There is something about the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde. The graphic simplicity of its design and artfully crafted movements are indeed different and appealing. Its refined style, at once timeless and modern, is now endowed with a new indication for travelers. Here are our thoughts about the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Dual Time.
Since over a decade now (designed by Bulgari’s Roman design department in 2004), the Octo has become the iconic watch collection of the brand, known for its delicate and precious jewellery creations but also now for some distinctive watchmaking products (see the Finissimo collection and you’ll understand…) Yet, as desirable this watch is, it is a razor-sharp design, with no fewer than 110 facets and a shape that can’t go unnoticed. This year, the brand gives an answer to those for whom the Octo is simply too bold, with a more delicate and softer creation, still impregnated with the Octagonal DNA, the Bulgari Octo Roma.
Born from the singular vision of Henri d’Origny, who invented it in 1991 by sketching a square inside a rectangle, the Hermès Cape Cod has become a signature watch for the brand. Yet, at that time, La Montre d’hermes was not what it is now. While today the brand can argue of in-house movements and a …
In 2016, Seiko positively surprised collectors with the international launch of the Presage collection, a lineup of only mechanical and classical watches, clearly intended to please watch enthusiasts usually more inclined to buy Swiss high-end pieces. In just a few months, Seiko Presage has taken center stage, being very well received. Also, at Baselworld 2016, Seiko presented the widely acclaimed and superb 60th anniversary chronograph with an enamel dial. Today, Seiko announces the launch of a new range, the Seiko Presage Enamel Collection, using the same high-end dials.
François-Paul Journe has always been a bit apart in the watchmaking industry. Yet, most of his watches are easily recognizable and are imbued with a clear, distinctive DNA. However, a specific series of watches does not respect the rule; the Vagabondage watches. Entirely different case, entirely different displays, entirely different philosophy… 2017 marks the arrival of a third tortue-cased watch, the F.P. Journe Vagabondage III (which we already showed to you in video here). A splendid watch and the first-ever mechanical watch with digital jumping-seconds. And today, we take a closer look at it.
This year was the year of the exceptional for Vacheron Constantin, a year of ultra-complex, ultra-rare and ultra-precious watches. The two main novelties were indeed the Celestia and the Symphonia. One is an astronomical watch with 23 complications, tourbillon and massive power reserve (6 barrels…!) The other one is no less than a Grande Sonnerie. Good for angels… However the brand also had some novelties for us, mere mortals. And one of them is this highly elegant and rather original Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Moon Phase And Retrograde Date.
We told you several times, the Word-Time complication is certainly the best answer to the issues of current business habits. Many of us are frequent travelers or work in an international environment, switching timezones (virtually or literally) more often than we change shirt. The need for a watch that displays multiple time-zones has never been so high. However, as we’ve seen, World-Time watches can go from quite accessible to insanely expensive. For that, Frederique Constant has a nice offer, affordable for sure, but also full of technical content (in-house movement and module, interesting way to adjust…); the Classic Worldtimer Manufacture. For Baselworld 2017, this watch will be introduced in a pink gold plated / brown dial combination.
The name Czapek came back on the front of the scene in 2015, with the launch of the Quai des Bergues (Read our story about the re-birth of Patek ex-partner here). The watch has been very well received and was even awarded with the Public Prize at Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2016. This stylish 42.5mm timepiece has been offered in different versions and Czapek now unveils a limited edition of 10 pieces in the noblest of metals, platinum and with an engraved case, as well as smaller 38.5mm edition.
If you read Monochrome on a regular basis, you should know that the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda 1950 is a favorite of ours. Reasons are simple: it is a superb watch, with a great design, both elegant and slightly original (it sets apart from the masses of dress watches, without being too original) and it features a great, technical and hand-finished movement. For this 2017 edition of the SIHH, the brand comes with a great gift: the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda 1950, now in steel (good for the wallet), still with the same micro-rotor movement and its beautiful decoration (good for amateurs) and with a few updates. Overview.
Last year, at the SIHH 2016, Cartier came with a new men’s creation, the Drive, which has been praised here, on Monochrome-Watches (see introducing article and review) for its great elegance and the way it mastered shapes. This is what Cartier is all about for us here, a master of shapes and elegance, a brand that can achieve to create a unconventional watch that still looks brilliantly classy and understated. Still, to us, the Drive de Cartier had one issue regarding its dimensions – a bit too thick and a bit too large. This year, for the SIHH 2017, the Drive de Cartier has been revamped and now comes in its best option so far, the Extra Flat Calibre 430MC.