The Monta Atlas is a GMT watch from the independent St. Louis brand Monta, presented here in the Monta Blue dial version, reference 168MB00SB. Its 316L stainless steel case measures 38.5 mm in diameter and 10.7 mm thick, with a 47 mm lug-to-lug length and a 20 mm lug width. The case combines brushed sides with polished bevels, a radially brushed bezel, a screw-down crown and an engraved sapphire case back. The lacquered blue dial features applied indices, a multidimensional rehaut and red accents, under a flat, beveled sapphire crystal with seven layers of anti-reflective coating on the underside. The Monta Caliber M-23 self-winding movement provides a 56-hour power reserve, and water resistance is 150 metres.

Monta describes the Atlas as a 24-hour watch with date. Alongside hours, minutes and seconds, a slim GMT hand with a red tip reads against the 24-hour scale on the rehaut to track a second time zone, and the date sits at 6 o’clock. The rhodium-plated, diamond-cut sword hands are filled with Super-LumiNova BGW9. The watch is supplied on Monta‘s articulating stainless steel bracelet, which uses a quick-adjust clasp with three slots for micro adjustment and includes two half-links for fine sizing, while the 20 mm lug width also accepts straps. The movement is manufactured, assembled and tested in Switzerland, and the watch carries a two-year international warranty and an official price of $2,150.

Reviewers have consistently praised the Atlas for its finishing and comfort. aBlogtoWatch called the finishing exceptional for the price and the articulating bracelet one of the most comfortable it had worn, and Hodinkee highlighted the proportions, case finishing and bracelet quality. Criticisms are minor: aBlogtoWatch found the crown less sturdy than hoped and the anti-reflective coating prone to fingerprints, and noted that the movement is a caller-type GMT, in which the 24-hour hand rather than the local hour hand is set independently. Some observers find the stepped GMT hand less refined, and Hodinkee found the 24-hour scale hard to read on the silver dial version. The Atlas is currently in production and available from Monta‘s official website.