The last time we looked at Locman, it was a watch that was very firmly in the realm of dive watches (review here). While today’s watch definitely still feels sporty, it takes things in a bit more of a refined look. Meet the Locman Montecristo.
This particular Montecristo is not named for the sandwich, but instead for an island that is part of the Tuscan Archipelago (more on that here). Given the necessary focus on the sea, I can easily see the Locman Montecristo as being the sort of watch you’d see on the wrist of people out on the water, or even dining al fresco out on the coast. It still looks and feels sporty, but with the polished surfaces and croc-embossed strap, it feels things are going a bit more upscale.
Why not just call it a dress watch? Well, for one, the proportions on the case. More precisely, it’s the lug configuration on the case. From the strap’s perspective, this is a lugless case, as it’s a flat connection to the case. Of course, looking at the watch from on top, you can see the “lugs” extending out from the case, carved out to give some more visual interest, as well as lighten the impact of all that stainless steel sitting on top of your wrist.
Under the crystal, the angled chapter ring points down to a crisp sunray dial. With the font used on the dial of the Locman Montecristo, it puts me in mind of a late 80s sportscar gauge, which is further reinforced by the look of the seconds hand. Of course, the hour and minute hands remind you that this is indeed a watch, as does that magnifier over the date window (and yes, I like the cyclops).
While the carved lugs on the Locman Montecristo were a bit longer than fit to my wrist (at least, how I prefer the fit), the watch was quite comfortable. The strap – at the clasp – is quite thin and flexible, and getting things to fit to your wrist is a relatively simple affair. If you’re at a desk all day, you may run into some issues with the bulkiness of the clasp under your wrist (which is just common to this style of clasp).
As with the Mare, the Locman Montecristo is an Italian design, through and through, as is the automatic movement contained therein. I think the real story of this watch, though, is just the effortless sportiness. While there’s no specific car called to mind, you’ve got the dial putting you in mind of a tachometer, and then the carved lugs remind me of the weight lightening efforts that occur with race cars. Of course, there’s also the story of being able to put a truly Italian watch onto your wrist. If that’s what you’re wanting to do, this version of the Locman Montecristo goes for $1,080, with there being others (including a chronograph) to fit your tastes. locman.it
