Review of the Momentum Cobalt V

Up for review today is the Cobalt V from Momentum Watches, a Vancouver company specializing in functional and legible watches. We’re always glad to find a great watch in this price range, and I think the Cobalt V is going to make a lot of fans. Let’s get started with the specifications:

• Solid titanium case, black ion-plated.
• Mineral crystal.
• 44mm by 10.7mm, 65g.
• Rubber or leather strap (the review unit is vanilla-scented natural rubber).
• Japanese quartz movement with 5-year battery.
• Grade-A Superluminova lume on hands and dial.
• Screwdown crown and caseback.
• Water resistant to 100m (330ft).
• List price of $185.

Read on for the full review.

I’m a big fan of titanium for watches. Titanium lets you make a nicely-sized watch that sits very light on the wrist. It does scratch more easily, though, so the ion plating on the Cobalt is a good idea. The strap is first-rate as well: nicely sized and pleasantly scented of vanilla.

The style is functional and very clear; white on black with subtle blue highlights. Note the blue on the chapter ring and second hand. Also, the dial has an almost-invisible pattern in the center that adds some visual detail to appreciate.

The lume is surprisingly good for a sub-two-hundred-dollar watch; it’s easily visible after eight hours and, due to the design, very easy to read, too. The second hand is poorly lumed, and due to black-on-black, somewhat hard to see during the day, but the minute and hour hands are quite legible.

On the wrist, the watch is very well designed. At 44mm wide, it’s about the width of a g-shock, but much thinner — easily fitting under cuffs and sleeves. The all-black color scheme is nicely understated, though with a sporty look that’s more on the casual side. If you’re bold, you could probably wear it as business wear on a leather strap, but normally I’d think it best suited to outdoors and normal use. With 100m of water resistance, a corrosion-resistant titanium case, great lume, and with it being as comfortable as it is, it’s a perfect watch for aquatics, hiking, and all sorts of sports.

The face design reminds me of the Citizen BM6400 and PMT56-2711: simple, uncluttered, and unfussy. Not stark — the color highlights and dial pattern are proof of that — but understated, stealthy, and functional.

With a list price of $185, I consider this to be an excellent value for a watch that works for grab-and-go or a daily wearer with a bit of an understated style. Other than an option for a sapphire crystal, I’d be hard pressed to change anything on it.

Our thanks to Momentum for the review unit.

By Paul Hubbard

Update: Momentum tells us that there is also a version with sapphire available, for an extra $60.