At long last, the Oceanking has made its return. As the only member of Watch Clicker without a Monta, I have been dying to get the new Oceanking in for review because if there was a Monta for me, this is it. Initially released in 2015, the flagship model for the St. Louis-based brand is back and better than ever. Following reinvented Skyquest, the new Ocean King is not so much a departure from the previous version but a contemporary version with all the best that the brand can currently muster, flexing their ability to bring high-end Swiss manufacturing to market that can stand toe to toe with other divers at the price point. It comes in at 40.7mm in diameter, 48 lug-to-lug, and a slim thickness of 11.7mm and retails for $2,550, though there was a preorder period at $2,225. The diver has 300m of water resistance, a beautiful onion screw-down crown with updated crown guards, and is powered by a modified SW300 Monta referred to on their site as the M-22, with 56 hours of power reserve. The boosted power reserve is due to the “new optimization barrel.” I put in quotes because I am no watchmaker and am unsure what that means, but 56 is better than 42 hours.
On the Wrist
On the wrist, the luxury tool watch has an immediate presence that makes you conscious of the thought put into each component. The bracelet is undoubtedly the best yet and was so good that I never bothered to swap to other straps while I had the review watch.
The shortened lug-to-lug of 48mm from 49mm and female end links make the watch more wearable for smaller wrist sizes. The contrast is stark compared to other Swiss divers that still choose to trot out male end links with only male wearers in mind paired with slab-sided cases. The introduction of additional polishing on the case may be controversial for some, but during wear, I adored the extra light the case would catch and bring my eyes down to meet the freshly designed dial. The revamped crown guards are well done and provide easy access to the crown, all without causing any discomfort during wear.
Monta Oceanking V3 Specs | |
Case Width 40.5mm | Lug-to-Lug 48mm |
Case Thickness 12mm | Lug Width 20mm |
Water Resistance 300m | Strap Bracelet |
Crystal Sapphire | Lume Super-LumiNova BGW9 |
Movement Monta M-22 (Sellita SW300) | Price $2,550 |
Dial Details
Similar to the past versions of the Oceanking, the dial text has been minimal, but what is there is well executed. The wider bezel comes at the expense of some dial area, and this is an addition by subtraction. Compared to the previous rendition, the downsized Monta logo cleans up the dial, especially with the more significant indices. To my excitement, the small half indices at 6 pm have also been removed entirely. In addition to the revamped dial, the improved flat crystal makes photographing the Oceanking better. I recommend doing a side-by-side comparison with the Oceanking version 2 that Will reviewed. The changes are subtle but make a world of difference. The new Oceanking dial results from years of refinement and is the best yet.
Illuminating the dial and pip is Super-LumiNova BGW9. This new version of the Oceanking forgoes the fully lumed bezel, and this was the right decision with the apparent improvements to the pip quality. With the consistency and quality mandated at this price point, a fully lumed bezel insert is complex. All that said, I do wish the lume were stronger. The color is consistent when charged with lume, and there is no discrepancy between hands, lume plots, or the pip.
Case, Movement, Misc
The Oceanking’s case and bezel lines are nothing short of beautiful. The case is interesting from all angles, and when gripped with your hand, you immediately gain a purchase on the bezel. It is the favorite bezel I’ve interacted with when paired with the phenomenal finishing of the bezel edge. This includes Submariners, Pelagi, and Seamaster’s. The inward sloping edge of the bezel ensures the widest point of the watch will be the bezel edge regardless of the location you grip from. Undoubtedly, the bezel would excel under the stress of real-life applications like diving.
I have some apprehension about whether the micro adjustment clasp would withstand the assault of salt water, but for everyday use, it was perfect. There were no points where the clasp extended without intention or failed somehow. Monta does a great job of providing half-links in addition to the micro extension bracelet. With the half links, you can get a perfect fit without the clasp adjustments, giving you the most bang for your buck with potential extension length.
The other benefit of the half-links is you size the bracelet so the clasp fits perfectly in the center of your wrist. A big pet peeve for me is when the watch is forever lopsided after sizing because of a lack of micro adjustability.
Final Thoughts
Along with the new Skyquest, the latest version of the Oceanking feels like Monta is solidifying its place within United States-based watch companies. That place is the pinnacle for quality. Yes, several independent watchmakers in the US are putting out pieces unique, or even, in the case of the Colorado Watch Company, making watches entirely manufactured in the US. However, Monta exceeds virtually all competition for consumer watches you can buy at any time (even at a higher price point). This rendition of the Oceanking is my favorite Monta release yet and the first that has ever had me truly reaching for my wallet. Although the preorder for the Ocean King has ended, all signs indicate this will be the flagship watch within the Monta lineup for at least a few years, and I am excited to see what they do with the platform. The all-black was undoubtedly the correct choice for the initial launch, but the Pantone color of 2024 is Peach Fuzz, and I would love to see a limited release.
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Frank, how would you compare this with the Pelagos 39? I currently wear a Tudor Ranger 39 and am looking to add either the new Oceanking or Pelagos 39 to the daily rotation. Interested in your thoughts. Thanks!
It’s difficult to compare because the Pelagos is titanium, and the Monta is Steel. In my opinion, the Monta is a more comfortable watch overall, and I would get significantly more wrist time if I owned both.