The Why of Everything
Why Quartz
Good quartz is accurate and long lasting. Our Ronda Swiss Quartz movement has a 10 year battery, a protective internal feature to prevent a battery change from killing the movement, and superb accuracy. It also has an End-Of-Life indicator, a double tick, which means it will tell you when to replace your battery before you lose time; unlike an automatic or mechanical watch which can subtly lose time without you noticing.
Why Only 36mm?
36mm is in the historical range of men’s watch sizes for over the past 75 years for a reason, look at old photographs and you’ll see bigger wristed and smaller wristed men wearing watches between 34mm and 37mm. Watches in this size look proportional, slide under cuff easily, and hold up better; this footprint means it bumps into things a lot less.
Why Designed in the USA and Assembled in Hong Kong
At this stage of the watch industry, nearly every watch company you can name has some connections to Chinese manufacturing, including major Swiss brands. Hong Kong in particular has a long history of quality watch manufacturing.
Why 200m of Water Resistance
The more water resistance there is, not only does it enable you to swim and shower worry free, the more there is to degrade. All water resistance features degrade over time, the more tester resistance, the longer you can go without needing a service.
Why a Screwdown Crown
While it helps a bit with water resistance, the biggest benefit is with accuracy. A push pull crown, if it gets accidentally pulled out, your watch stops, and a screwdown crown prevents that.
Why So Much Lume
Enhanced visibility, just look at the lume shots. We used a lot of lume because too many companies cheap out on this feature and we wanted to show there isn’t much excuse for it.
Why a 20mm Lug Width and Drilled Lugs
20mm, combined with our custom lug lengths and double lug design (one set drilled to make strap changes much easier), means a watch which is truly versatile when it comes to straps. 20mm is possibly the most popular lug width, so your options are near endless for NATO/Zulu straps, rubber/silicone straps, leather, etc.
Why Sapphire Glass
Sapphire glass is enormously strong, that’s why it has become semi-standard on quality watches over time. Combined with anti-reflective coating, it’s clear, scratch resistant and durable.
Why a 12/24 Hour Dial and This Particular Handset
When I showed this watch to my father his first words were, I kid you not, “Wow, I can even read this with my cataracts.” This particular combo of dial and handset allows you to quickly and accurately assess the time even with the more traditional footprint of the watch. This is why this type of dial is so popular historically in military field watches.
Why a Quick Release Silicone Dive Strap
Dive straps are tough, the wave pattern is breathable, and quick release enables you to easily switch the strap out. Silicone is eminently comfortable and less “shiny”.
Why a Brushed Case
Brushing becomes important when you go outside, the sun can make excessive polishing a real liability when looking at your watch. Brushing is also warmer and more subtle.
Why a Polished Caseback
Polishing on the caseback doesn’t interfere with legibility and provides a nice space for engraving.
Why Crown Guards
Arguably, the weakest point of a watch is the crown, a good solid hit there can kill your watch. Our crown guards are made of one piece with the case providing an extra layer of protection, while maintaining the aesthetic.
Why the Case Shape and Domed Bezel
The case shape, is an homage to earlier models of field and sport watches dating back to the 40s and refined in the post war period. The domed bezel, integrated into the case as well, is a nod to old pocket watch design and adds a touch of distinction is a world full of angled and straight bezels.
Why the Montana
We wanted to create a very tough, very American looking field watch and allude to the history of the original Thiery watches, and the name captures that. Reputedly General Custer had a Thiery & Serex pocket watch on him at Little Bighorn, but while plausible this isn’t confirmed.