When pulling negative G-forces, inverted and with weapons systems hot, the last thing a fighter pilot needs is an unfriendly watch. The Omega Spacemaster Z-33 is heir to the throne of the original Flightmaster and provides an ease of use that adapts to the most challenging circumstances.? Unlike the interlude with the accomplished X-33 (you really have to see this X-33 article), the Z-33 returns t...
Do you need a watch winder? No, actually you don’t, but it makes life easier when you own several mechanical watches with an automatically wound movement. And the Dottling Gyrowinder is by far the coolest looking single-watch winder I have ever seen.?The design reminds me of (my favorite) Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos, the Reedition 1930. Besides some visual characteristics, they have more in commo...
Baume & Mercier have recently launched an entirely new collection, named Clifton, and yesterday they introduced the top line model of the collection, the new Clifton 1830.?This is a lovely?dress watch, with classic?looks, ?in red gold and with a proprietary manual wind movement. The Clifton 1830 comes in a red gold case, measuring 42 mm in diameter. The beefy case has lovely classic lugs and s...
After introducing the renewed Excalibur collection earlier this year, Roger Dubuis?announces?two new models?for the Excalibur collection.?There will be?a diamond-set Excalibur 36 with?a new bracelet and a new chronograph, the Excalibur 42 Chronograph.Roger Dubuis makes it easy: the number in the watch’s name stands for the actual diameter,?so the Excalibur 42 Chronograph is a men’s siz...
In 2010 Cartier introduced the Calibre de Cartier featuring Cartier’s in-house movement?caliber 1904-PS, a solid base movement that found its way into the new Tank Anglaise as well. Last week Cartier introduced their new in-house chronograph movement, caliber 1904-CH, in a watch with the familiar Calibre de Cartier case and face.?This is of course very different from the classic elegant Cart...
This year a watch has won two prizes and as far as I could go back in historic results, this is a first. The MB&F Legacy Machine 1 has won both the Best Men’s Watch Prize and the Public Prize! Congratulations from the entire Monochrome team to all winners and double congrats to MB&F!The “Aiguille d’Or” or “Golden Hand” was won by TAG Heuer’s Mikrgi...
Patek Philippe has cooperated with Tiffany & Co on many ocassions throughout the past 160+ years, a cooperation that was celebrated in 2001 with the introduction of the ‘T 150’ Annual Calendar, that was limited to 450 pieces.Now they celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Patek Philippe boutique located in the Tiffany & Co flagship store in New York, by introducing a ladies wri...
Last month I had the pleasure of attending a Masterclass organized by Jaeger-LeCoultre. Several years ago I attended a similar Masterclass and now I was curious to see how much of my knowledge and “skills” remained.?The entire day was a lovely escape from any daily routine and very well organized, great place, great program, great food. And it gave much insight, again. Want to know how...
The Wright Brothers and Alberto Santos ushered in the golden age of aviation as well as the Pilot Watch (as we told you in the History of Pilot Watches Part 1), and Louis Bleriot assumed their mantle.? Once it was possible to fly, newborn pilots raised the goals, and people attempted to do the impossible, like flying across the English Channel.? These newly minted pilots, these fledgling birds, ha...
The Protestant Reformation, inaugurated by Martin Luther's posting of his 95 theses in opposition to the Roman Catholic Church, began a wave of reform that swept across Europe and into the New World of the Americas. In Switzerland, John Calvin became a leader of the movement, reforming not only Church doctrine, but also the city of Geneva. Who knew that his puritanical sway over the city would be ...
I’ve just returned from London where I visited SalonQP. For me it an absolute blast and I think it’s the best watch fair, that is?open for the public,?that I’ve visited so far. Being in London anyway I had to use the opportunity to check out the unique pieces that many brands made for Marcus Watches. Although I’ve seen quite a few magnificent and over-impressive timepieces,...
Today is the first day of SalonQP, a true horological fest, in the Saatchi Gallery in London. That makes a perfect good reason to publish Mario’s first (of a series) story about his visit to Top Marques Luxury Fair?in Shanghai where he met with eight watchmakers of the AHCI. We hope this inspires you to visit SalonQP today or tomorrow!?Academie Horlogere Des Createurs Independants – AH...
When Audemars Piguet showed me the new Royal Oak automatic (ref. 15202) during the SIHH in January of this year, it was love at first sight. It doesn’t happen often that in the first paragraph I write “I WANT ONE”, however I did and I meant it. The result has been on my wrist since February of this year when I bought the 15202’s predecessor, a Royal Oak ref. 5402.?The Royal...
Some weeks ago A. Lange & Sohne unveiled what in my eyes is the most beautiful timepiece in the current collection. It’s a special limited edition?of the Zeitwerk ‘Handwerkskunst’.In my opinion?the Lange Zeitwerk, that was released?late 2009,?is one of the most desirable timepieces available on the market today.? This new version with a hand frosted black-rhodium white gold d...
Monochrome is into pilot’s watches and this week we share enthusiastic stories of our contributors, about their favorite aviation timepieces. Like the Omega Flightmaster that we told you everything about last Tuesday and the very cool Bremont Squadron Watch USNTPS?that we told you about yesterday. Today our guest contributor Angus Davies share his thoughts on the brand new IWC Spitfire Chron...
No one would argue that the most popular timepiece that ever came out from the halls of Bienne, Switzerland, was the 1969 Speedmaster. But on that same year, another icon was born, one of which was living under the shadows of its brethren, a manual-wound chronograph with a GMT-function, the original aviator piece from Omega, the Flightmaster.The Flightmaster is perhaps one of the few rarely known ...
Generally, fluids and watches don't mix that well. Most watch manufacturers go to great lengths to keep out stuff like water, resulting in some pretty impressive diver watches over the years.The idea of using a liquid inside a watch isn't new. Diver watches often use silicon oil to cope with the pressures under extreme conditions. Besides that, we've seen the Concord C1 Quantum Gravity which uses ...
The last few weeks we’ve seen a lot of new releases! We’ve shown you Peter Speake-Marin’s new Piccadilly HMS and Resilience, the new Romain Jerome DeLorean DNA, a larger Girard-Perregaux 1966?and?a new collection for Hautlence called Avant-Garde, to name just a few.And there were the two new Panerai Radiomir Composite?models. Now Panerai again releases three new Radiomir Special ...
Today we’re going to look at the history of the pilot’s watch. It’s the first article in a series of five and we’re going to start with an unusual suspect… When it comes to the essential criteria for a pilot's watch, like functionality and readability, Cartier's Santos seems an odd fit except in one unassailable category: originality.?A Santos owner is a distinguished...
I guess most of you know about what brand I’m talking when I mention the drop-dead-gorgeous movements with their incredible three-dimensional architectural designs. Indeed, an absolutely beautiful German watch brand. And now they have some serious competition!After I had to chance to wear the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Duometrea Quantieme Lunaire 40.5, that was released late last year, it looks li...
Girard-Perregaux have just released an enlarged version of the uber-classic and always elegant 1966. Its case size grew from 38 mm to 41 mm in diameter and it also got a new engine, caliber GP4500, that delivers more power reserve.?Earlier this year Girard-Perregaux already launched the 1966 Chronograph with an increased case size (40 -> 42 mm). While Jaeger-LeCoultre is trimming down the case ...
From time to time, there are articles written about our favorite topic, articles that are truly great and a must read. Ben Clymer, executive editor from Hodinkee, just wrote such an article. An article that shares great knowledge, interesting facts and passion all in one story.?This story is about the only platinum Patek Philippe ref. 2499, a perpetual calendar chronograph, that is in private hand...
From November 8 – 10 the Saatchi Gallery will be the place to be for everyone interested in watches. That’s where the fourth edition of SalonQP, UK’s only fine watches exhibition, and hosted by QP magazine’s James Gurney, will be held.?After the many great stories from fellow watch enthusiast, who visited SalonQP in previous years, I’m very much looking forward to my ...
In the early days of aviation, the military aviator's watch was an instrument of performance and precision. The US military had strict requirements for their Type A watches, and in 1934, specified an aircraft navigational chronograph from which derives the conjunction avigation: aviation and navigation. First issued between the World Wars, the US Army Air Corps Avigation Type A-7 Hack Watch was a ...
Glashutte Original released the?Senator Moon Phase Skeletonized Edition, earlier this year. I would have expect a skeletonized version of an existing model, but no… Glashutte-Original?choose for?a skeletonized version of the 1845 Classic Up/Down with Moon Phase, originally introduced more than ten years ago. The skeletonizing and engraving is very much different from the Piece Unique that Ke...
Black watches are more then ever before a fashionable thing. Black luxury sports watches, like this unique set of dive watches from Richard Mille, are already well accepted. Lately we also see black dress watches like this Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon Bi-Axial or this unique Piaget Altiplano for Only Watch.?Xetum is now painting it black and they do it in style. The Tyndall is one of Xetum’s ...
Today Panerai introduced two new Radiomir Composit models, the 47 mm large Radiomir Composite 3-Days PAM00504 and the?Radiomir Composite Black Seal 3-Days Automatic that measures 45 mm in diameter.The two stunning new models are made of Panerai Composite , a material that?was introduced into the world of Haute Horlogerie in 2010. They share many design elements that are used in other recent models...
The sole purpose of Monochrome’s Weekly Watch Photo is to celebrate the beauty of a beautiful watch and/or movement that is photographed in an extraordinary beautiful way. And that’s exactly what this week’s photo does…Friend and colleague Peter Chong is one of the?most respected?watch photographers in the world and his passion for beautiful timepieces from A. Lange & S...
The title of the article could easily refer to a new material that James Bond is trying to locate before the world will be distroyed by an evil villian using that material. However that isn’t the case. The increased use of silicon in watches is?subject?of attention in this article. Omega’s latest release is the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Skyfall, that we already told you about in June...
Singapore has a host of attractions to lure business and leisure travelers. Boasting a population that is virtually 100% watch enthusiasts, the city-state can claim a boutique that takes luxury living to the next level!?Over the Chinese New Year's holiday I was in Singapore with my family. ANY trip to Singapore necessitates at least one jaunt to Orchard Road to look for my two vices, watches and f...