u/MysteriousManager418

When we were designing the Montera Cortado, one detail we spent a surprising amount of time thinking about was the date window.

We ended up putting it at 6 o’clock. Mainly because we wanted to keep the dial as symmetrical as possible and avoid breaking up the indices at 3.

Personally, I think it suits the cleaner look of the Cortado, especially with the warm beige textured dial and brown suede strap.

But date windows always seem to divide watch people 😂

So I’m curious - 6 o’clock date, 3 o’clock date, or no date at all?

And does the position of a date window ever actually affect whether you’d buy a watch?

We’ve definitely leaned towards colour with Montera so far.

Our latest collection includes Pistachio, Coral and Cortado, and we’ve always liked the idea of making watches that stand out a bit rather than releasing another black, white or navy dial.

But it got us thinking…

Are we actually missing out by not having more simple, everyday colours?

There seem to be more colourful dials than ever now - greens, pinks, oranges, Tiffany blues, yellows - and while we love them, there’s obviously something to be said for a really well-executed black, white, silver or navy dial that you can wear with absolutely anything.

So interested to hear what people here think:

Are colourful dials becoming overdone?

Would you rather see microbrands experimenting with unusual colours, or concentrating on really good versions of the classics?

And if you were choosing from our next collection, would you be more interested in another unusual colour or something much more understated?

Genuinely interested in the answers because it’s something we’re debating ourselves at the moment.

Have a look at our three new colourful releases, and a sneak peek of a upcoming watch, which has a white textured dial, but a pop of orange for the colour, what do you guys think about that?

The support for our new Mediterranean Collection has genuinely been great.
Orders coming in, messages, feedback, people arguing over whether Pistachio or Coral is better… exactly what we wanted 😂

For anyone who missed the first post, the collection is Coral, Pistachio & Cortado, and we’ve tried to pack quite a lot into them:

• Textured dials that change massively depending on the light
• Automatic movement
• Sapphire crystal
• Date at 6 o’clock for symmetry
• Quick-release suede strap
• Free black rubber strap with every watch
• Custom engraved rotor inspired by the Mediterranean coastline
• Limited to 100 pieces across the whole collection

We’ve literally just graduated university and instead of enjoying having slightly less stress, we decided launching another watch collection would be a good idea.

Turns out watches are quite an expensive hobby when you accidentally start a company around them.

Seriously though, the response so far has been better than we expected and it means a lot to us.

We’re still learning with every release, so keep the feedback coming - positive or brutally honest.

We have also added a sneak peak of a collection coming soon at the end!

And most importantly…
Coral, Pistachio or Cortado?

Our new Montera Mediterranean Collection is officially live - Coral, Pistachio & Cortado.
We’ve tried to take everything we learnt from our previous releases and make this one feel a step up:

• Textured dials designed to catch the light differently from every angle
• Quick-release straps
• Suede strap plus a black rubber strap included free
• Custom engraved rotor inspired by the Mediterranean shores
• Date at 6 for a cleaner, symmetrical dial
• Limited to 100 watches across all three colours - first come, first serve

We’re still a very small brand run by two 21-year-olds, so the ideas we have at university finally coming to life is really great to see!

Would genuinely love to hear what you guys think - Coral, Pistachio or Cortado?

And anything you’d change or want to see from us next?

Appreciate all the feedback, good or bad. It genuinely helps us improve.

Hi everyone,

A quick update from Montera.
Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone who has supported our Great White GMT and Bull Shark GMT.

As two university students building the brand alongside our studies, seeing people wear and enjoy something we’ve worked so hard on has been incredibly rewarding.

We’re now down to the final pieces from Batch 2, so we’ll likely be closing out the current GMT release soon.

At the same time, we’ve been working on some new colour concepts and wanted to get some feedback before we take anything further.

The two concepts shown here are:

🟢 Mako Shark GMT

🟠 Tiger Shark GMT

A few questions for the community:

Which colour would you choose?

Do you prefer subtle colours like the green, or something bolder like the orange?

Rubber strap, bracelet, or both?

Would you wear either of these as a daily watch?

As always, we’re genuinely interested in hearing honest feedback. We’d much rather learn what enthusiasts think now than after committing to production.

Thanks again for all the support and for helping us shape what comes next.

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share a bit about a project that’s consumed most of my spare time over the last year.

My business partner and I are both 20 years old and currently studying at university in the UK. Alongside our studies, we started building a watch brand called Montera.

Like many founders, we started with little more than an idea and a lot of enthusiasm. Neither of us came from a watchmaking background, but we were passionate about watches and felt there was an opportunity to create something that combined quality, storytelling, and a distinctive Mediterranean-inspired identity.

Since then we’ve spent countless hours learning about product development, manufacturing, logistics, branding, photography, e-commerce, customer service, digital marketing, and everything else that comes with building a physical product business.

Recently we launched our GMT collection. Seeing customers around the world receive and wear something we’ve spent so long developing has been incredibly rewarding.

We’ve now sold through our second production release and are already working on future colourways and collections.

One thing I’ve realised throughout this journey is how valuable it is to learn from people who have already built brands and product-based businesses.

There’s no substitute for hearing from founders who have been through the same challenges.

So I’d love to connect with anyone here who has experience building:

-Consumer brands
-E-commerce businesses
-Product-based companies
-Manufacturing businesses
-Lifestyle brands

What were the biggest lessons you learned in the early stages?

What mistakes would you avoid if you were starting again?

And what would you focus on if you were trying to grow from a small enthusiast brand into something much larger?

I’m always looking to learn and connect with other founders.

Feel free to comment below or connect with me on LinkedIn - Noah Wilson - Sheffield Hallam university.

Any feedback, advice, or constructive criticism is genuinely appreciated.

Thanks!

As we almost close out the current run of our GMT models, we wanted to get the community’s thoughts on what should come next.

We’re currently looking at two new colourways for the next GMT drop: green and orange.

Both would keep the same core design and specs, just with new dial/accents to bring a different feel to the collection.

Green would lean more into a classic, versatile tool-watch look - something that works daily but still stands out in the right light.

Orange would be more bold and energetic, aimed at a sportier, more summer-driven vibe.

Before we move into production, we’d genuinely love feedback from people who’ve followed or picked up the GMT so far:

Which colourway do you prefer: green or orange?

Would you want either as a limited run or part of the main line?

Any tweaks you’d want to see in the GMT overall (bracelet, bezel, dial finishing, lume, etc.)?

We’re a small independent brand, so these decisions are heavily shaped by what people actually want to see on wrist rather than just what looks good on paper.

Appreciate any input - it all helps shape what comes next.

Quick update on the Montera GMT launch.

We’ve got just 8 watches remaining across the Great White and Bull Shark colourways. At the current rate they’ll likely be gone today or tomorrow, which is honestly beyond what we expected when we started this project.

Massive thank you to everyone who’s given feedback, shared the watches, or taken a chance on a new microbrand.

Now that the first batch is nearly sold out, we’re already thinking about what’s next. A few ideas we’re considering:

- Beads of rice bracelet option
- Additional GMT colourways
- Different dial textures/finishes
- New Mediterranean-inspired designs

For those who have followed the project from the beginning, what would you change or improve? Any colour combinations you’d love to see? Would a beads of rice bracelet be something you’d actually buy?

Genuinely interested in hearing opinions before we lock in the next release.

Sorry for the re upload, had some issues with checking out on the website, all has been fixed!

A few months ago I posted here as a 20 year old student at university asking for feedback on my watch brand.

200,000 views. Hundreds of responses. You told me I needed a stronger USP.

So I built one around sharks.

The Montera Bluewater GMT Collection - Great White and Bull Shark - launched two weeks ago. Batch 1 sold out in 48 hours. Batch 2 followed shortly after.

We now have 12 pieces left.

After those 12 are gone we genuinely don’t know when - or if - the Bluewater GMT will come back in this form. No guarantees. No promises. Just 12 watches left between now and whatever comes next.

If you’ve been sitting on the fence - this is it. 🦈

Link in comments.

Now here’s the other reason I’m posting.

Reddit shaped Montera once before. So I’m coming back to ask for help again.

We’re already thinking about what comes next after the Bluewater GMT closes - and before we commit to anything we want the community’s input.

No renders. No designs yet. Just a blank canvas and your opinions.

What would you want to see from the next Montera GMT:

1. Colourways - what excites you? Earthy tones, bold colours, something more understated? We’re open to everything at this stage.

2. Strap combinations - rubber, bead of rice bracelet, leather, NATO? What would you actually wear it on?

3. Dial - logo or no logo? We’ve had feedback suggesting a cleaner dial without the Montera logo. Others love it where it is. Genuinely torn and want honest opinions.

Thanks guys!

Noah, Co-founder of Montera.

Hey everyone,

I’m Noah, one of the founders of Montera Watches. My business partner and I are both 20 years old and currently still at university. We’ve been building Montera alongside our studies and have learned a huge amount from the watch community so far.

We’re currently working on some new Mediterranean-inspired concepts and would love some honest feedback before we move any further.

The concepts are:

🪸 Coral Reef – Coral pink dial

🌊 Lagoon – Light blue dial

🌱 Pistachio – Green dial

🥥 Coconut – Beige/cream dial

A few things we’d love your thoughts on:

1. Rubber strap combinations

- Coral Reef with white or sand rubber?
- Lagoon with white, sand, or navy rubber?
- Any other combinations you’d choose?

2. Bead of Rice bracelet
   We’re considering offering these on a vintage-style bead of rice bracelet instead of the standard bracelet. Do you think it suits these colourful Mediterranean-inspired designs?

3. Logo or no logo?
   Some recent feedback suggested the dial might look cleaner without our logo, leaving only the Montera text. Our current Great White model uses the traditional logo layout (last image for reference).

Would you prefer:

- Full logo + text
- Text only

We’re genuinely interested in hearing what you’d change, what you’d keep, and whether these colourways appeal to you.

We are planning to use the Miyota 9015 movement.

Quick release rubber / Bead of Rice bracelets.

We have also attached a draft case back idea for the watches, what do you think?

We also know Reddit isn’t known for holding back opinions, and that’s exactly why we’re posting here. We’d much rather hear honest criticism now than after launch. Whether it’s positive, negative, or somewhere in between, we’ll take it on board and genuinely appreciate the feedback.

If you’d like to follow the development process, you can find us on Instagram @MonteraWatches. Our website is linked below if you’d like to see what we’ve released so far.

Thanks for taking the time to have a look - all feedback is appreciated.

A few weeks ago I posted Montera here asking for feedback.

200,000 + views. Hundreds of responses. And one piece of feedback that kept coming up.

“Great brand. Great product. But what makes it different?”

Fair point Reddit. Fair point.

So between lectures and the general chaos of being a 20 year old student in Sheffield, I built a USP around sharks. The Mediterranean inspired everything about Montera - and the Mediterranean is losing its sharks fast.

We named our watches after them. The Great White. The Bull Shark. Custom shark engraved caseback.

Then we launched last week.

Batch 1 (first 50) sold out in 48 hours. Turns out people really will buy a watch named after an apex predator. Who knew. 🦈

Batch 2 is still open - shipping on (fingers crossed before if everything goes to plan) July 15th.

Now here’s where you come in again.

We’re already thinking about our next colourway and we want Reddit’s opinion - because last time you gave us our entire USP so we trust you more than anyone.

What would you want to see next:

•	Dial colour - black, blue, green, something else?  
•	Bezel combination - what colourways excite you, we’re thinking Orange, Green etc.   
•	Any other details you’d change or add?

Drop your thoughts below. The best ideas genuinely shape what we build next. 🦈

Link in comments.

A few months ago I posted here asking for feedback on my watch brand Montera.

200,000 views. Hundreds of responses. And one piece of feedback that kept coming up - we need a stronger USP.

So between lectures, a part time job, and the general chaos of being a 20 year old student in Sheffield, I went away and built one.

The result is the Montera Bluewater GMT Collection. Two variants - the Great White and the Bull Shark. Each named after the Mediterranean’s most iconic predators. Each with a custom shark engraved caseback.

Last week we launched.

Batch 1 sold out faster than I expected. Which was either a great sign or proof that watch people really will buy anything with a shark on it. Probably both.

Batch 2 is still open - Great White and Bull Shark, shipping July 15th. After that the run closes for good.

This community helped shape what Montera became. The feedback you gave me on that first post directly led to the shark collection, bolder design choices, and ultimately the watches that just sold out.

So genuinely - thank you.

Ive had a fair few comments questioning the legitimacy of the whole story, which is fair enough, so If you want to follow the journey of a 20 year old student attempting to build a watch brand whilst somehow also getting a degree, I try to document everything on my LinkedIn (proof for the haters). Link in comments.

And if you want a Great White or Bull Shark - also in the comments. 🦈

Hi guys 👋🏼 Montera here. We posted the Bull Shark GMT + Great White yesterday and then proceeded to nervously refresh our phones like we were waiting for exam results.

We didn’t need to.

The response has been genuinely brilliant - the questions, the kind words, the orders coming in from all corners of the world. Seriously, thank you. For a small independent brand, this stuff means everything.

A few things came up a lot in the DMs and comments, so let me just clear them up while I’m here:

“What comes in the box?” - I have uploaded a picture of the open box, the watch, spare rubber strap, and a metal tool for adjusting the straps!

“How many are left?” - Not many. I’m not going to do the whole fake scarcity thing - you’re a smart bunch and you’d clock it immediately. But we genuinely have a small number remaining and once they’re gone, that’s it for this batch.

“Will you do another run?” - Honestly? Unknown. We’d love to, but that depends on a lot of things. If you’re on the fence, this is your sign to get off it. We will be releasing two new colour ways in the future!

We’ll keep an eye on this thread all day so fire any questions below - specs, sizing, shipping, whatever. Happy to be transparent about all of it.

Thanks again for the love. The Bull Shark appreciates it. 🦈

- Montera

We launched yesterday and a lot of people have been asking what the full package looks like. Here it is.

Every Montera Bluewater Collection GMT ships in a deep forest green presentation box with cream interior lining. Inside:

- The GMT watch on the fully brushed oyster bracelet
- A dark blue rubber strap with steel buckle
- A metal spring bar tool so you can swap them yourself

Two straps. One watch. No extra cost.

The rubber strap is dark blue - matches the bezel perfectly. The oyster bracelet tapers from 20mm down to 15mm at the micro-adjustable clasp.

£300. 100 pieces. Pre-order live. First batch ships June 15th. Second batch July 15th.

Link below!

I posted here a few months ago asking for feedback on Montera. 120,000 views and hundreds of honest responses later - you told me we needed a stronger USP.

You were right.

So here’s what we built.

The Montera Bluewater Collection GMT. Mediterranean inspired. Seiko NH34 movement. Custom shark engraved caseback.

£300. Limited to 100 pieces. Pre-order live now.

Here’s everything about it - ask me anything:

•	40mm 316L stainless steel case  
•	Seiko NH34 automatic GMT  
•	Sapphire crystal  
•	Textured meteorite-style dial  
•	Applied indices  
•	Date at 3 o’clock  
•	Blue and cream 24 hour GMT bezel  
•	Fully brushed oyster bracelet with micro-adjustable clasp  
•	Custom shark engraved caseback - Bluewater Collection GMT Series  
•	Light blue rubber strap included  
•	100m water resistance  
•	48mm lug to lug - wears comfortably on most wrist sizes  
•	12mm thickness  
•	First batch of 50 ships June 15th  
•	Second batch of 50 ships July 15th

I’m a student building this brand in real time. This community helped shape what Montera became. It felt right to launch here first.

Thanks!

A few weeks ago I posted my watch brand Montera, something I’m building whilst being a full time university student, asking for opinions on spare straps etc. 50000 views later, we have decided on a navy rubber strap and a tan rubber strap for both our two GMT models. We have also ensured we have a micro adjustment system, as that seems to be a major selling point!

So here’s the Montera Bluewater GMT collection - limited to 100 pieces - 50 each.

Link below to sign up on our website!