A specific oedometer cell has been set up to measure the swelling pressure of compacted montmorillonites at constant volume and to concomitantly visualise the evolution, upon wetting, of how the microstructure is organised through X-ray microtomography. The swelling pressure experiments were conducted with solvents of various natures. In addition to conventionally used water and saline solutions, we used an organic solvent (methyl methacrylate – MMA). We chose this to explore the effect of its different physical and chemical properties, and to differentiate the respective roles of crystalline and osmotic pressures on macroscopic swelling behaviour. The results, which combined both swelling pressure measurements and quantification of microstructure evolution upon hydration for the two different solutes, give sound understanding on the development of osmotic and/or crystalline swelling and their relative impact both on the microstructure and on the magnitude of the macroscopic swelling pressure of compacted montmorillonites. •A new oedometer is designed to follow swelling pressure and macropore evolution at the same time by X-ray tomography.•Hydration solutions' features (solute, MMA) influence the macroporosity decrease and swelling behaviour.•Swelling pressure evolution is correlated with macroporosity investigated on the X-ray tomography scale.•Crystalline and osmotic components impact aggregate fabric and modify the mechanical properties of a part of the sample.