Anonimo celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2017. To mark the occasion, the brand unveils new versions of the rugged Militare Chrono Vintage, a watch we already looked at (in a different style) here. The same functions, the same robust feel and its distinctive style – this tasteful facelift keeps the characteristic elements of the design enhanced with worthy upgrades and a cool hint of modernity.
For a few years now, Patek Philippe is applying a rather surprising strategy, by offering a new, younger approach. Sometimes vintage, sometimes modern, sometimes quite difficult to understand, sometimes controversial… Everything 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 vintage-inspired watch, drastically different from the traditional conservative Patek collections. And if you mix these two watches, you’ll obtain the 2017 Patek Philippe Chronograph Annual Calendar 5960/01g.
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 10,000 Euros!
Introduced in the early 1990s, the Masterpiece family is Maurice Lacroix’s top-of-the-range collection, and offers complications at an accessible price point. At Baselworld this year, the brand unveiled new versions of its Masterpiece Chronograph Skeleton – an intricately executed openwork chronograph based on the Valjoux 7750. The 2017 models are presented with a steel case with blue dial and a limited edition blue PVD steel case with matching dial.
Recently, we have reported how Formex had shifted their business model from wholesale distribution to direct-to-customer, adopting an online sales strategy. Today, we are going hands-on with one of their best-selling watches, the rugged, macho AS1100. Let’s take a closer look at the 999-piece limited edition of this chronograph with a bold, powerful and masculine look.
Tudor did 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 social media but also internally here, at the Monochrome redaction. Yet, even if we all are watch-lovers, we also have the duty of being objective in our reviews. This is why we’ve been waiting to bring you this test of the Tudor Heritage Black Bay Chrono, just to make sure that passion-driven feelings have cooled-down.
In recent years, Bell & Ross enlarged its collections, as no longer only focused on military-inspired pieces like in the past but around several themes, such as Air, Marine or Racing. The latter has been widely used in the past collections, with watches inspired by Formula 1 (B&R is a partner of Renault F1) or specifically designed sports-cars. Today, the Parisian brand creates another speed-inspired piece, with original retro feelings. Here are the Bell & Ross Vintage BR V1-92 and BR V2-94 Bellytanker.
A few days ago, we showed you a new watch introduced by A. Lange & Söhne, 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 respectable A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar. And those who are experienced with the brand know what is hidden behind this quite barbarian German word…
When the Piaget Polo S Chronograph (and time-and-date too) was unveiled last year in New York, the response was divisive to say the least. Many thought it paid too close a homage to certain other iconic steel sports watches, whilst others welcomed this bold move by Piaget to offer some more accessible models. Now, more than a year on, the dust has settled a bit and (presumably) emotions aren’t running quite so high, which makes it the perfect time for a hands-on review of the Piaget Polo S Chronograph in steel.
Until fairly recently Formex used to be a bricks and mortar watchmaker. This was before Raphael Granito took over the company a couple of years ago. In the midst of an increasing competition and changing times for the watch industry, Granito decided to shift the business model from wholesale distribution to direct-to customer.