independent watchmaking Archives - Page 119 of 158

Video – Understanding the Concept behind the Innovative Armin Strom Resonance

Armin Strom was already known for their fascinating juxtaposition of modern skeletonization and traditional Haute-Horlogerie finishing. Something that here, at MONOCHROME, we’ve always seen as true “watchmaking lesson on the wrist”. Due to their openworked nature, you can see how the movement works. In 2016, Armin Strom introduced a watch that is nothing short of spectacular and that showcases one of the ultimate challenges in chronometry: resonance.

Introducing – Garrick S2 Central Seconds

Despite the looming threat of Brexit, weak retail sales growth, and an underlying sense of doom and gloom in the UK, specialist artisan brands are still finding ways to survive. And in some cases, even thrive. British watch manufacturer Garrick is one of them. Having established a niche following, the brand has a very clear […]

Hands-on – Hautlence HL Sphere 01 with Spectacular Spherical Hours Display (Video & Live Pics)

Hautlence goes back to its roots. The brand was already famous for its unusual displays of the time – think about the jumping hours of the HL Ti 2 or the chain of the Vortex. At Baselworld 2019, the brand comes with a world-first, a wristwatch displaying the time thanks to a playful and spectacular spherical jumping hour/retrograde minute display. Meet the Hautlence HL Sphere 01.

Hands-on – MB&F Legacy Machine Flying T – The First MB&F Dedicated to Women

At long last! We might not be a majority, but there are plenty of women out there who appreciate the micro-mechanical delights of a watch but are unwilling to settle for a men’s watch spruced up with stones. MB&F has broken its 14-year-long tradition of masterminding complex, visually arresting men’s watches and taken its first […]

Independent Watchmaking – In Conversation with Steffen Cornehl, Founder Of Cornehl Watches

Chances are, you’ve never heard the name Steffen Cornehl before. That’s because he is an independent watchmaker of the more obscure variety. He doesn’t come from one of the major brands, nor is he based in Switzerland. Instead, he works out of a small studio in Stuggart, Germany, where he restores antique clocks and vintage […]

Hands-on – Dijkman Watches Versum, another one-man Dutch brand

We’ve been exploring the Dutch fields of watchmaking recently, with for instance the Van der Gang 20019 chronograph, the 3D-Printed watches of Dutch watchmaker Michiel Holthinrichs or the first watch by De Rijke Watches & Co, the Amalfi Series I. Today we shed light on yet another Dutch creation, driven by one man’s passion for […]

Hands-on – Speake-Marin One&Two Academic Full Moon

The Speake-Marin One&Two collection was launched just two years ago. First, the brand’s signature case, the Picadilly, got a facelift – a tasteful redesign conducted with Eric Giroud. Secondly, the movements inside are worth a look. In addition to the Small Seconds model and its Openworked development, the brand added a GMT version at SIHH 2019. And there was a nice, astronomical watch next to it, the Speake-Marin One&Two Academic Full Moon.

Hands-on – Laurent Ferrier Bridge One – In the Mood for Retro

In a radical departure from the smooth, pebble-shaped cases we associate with Laurent Ferrier, the Bridge One embraces a new geometry marked by flowing rectangular lines with rounded edges and a strong Art Deco vibe. The movement, shaped to match the case, is also new and fitted with a traditional Swiss lever escapement as opposed to the natural escapement featured on most of LF watches. Unveiled during the SIHH 2019, we were able to spend some time with the novel Bridge One.

Hands-on – Greubel Forsey Balancier Contemporain – Still GF All the Way, Just More Reasonable

In the last years we have seen two very different faces of Greubel Forsey: on the one hand, we get extraordinarily complex watches with big cases and uneven shapes that look like a boxer after an unsuccessful fight night. Its famous GMT is a prime example of that. On the other hand, it also produces watches with round cases and simpler dials. Still the same insane obsession with the best finishes possible, but less information and a more traditional arrangement. It started with the Tourbillon 24 Secondes Vision, with live pictures here, that secured the manufacture the 2016 Aiguille d’Or, the highest prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genéve (GPHG). That same year we saw the Signature 1, with an even simpler structure. And that’s the case of the new Greubel Forsey Balancier Contemporain.

Introducing – Louis Moinet Mogador Tourbillon (Live Pics)

Watches produced by Louis Moinet are never shy and usually showcase a certain exuberance. However, the brand also has an impressive horological background (the first chronograph timepiece ever created, for instance) and today’s collections still feature complex movements. Not changing its usual codes, the brand today presents a new, highly ornamented piece with a tourbillon, the Louis Moinet Mogador.

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Category: independent watchmaking