1 Elaboré, a manual-winding movement delivering 42 hours of power reserve across 19 jewels. Operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour, this Swiss movement provides the reliability expected from serious tool watches while maintaining the romantic connection to traditional watchmaking that hand-winding creates. The exhibition caseback reveals understated finishing that emphasizes function over flash, perfectly matching the watch’s practical luxury positioning.
Case dimensions of 39mm diameter by 10.2mm thickness ensure excellent wearability across various wrist sizes, while the integrated bracelet design (though actually interchangeable) provides options for different wearing preferences. Monceau includes micro-adjustment capabilities in the clasp, acknowledging that comfort details matter in daily-wear sports watches.
For collectors drawn to 1970s sports watch aesthetics but wanting modern reliability and finishing, the Model 01 offers compelling value in a category dominated by much more expensive alternatives.
