independent watchmaking Archives - Page 145 of 158

Schwarz Etienne, An Integrated Manufacture With Much More Than First Meets The Eye

Schwarz Etienne, a brand that flies under the radar for many but if you take the time to look a little closer, you will soon discover that it has a lot to offer. Its product offering is structured around three main collections (plus a few exclusive pieces). Recently we had the opportunity to visit to the manufacture, which was an eye-opening experience, to say the least. The brand has incredible potential and already boasts a surprisingly high level of vertical integration – in particular the in-house production of hairsprings with E2O innovations, their sister company located in the same facilities in La Chaux-de-fonds. That’s rare enough and it really needs an in-depth explanation.

REVIEW – URWERK UR-T8, The Transformer

UR for URWERK. T for Transformer. 8 for the motion of this reversible case. Add 20 for the 20th anniversary of the brand, and you’ll have the URWERK UR-T8, a watch that is just the concentrate of everything Martin Frei and Felix Baumgartner have created so far, everything they tried to express in their watches since 1997, everything they experienced in terms of style and way to indicate the time. The UR-T8 is all of that. It’s bold, it’s futuristic, it’s provocative, it’s highly unusual… It’s everything why we love URWERK, and more than that. See, we love it… but here is why.

Hands-On – The New Ressence Type 5G, The Full Titanium Diver

When it has been launched, back in December 2015, we’ve been fairly surprised with the Ressence Type 5… In a very good way, this has to be said. For sure, a dive watch from Ressence was really not expected, however, when knowing the evolution of the concept initialized with the Type 3, it felt like a natural evolution. Apart from the cool display, this watch, thanks to its oil-filled dial, allowed to be the only mechanical dive watch with zero reflections underwater (and if you’re doubtful, see our field test here). Just between the SIHH and the upcoming Baselworld, Ressence now comes with a full titanium version of this watch, the Type 5G, and it has some arguments to convince. And after you saw it yesterday on all our competitors’ websites with press photos, we, at Monochrome, go hands-on with it.

Baselworld 2017: Ressence Introduces the Type 5G “Grey” Diver

First introduced in titanium with a black dial, then in a functional black-on-black guise, the Ressence dive watch is now given a restrained palette with the Type 5G that matches the face and the watch case, in keeping with the minimalist approach of the Belgian watchmaker. The dials and bezel of the Type 5G are in […]

The First Tourbillon Wristwatch Ever Made by Roger W. Smith Comes to Market

Delivered in 2010 after six years of work, the Roger W. Smith Tourbillon Commission No. 1 is a bespoke timepiece. Equipped with both a one-minute flying tourbillon – an unusual feature for an English timepiece – and an oversized date display, the watch is a departure from the archetypal Roger Smith wristwatch. In fact, the Tourbillon Commission No. […]

VIDEO – In Conversation with Laurent Ferrier – The Story of a Man & His Passion(s)

Great achievements are often driven by a passion. When you talk with Laurent Ferrier, it’s immediately evident that he is a man of passions… Yes, passions with an ‘s’, because as you’ll see in this video although Laurent’s career as a watchmaker started with his passion for watches, the story of Laurent Ferrier as a watch brand has been shaped by his second passion, cars. Today, Monochrome is pleased to show you the human and personal story of a man, of his brand, of his love for watches, as well as the past, present and future of one of the nicest manufactures of traditional timepieces; Laurent Ferrier.

Hands-On – The MB&F Legacy Machine LM2, now in Titanium (and that’s not the only update…)

When launched in 2013, the second iteration of the Legacy Machine Series, the MB&F LM2, introduced complexity not in the display but in chronometry, something that was actually rather new for Max and his team / friends. Indeed, MB&F Watches are usually very complex, but more to indicate the time in a different way. This LM2 was the reference point for the upcoming watches of the LM Series. Previously released in red gold, white gold and platinum (the latter being a limited edition linked to the usual bright blue dial). Today, MB&F announced the latest version of their dual balance watch, the Legacy Machine LM2, now in Titanium, with vivid green dial… and a few other tweaks to make it even better.

Review – Urban Jürgensen 1140C, and the Detent Escapement Explained

Three times a seconds… At first glance the Urban Jürgensen & Sonner (UJ&S) 1140C is an alluring dress watch with the traditional attention to detail and lavish craftsmanship that goes into all the brand’s timepieces. Take a closer look though and you will notice the unusual, almost jerking motion of its seconds hand, which actually moves three times a second. Not just a pretty face, the reference 1140C is powered by sophisticated mechanics regulated by a detent escapement, a grail of chronometry adapted to fit in a wristwatch.

Introducing the MB&F LM2 Twin-Regulator Wristwatch in Titanium

Equipped with a distinctive pair of balance wheels visible on the dial, the MB&F LM2 was first introduced in 2013, conceived as a nod to past works by Ferdinand Berthoud and Philippe Dufour that also featured twin regulators. The latest iteration of the watch is the Legacy Machine 2 Titanium, a limited edition in a lightweight […]

Review – Garrick Portsmouth, The Pride of England… With Exclusive Beating Heart

There’s a great line attributed to the fictional character Gregory House from the popular show House that seems very applicable in our social media driven world of instant feedback; “if nobody hates you, you’re doing something wrong.” It seems appropriate now more than ever as we see an increasing number of independent watchmaking brands emerge from relative obscurity to take center stage in what can only be described as ‘interesting’ times for the luxury watch industry as a whole. One such notable player is a small, British-based watch-maker by the name of Garrick Watch Co.

Watch Dandy

Category: independent watchmaking