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INTRODUCING: The Delma Montego is a classic, sporty chronograph INTRODUCING: The Delma Montego is a classic, sporty chronograph

INTRODUCING: The Delma Montego is a classic, sporty chronograph

Borna Bošnjak

Producing watches from their headquarters in Lengnau, Switzerland, Delma offers a wide array of options, from ’50s-inspired dress watches to bold DLC-coated divers rated for depths of 4000 metres. After looking at the Cayman Bronze earlier this year, the watch we’re introducing today is the new Delma Montego chronograph, the brand’s take on a classic racing chrono design, tachymeter steel bezel and all. It offers some notable improvements on its predecessor, namely improved proportions.

Brief history

Delma has a story spanning nearly 100 years, being founded in 1924. The name first appeared on watches in the ’30s, priding itself on production of sporty chronographs throughout the ’40s and ’50s. The Swinging Sixties brought the advent of the dive watch, eventuating into the squared-off designs of the ’70s and ’80s. Unlike many successful (and unsuccessful) Swiss brands, Delma continued producing watches through the height of the quartz crisis, using automatic movements and going as far as creating the absolute antithesis to the quartz watch — a manually-wound moonphase pocket watch.

Delma has always kept in touch with current trends, as seen from the above examples dating to the turn of the century and the early noughties. The triple calendar layout that featured in many complicated watches of the time, followed by the tonneau-shaped craze is clearly reflected in Delma’s evolution through the years. Other notable achievements include the creation of 3000 and 4000-metre divers in 2011 and 2019, respectively, as well as collaborations with the IMOCA Ocean Masters sailing competition.

Too full of functionality?

Delma played it quite safe with the overall design of the Montego, resulting in a handsome racing chrono dial. Colours are also kept simple, sticking to a black and silver scheme with a flash of red denoting the tachymeter scale. Clearly, attention has been paid to the finishing as well, making sure the dial doesn’t appear overly dull due to its simple design. The sub-dials have a circular guilloché pattern that is encircled in a silver ring housing the minute/second markings. The printing looks really sharp, especially looking at the well-defined crown sitting atop the Delma branding. Below that, Delma have positioned a day-date cut-out which is colour matched. Some of the printing does seem superfluous however. The 10, 20, 40 and 50 minute markings excessively clutter the dial, and are positioned confusingly. But, I do like the way the minute track has been executed, as I’m instantly reminded of racing dials from the likes of the Speedy Tintin.

delma montego chronograph

After dark, however, legibility shouldn’t be an issue. The large applied indices and faceted sword hands are full of bicolour lume. Delma went as far as luming the sub-dial hands, though missed out on putting a lumed tip on the main chronograph hand, which makes me chuckle. The sapphire crystal sits tall, giving nice distortions around its edges. While not necessarily a dial feature, the bezel is certainly dependent on dial functionality. I do love a steel bezel on any chronograph, and the example on the Delma Montego is an impressive chunk of metal. Wide and flat in its construction, it offers great legibility should you be one of those people that actually uses the functions their watch offers.

delma montego chronograph

The Montego is available in four different colourways, with a classic white on black, black on white, and two colourful options in green and blue.

Lugs are stubby, the case is chubby

delma montego chronograph

A headlining improvement of the new Montego is its wearability, with the previous model measuring in at a gargantuan 45.5mm. Thankfully for many wrists, the new Montego is a lot more approachable at 42mm in diameter, with the lug to lug a compact 49mm. The case as a whole almost reminds me of a skin diver-turned-chronograph, with a wide, flat area extending from the bezel at each corner. The finishing is mostly brushed, as expected from a sports watch, with fine highlights around the edge of the bezel and edges of the case. Nothing too fancy, but then again, anything more would just be overcomplicating it.

delma montego chronograph

The crown and pushers are large, all screw-down, accomplishing 200 metres of water resistance for the new Montego. As we’re approaching the profile, we’ll be met by the defining feature of this chrono — the 16.2mm thickness. This measurement is apparently reduced from the original yet again, which is a scary thought. The Montego is available on a choice of quick-release rubber strap with fabric topside, or jubilee-style bracelet. The large dimensions add up to a weight of 200 grams on the bracelet, or 130 grams on the hybrid cordura strap.

Valjoux power

Unfortunately, Delma weren’t able to provide a shot of the screw-down sapphire crystal caseback which shows off the Valjoux 7750. This automatic, cam-operated movement offers 48 hours of power reserve, with minimal customisation from Delma, the most obvious one being a custom rotor. The Valjoux is a contributing factor to the Montego’s thickness, as the movement itself is 7.9mm in height by itself.

Delma Montego pricing and availability:

The Delma Montego is available now from Delma. Price: CHF 2,200 (rubber cordura strap), CHF 2,300 (steel bracelet)

Brand Delma
Model Montego
Case Dimensions 42mm x 16.2mm
Case Material Stainless steel
Water Resistance 200 metres
Dial Black, white, blue, green
Crystal Sapphire crystal front and back
Strap Stainless steel bracelet
Rubber strap with cordura top
Movement Valjoux 7750, automatic chronograph, 48-hour power reserve
Price CHF 2,200 (strap)
CHF 2,300 (bracelet)

Made in partnership with Delma. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.