At the SIHH 2016, Audemars Piguet introduced a new version of its?Royal Oak Openworked, and this time, it featured a?Double Balance Wheel… Why replace this superb model? And why have two balances??We all know that images are better than words in order to understand, so let’s turn the floor over to the CEO of Audemars Piguet,?Fran?ois-Henry Bennahmias (and you’ll see, there’...
What we have here is nothing especially new or highly innovative… However, it certainly is one very cool edition of one of the most iconic racing chronographs ever: the TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 – you know, the watch worn by the “King of Cool”, Steve McQueen, in movie?Le Mans. Made especially for the French market (without a single reference to France in its design), very...
The Reverso certainly is the most iconic watch of Jaeger-LeCoultre. Of course, most of us know its long and rich history, with its roots linked to British polo players asking for a protected watch and its subsequent?creation in 1931. There’s one thing that this particular construction allowed: personalisation. Today, the back of this classical?Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso is a field of expressio...
When Oris launched its own in-house developed and produced movement, back in 2014 (at that time the Calibre 110, without date), this sounded like an impressive step for the brand, more used to creating accessible sports watches and outsourced automatic movements. Indeed, with no-less than 10 days of power-reserve and some technically advanced features, it was quite an achievement. This hand-wound ...
In a piece of news that dropped on our computers a couple of weeks ago, Vacheron Constantin announced several new “Historiques” watches. As a reminder, this collection comprises the deliberately “vintage-inspired” models of the brand, including the American 1921 or the Chronograph Cornes de Vaches. With the?Vacheron Constantin Historiques Triple Calendrier 1942, saying that...
For quite some decades, the concept behind ultra-thin watches was focussed almost exclusively on classic, elegant and sleek designs. However, Bulgari had something else in mind. Why not house these ultra-thin movements inside a collection of modern and bold watches, inspired by the Italian sense for design, or in other words the icon that is the Octo? This is what the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Trilog...
There are some new kids on the block and they go by the name of Reservoir, and they happened to be one of the coolest finds at Baselword 2017. Further to their pre-launch presentation earlier this year, the brand’s first collections are now on the market. Their timepieces provide their own cool, off-beat take on watchmaking, inspired by their fascination for all things mechanical, and a nost...
In 2016, Rado relaunched its iconic Ceramica line, following a complete design refresh by highly respected industrial designer Konstantin Grcic. The geometric watches were certainly appealing from an aesthetic standpoint, however, they were powered by quartz movements and consequently didn't really make it onto the Monochrome radar. This year, Rado unveiled three new additions to the Ceramica fami...
Last year at the SIHH 2016, German watch manufacturer, A. Lange & Sohne, debuted the deliciously complex Richard Lange Jumping Seconds. Offered in a platinum case and produced in a limited series of just 100 pieces, it was an instant hit with collectors. Following on from this success, this minimalist timepiece is now being made available in an attractive pink gold case, complete with matching...
Earlier this year, Patek Philippe unveiled the limited-edition Aquanaut Travel Time Ref. 5650G, featuring the latest technology developed by its Advanced Research program. With its unusual aesthetics and impressive technological advances, it quickly became one of the most talked about watches at Baselworld. Today, we're going hands-on with this incredible timepiece to learn more about what Patek P...
Back in November 2016, as part of the pre-SIHH 2017 reveal, Audemars Piguet introduced a surprising and amazing version of its emblematic Royal Oak, the Frosted Gold version. This watch featured a?superb surface finishing known as gold hammering or frosting. And even with its 37mm case, we told you why, as men, we also liked it. However that was without knowing that the brand had something even mo...
Recently we brought you a detailed look at Vaucher, one of the most prominent high-grade mechanical makers for third parties in the watch industry (read our article here).?We went back to the Val-de-Travers to take a look at how the movement manufacturer produces openworked movements, including their own calibre 5401.The creation of openworked or skeleton watches, the art of playing with transpare...
In 2009, Vacheron Constantin unveiled the Historiques American 1921, a re-edition of one of its classic timepieces from the Art Deco period that was made exclusively for the North American market. A highly desirable watch, it pays homage to what is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful yet original Vacheron Constantin models ever made. Despite its modest (on paper) 40mm size, the squared case ...
The?Historiques collection by?Vacheron Constantin has already proffered up some stunning watches. When the brand goes vintage, it simply is the best of what they can do. Think about the American 1921 (more on that watch and a new version in a coming article) or the 1955 Cornes de Vache Chronograph. The same recipe of updated “vintage” is now applied to two rare 1940s watches with tripl...
For a few years now, Patek Philippe has been applying a rather surprising strategy, by offering a new, younger approach. Sometimes vintage, sometimes modern, and sometimes quite difficult to understand, even sometimes controversial… This all started back in 2014 with the modern-looking stainless steel 5960/1A, followed later in 2015 with the launch of the Calatrava Travel Time Pilot 5524G, a...
The Doxa SUB-300 is regarded as one of the most important watches?of all time amongst the diving community. Launched in 1966, it was certainly not the first dive watch (that credit goes to the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms and the Submariner, both launched in 1953), however, it was one of the first professional dive watches and, for that alone, it is historically important. This year, Doxa follows up ...
Every year, in November, a strange phenomenon occurs… Moustaches begin appearing all around. And no, it’s not an invasion of hipsters. It is?“Movember”, a Foundation that?tackles some of the biggest health issues facing men, including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.?Oris is proud to announce that it has become an official Movember P...
The chronograph is without a doubt one of the most popular and sought-after types of watches. While it's a pretty useful complication, the chronograph is also among the most complex mechanisms to design and manufacture. We have picked 5 time-stoppers of 2017 that will be perfect for both daily wear and special occasions – and that won't kill your savings because they are all priced under 10,...
When Karl-Friedrich Scheufele (the co-owner of Chopard) embarked on resurrecting Ferdinand Berthoud, one of the greatest horologists of all times, his ambition was obviously not to release a servile replica of past glories. Distilling and recombining this unique legacy into a personal perspective, the contemporary watches bearing this illustrious name are singular. While displaying an obvious resp...
It wouldn’t be fair of me to write this review without stating upfront that this brand is one of my all-time favourites for a host of reasons that run the gamut from history to craftsmanship and more. Still, I refused to let that cloud my judgment as I was wearing the Little Lange 1 Moon Phase watch, an elegant and slightly different conception of Haute-Horlogerie for Ladies.Background ...
The link between Oris and aviation needs no further introduction. The company's links with flying go back to the dawn of flight in the early 1910s when it produced its first aviation-inspired watch. Oris's first pilot's wristwatch followed soon after and is celebrated a century later with this year's 1917 Limited Edition. Today, the brand introduces a new limited edition, based on the signature Bi...
The other day I had the distinct pleasure of spending a few days with A. Lange & Sohne in Florence, Italy. The main purpose was the launch of the Lange 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar Handwerkskunst and four new blue dial version (Lange 1, Lange 1 Daymatic, Saxonia and Saxonia handwound), all of which we already showed you last weekend. The team at Lange organized several field trips' to v...
Although it was launched at Baselworld 2016, we took some time to finally get hands on with the Oris Artelier Calibre 112. One of the reasons was that we had to reflect on the watch, its mechanics and how to position it. Its rather clean, classic, certainly not too small and manly design, is something it shares with a well-known Swiss brand that used to pride itself on these characteristics. Add t...
The vast majority of people are comfortable with watches which simply display hours and minutes, but for globetrotters, frequent travellers and those doing business around the world, a dual-time (or so-called GMT in certain cases) watch is highly practical and purposeful for their daily travelling needs.?We have picked 6 GMT watches of 2017, with choices to suit every pocket and taste.Frederique C...
Tudor have done it again… When introduced at Baselworld 2017, their latest addition to the Heritage?Black Bay collection, a chronograph, immediately became a talking piece, bringing?contentious or heated discussions around the table and passionate arguments – and not only on collectors’ forums or on social media but also internally here, at the Monochrome redaction. Yet, even if ...
At the SIHH 2017, Ulysse Nardin introduced a watch that perfectly sums up what it stands for: a combination of marine roots with a cleverly designed movement, with simplicity in mind. This watch was the?Ulysse Nardin Marine Annual Calendar Chronometer. This year,?in celebration of 9 years of loyal support for the prestigious Monaco Yacht Show, the brand introduces a dedicated limited edition based...
This article first started its life as a classical review, as we like to do here, on Monochrome. However, as I was drawing it in my mind, I quickly understood that the?Laurent Ferrier Montre Ecole was a perfect piece to do something slightly different, to write an article with a different structure. In fact, we often have questions about how high-end watches can cost such incredibly high prices. W...
Some categories in the watch world are more competitive than others. The “Luxury Sports-Watch” sector certainly is amongst the toughest of all. Narrow, precisely defined, and requiring the highest standards of quality, luxury, and mechanics, it is driven by a few, very strong icons… Entering it is complex. Breaking back into its ranks is close to impossible, but this is what Vach...
Blue dials have been one of the major trends of the watch industry for the past 2 to 3 years. As we’ve often saad: “blue is the new black“. Yet, the exercise isn’t that simple. Blue is a complex colour and, while some watches with blue dials were noticeable, many others failed to nail the right dosage of enthusiasm.?A. Lange & Sohne, a brand known not to follow the tren...
A few days ago, we showed you a new watch introduced by A. Lange & Sohne, the?1815 Cuvette Limited Edition. Well, this was not the only novelty the Saxonia-based brand had to show us in this month of September 2017. Be prepared, because what Lange just launched is both impressive, complex, demonstrative, rare and superbly executed. Here is the?“Handwerkskunst” edition of the highly...