As a cornerstone of TAG Heuer‘s identity since 1969, the square-shaped Monaco chronograph is fuelled by associations with the race track. Named after the most glamorous of F1 races, the Monaco soared to fame in 1971 after its cameo in Le Mans on Steve McQueen’s wrist. Following a hiatus in the mid-1970s, the Monaco was reintroduced in the late 1990s and continues to evolve. Accustomed ...
Subtlety, refinement and elegance in watchmaking is an art form in itself. It’s very easy to overdo it and end up with a watch that is just a bit, well, off. Then again, delivering a discerning little twist to an otherwise super-refined watch can work absolutely wonderfully. Incorporating a certain dial colour, pattern, or even material can truly elevate a watch. And it doesn’t even ha...
Going underwater exposes our bodies to an environment that is not designed for humans. Humans cannot breathe underwater like fish, cannot swim like fish and cannot seek their food like fish. We are “invading” a hostile world. In short, we are somewhere where we are not supposed to be. The dangers are countless: animals, risk of drowning, disorientation, to name but a few. The technolog...
It’s not often we travel to China for stories on high-end mechanical watchmaking, even in the virtual sense. But, as the perception of watchmaking is shifting from Swiss dominion towards a more global industry, the Middle Kingdom has proven to be a unique source of rather interesting watches. Take Celadon HH, Qin Gan or Atelier Wen, for instance, who are determined to bring prestige to the &...
While the name Santos often comes to mind when speaking about Cartier watches, it would be more precise in this instance to talk about the brand’s first wristwatch – and most probably one of the earliest purpose-built wristwatches. In fact, when talking about watches in general, the first (pocket)watches by Cartier appeared as early as 1853, only six years after the creation of the ate...
In 2020, after 15 years of production and many variations, the Lange 1 Time Zone received a highly anticipated update. It was introduced in three different versions: cases crafted from yellow gold (limited to 100), pink gold, and white gold, with champagne, argente and black dials, respectively. This new model came with a fresh calibre and featured a more organised and streamlined indication layou...
Certina's solid and accessibly priced DS-1 three-hander is the descendant of the brand's DS (double security) concept of 1959. Like the hard protective shell of a turtle, DS was designed to make watches more resilient, reliable and water-resistant to external aggressions thanks to the incorporation of O-ring seals. While this might not be headline news in the watch world today, it was a big deal 6...
The roots of Patria go as far back as 1892 as the name was registered by Louis Brandt et Fils. Therefore, the same founding family as Omega The brand was resurrected in 2019 by a British watch designer, Jolyon Lambert, and his co-founder, Adam Stansfield, as they found inspiration in a century-old trench watch. For its second model, the duo once again pays tribute to the brand's military heritage ...
In tactical combat missions or survival situations, soldiers depend on various instruments to complete their tasks and stay alive. For some missions, timing is essential, and as such, the watchmaking industry has always been a significant supplier to military forces, whether it is the Air Force or the Navy. Nowadays, most rely on digital instruments, but that hasn’t diminished the appeal of ...
Cars and watches… It’s a topic that we’ve touched on multiple occasions, being one of the most natural matches possible. And for this reason, watchmakers have long partnered with Formula 1 teams and drivers. The mechanical connection, the search for performance and precision, the innovative spirit… It’s all there. However, for some, it goes beyond that. Specifically f...
This year, Blancpain has already unveiled several new versions of its emblematic dive watch, the Fifty Fathoms. We first saw a limited-edition 42mm Fifty Fathoms (Act 1), followed by the impressive Fifty Fathoms Tech Gombessa developed for closed-circuit rebreather diving (Act 2) Not to mention the much-discussed Blancpain x Swatch collaboration. It is now time to unveil the third act of this anni...
The connection between TAG Heuer and motorsport does not need to be demonstrated anymore: it’s set in stone. Especially when talking about the Carrera, a watch that was designed for this sole purpose and named after one of the most famous open-road races of all times – and coincidentally, sharing its name with one of the most emblematic cars ever made, resulting in a highly befitting p...
One of the most accomplished motorsport athletes, Lewis Hamilton is equally famous for his racing pedigree (seven-time F1 world champion, on the same level as Schumacher), his striking personality and his distinctive personal style and polarizing outfits. This sense of fashion and style has long been reflected in his horological choices, not only by wearing some of the boldest creations of IWC (hi...
The name of Philippe Narbel might not be on everyone’s radar, but that’s about to change. If you happen to already be familiar with his work, however, I’m positive his latest creation will get you quite excited! Making his debut with the Roots watch last year, Narbel and his team are working under the Narbel & Co name, this is only the second model to be introduced, but what ...
CODE41 is a relatively new independent Swiss watchmaker that believes in sharing the creative process with watch enthusiasts, even calling its watches community projects. Founded in 2016 by watch designer Claudio D'Amore (from TAG Heuer and Montblanc), CODE41's portfolio is certainly unique with pieces like the T360 Tourbillon and Mecascape Sublimation One, which is both a pocket watch and desk cl...
Coinciding with the advent of recreational diving, in 1965, Oris launched its first diver's watch with a unidirectional rotating bezel, luminescent numerals, a Plexiglas crystal and a water-resistance rating of 100m. Fifty years later, the diver was relaunched in a faithful re-edition with modern mechanics and went on to become the highly successful and affordable retro-flavoured Divers Sixty-Five...
The Cartier Tank is undoubtedly among the most significant watches ever created by the French house. But there’s not just one Tank: there are multiple Tanks. When we talk about the inaugural watch of 1917, we refer to it as the Tank Normale (elegantly re-edited this year). But, year after year, the model expanded to become an entire collection of rectangular-shaped watches, but all different...
If you’ve been keeping an eye on MONOCHROME Watches, and I sort of expect you have, you might have seen this handsome little devil pop up before. It’s the latest model coming from Lebois & Co., a revived historic name closely linked to Airain thanks to its Dutch owner Tom van Wijlick. Reviving a name from the past is never easy, but Tom has been steadily building an interesting ran...
Although we all love the classical combinations like stainless steel and blue?or a silvery-white dial against a brown leather strap, it’s the striking contrast of black and gold that seems on the rise. Trends ebb and flow, and some might be a bit more persistent than others but the fact is, we’ve taken notice of the recent rise of watches in this distinct two-tone outfit. And although ...
IWC Schaffhausen has been partners with Mercedes and its AMG sub-brand for quite some time now, both through the road cars and its Formula 1 team, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1. The two brands seem to complement each other in multiple ways, often taking style and innovation in new directions. IWC’s flagship model, the iconic Big Pilot is today’s topic of choice for a new set of watches insp...
The TAG Heuer Monaco invites you to step into a world where time is not just measured but celebrated. A place where history meets modernity, and every detail tells a story of precision and passion. Add a decades-long connection to motorsport and pop culture, and you have a highly desirable iconic watch?instantly recognized thanks to its striking square case. Let’s dive into a hands-on experi...
The diving heritage of Tudor can be basically split into two chapters. On one end you have the very retro-inspired Black Bay line-up, and on the other end the more professional Pelagos collection. Either of the two are fan-favourites and perform very well in most circumstances in life. But, in a surprising twist, two years ago Tudor released a very special take on the Pelagos with the Pelagos FXD....
Vacheron Constantin has long demonstrated a commitment to perpetuate and encourage the traditional and often rare metiers d’art skills. The brand’s Metiers d’Art watches find their inspiration in art, history, and culture. On the occasion of Watches and Wonders Shanghai 2023, a new chapter in this collection is unveiled with a quartet of limited edition watches in tribute to expl...
During its initial release of the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar in 2021, A. Lange & Sohne presented two versions: a pink-gold model with a dark grey dial and a quickly sold-out limited edition of 150 pieces in white gold with a solid pink-gold (often referred to as salmon) dial. This year, the renowned Saxon watchmaker is unveiling a Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar model featuring a black dial, and ho...
Presented in 2018, the Altiplano Ultimate Concept?earned the record for the thinnest watch in the world with its incredibly thin 2mm profile, making it Piaget’s (a brand known for its mastery of ultra-thin) slenderest mechanical watch ever. Since then, Bulgari and Richard Mille have even made thinner watches, but Piaget’s AUC remains a spectacular technical achievement. On the occasion...
Timekeeping in sporting events is of the utmost importance to not only determine a victor but also to start a race simultaneously for everyone involved. On land, it’s not that difficult to do, even though there can be quite a bit of tech involved. On the water, however, lining up for the start of a race becomes a whole different game. You have very little control, if any at all, over open wa...
As the oldest manufacture in continuous production, Vacheron Constantin has an unrivalled heritage and a devotion to Haute Horlogerie traditions passed down from the 18th century. The Traditionnelle family is, as its name indicates, the brand’s repository of timeless, traditional models. Luckily, Vacheron is also sensitive to trends and fuses conventional features with modern touches to prod...
In the extensive range of anniversary timepieces unveiled by Audemars Piguet to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the iconic Royal Oak in 2022, one watch stole some of the spotlight: the Jumbo Extra-Thin Openworked 16204ST. Its contemporary and geometric design, complemented by dynamic, powerful, flowing lines, skillfully captures the essence of a classic skeletonised movement. Upon its initial ...
Juggling between acting, directing, car racing, his family and philanthropy,? Patrick Dempsey also manages to squeeze in time for his role as TAG Heuer brand ambassador, a position he has held since 2014. Just a couple of days before the unveiling of the new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche, we sat down with Patrick Dempsey and chatted about this new watch in tribute to the iconic 911. A p...
The Overseas is Vacheron Constantin's luxury sports watch proposal, a well-furnished collection that was redesigned in 2016 and now boasts a wide selection of models for men and women. Complemented by automatic, anti-magnetic movements and finished to Vacheron's exceptional standards, the versatility of the family is underscored by its winning DIY system to change the mood of the watch with any of...