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Hands-on – Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Skelet-One Ceramic Blue

Inspired by a pocket watch created by Pierre Jaquet-Droz in the 18^thcentury, the Grande Seconde embodies the essential Jaquet Droz style. Its artful simplicity feels timeless yet modern. Yet, with the Grande Seconde Skelet-One introduced in 2018, Jaquet Droz ventured into a more technical and dynamic territory. Doing away with its dial, it offers a new design language for the brand. As a preview of its 2019 collection, the brand now releases a new, more modern version of the model clad in black and blue. Here’s an early hands-on look.

Hands-on – A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon with Pink Gold (Salmon) Dial

Montblanc, Audemars, Patek and more… Salmon/pink dials are THE trend for the 2018/2019 collection. Even though not entirely novel, we’ve never encountered so many watches with pink-coloured dials as we have this year. Don’t get us wrong, we actually love salmon dials here, at MONOCHROME (see Frank’s love letter here). There are, however, different ways to execute a salmon dial and when it decided to do its first real pink-coloured timepiece, A. Lange & Söhne took the high-end road… really high-end, with the new Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon and its solid pink gold dial.

Hands-on – De Bethune DB25 Starry Varius Chronomètre Tourbillon

Bringing together technical, aesthetic and conceptual creativity, De Bethune watches are definitely in a class of their own. Among the brand’s latest creations, the DB25 Starry Varius Chronomètre Tourbillon was awarded the 2018 chronometry prize at the prestigious GPHG last November… We already enjoyed the non-tourbillon version, but it had been a while since we had been hoping to go hands with this complex version of the star-studded timepiece.

Introducing – Ulysse Nardin Freak X Silicium Marquetry

In 2001, Ulysse Nardin introduced a watch – the Freak – that was a complete shock for the industry, not only in terms of design and display but mainly because it was the first timepiece commercialised with silicium parts – a controversial material back then, which has now found its place in dozens of watches. Today, as a sort of tribute to that pioneering use of silicium in a watch, Ulysse Nardin equips its recent Freak X (see more here) with a dial that is actually made of this material, displayed as marquetry.

Hands-on – Speake-Marin One&Two Openworked Dual Time – Classical Meet Technical

Following in the footsteps of the successful time-only One&Two Openworked model launched in 2017, Speake-Marin unveiled its latest One&Two Openworked model with a dual time function and a retrograde date display at the SIHH 2019. The new Dual Time model builds on the brand’s base SMA01 calibre with two new complications and steers the design codes into a more contemporary direction with an intrepid combination of classic details and defiantly technical elements.

Hands-on – Speake-Marin One&Two Openworked Dual Time – Classical Meets Technical

Hands-on – Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Square Wheel Retrograde

If you prefer the anatomy of a watch to be front and centre, a skeletonized movement and dial is the way to go. There’s a middle ground, however, for those who want a bit of mechanical action without the mechanics on full display. In this perspective, Maurice Lacroix recently added another Masterpiece to its collection with a unique take on this mechanical middle ground. Based on the cool unique Square Wheel display invented by ML a few years ago, the brand adds now a signature retrograde date and, best of all, a more accessible price.

Review – Leica Watch L1 and L2 – When a Camera Manufacturer Ventures into the Watch Game

Few camera companies have the prestige and brand recognition of Leica, the legendary German manufacturer that invented discreet, mobile street photography with the 35mm Leica 1. Introduced in 1925 at the Leipzig Spring Fair in Germany, the Leica 1 brought the 35mm “movie” format to mainstream still photography with a small, reliable mechanical shooter and premium lenses. Following a large series of models with interchangeable screw-mount lenses, a new bayonet-mount M-series launched in 1954 with the Leica M3 – arguably the most revered 35mm camera ever produced for the masses. Built with a masterful level of mechanical precision, even the oldest of Leica cameras can reliably shoot photos today. Sound familiar? Timepieces from a century ago can still be reliable wrist companions with a comparable level of mechanical refinement. It only makes sense that Leica would eventually venture into the watch game and they’ve crafted two hand-wound timepieces (L1 and L2) that share DNA with their camera cousins.

Hands-on – Schwarz Etienne Fiji Floral Seconds – Designed By a Woman for Women

Tapping into four prevailing trends on the watch scene – women’s growing interest in mechanical watches, dynamic dials, interchangeable watch straps and personalisation options– Schwarz Etienne unveiled its first ladies’ watch, the Fiji Floral Seconds, during the Geneva Watch Week this month. Designed by a woman for women, and not a downsized existing men’s model […]

Hands-on – IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition “Rodeo Drive”

2019 has been earmarked as the year of Pilot’s Watches at IWC. This has not translated into a complete overhaul of the collection (something that we applaud, as we think it is important to keep the classical models intact) but with the introduction of new models in sub-collections – mainly TOP GUN and Spitfire. Apart from all the […]

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