Category: Novelty

Introducing – A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Lumen Up/Down (Live Pics)

The A. Lange & Söhne Datograph needs little introduction. Presented in 1999 and updated in 2012, it is one of the most iconic chronographs on the market. The Dato features a flyback chronograph with a precisely jumping minutes counter, two sub-dials recognizable because of their unusual positioning, a quick-set oversized date and a power reserve indicator. Overall, the architecture and the finishing of its movement are a feast for the eyes. Any new model in the series always brings curiosity and excitement among A. Lange & Söhne fans (including team MONOCHROME…) So, when we learnt that the Datograph Up/Down was getting the “Lumen” treatment, it naturally caught our attention.

7 years ago

Introducing – Chopard L.U.C Perpetual T Spirit of “La Santa Muerte” – Looking Death in the Face

Sold in just six minutes, Chopard’s L.U.C T Spirit of “La Santa Muerte” is an opulent tribute to the festive spirit of Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations. Unveiled during the 12th edition of the Salon Internacional de Alta Relojería (SIAR) – the most prestigious watch show in Latin America showcasing 40 plus brands – Chopard’s unique timepiece was snatched up by a collector in minutes. Crafted in 18k rose gold, with hand-engraved motifs on just about every surface of the case, the grinning skull on the dial steals the show and has been ingeniously designed to host the perpetual calendar complications and reveal details of the tourbillon.

7 years ago

Introducing – Seiko Presage Cocktail ”Fuyugeshiki” Limited Editions

In 2017, Seiko created a new series of watches in the Presage collection, inspired by the world of the cocktail bar. While usually quite conservative, here Seiko played on textures and colours to bring fresh and original watches, still with mechanical movements but with affordable prices. Elegant, refined and quite unique, the collection was enlarged […]

7 years ago

Pre-SIHH 2019 – Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon Sky Chart

The new Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon Sky Chart is the second unique piece unveiled by the Geneva-based brand in the frame of its Pre-SIHH 2019 presentations. Just like the Grande Complication Phoenix we unveiled a few hours ago, the Minute Repeater Tourbillon Sky chart is exceptional in every respect, combining three major complications (tourbillon, minute repeater and sky chart) housed in a white gold case set with 112 baguette-cut diamonds.

7 years ago

Pre-SIHH 2019 – Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Grande Complication Phoenix

With SIHH 2019 fast approaching, brands are pre-releasing selected models to whet our appetites. Among them is Vacheron Constantin, which has released the first images of two unique pieces, Les Cabinotiers Grande Complication Phoenix and Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon Sky chart we will introduce in a separate article. But for now, let’s look at the first model, a complex watch with no fewer than 15 complications.

7 years ago

Hands-on – The new TAG Heuer Carrera Senna Editions (Heuer 02 and Heuer 02T)

Brand ambassadors aren’t new. 30 years ago, TAG Heuer already had several of them, as part of the brand’s marketing strategy. One was, however, more important than others: a true idol named Ayrton Senna. He is the one that made TAG Heuer cool again, back in the 1980s and 1990s, by wearing an admittedly not-so-discreet, Steel-and-Gold, Analogue-Digital TAG Heuer S/el. But at that time, it was the watch to have for F1 fans. Times have changed, Senna is long gone and designs of watches too (for better more than for worse) but TAG still relies on Ayrton’s aura to create F1-oriented timepieces – and the recently introduced Carrera Senna Editions with Heuer 02 and Heuer 02T Tourbillon movements still retain the cool-factor of “Magic Senna”.

7 years ago

Introducing – Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue Edition

Customized, special editions sold only through a single (branch of) boutiques is a common thing, but few do it as regularly as Bucherer. The Swiss watch retail-house has introduced several striking collaborations – no less than 25 in total with 14 different brands. To name just a few, the Tudor Black Bay Bronze, the IWC  Portugieser Chronograph Classic or the H. Moser & Cie Venturer Small Second for instance. All received the “Bucherer Blue” make-over and next in line is the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue Edition.

7 years ago

Value Proposition – Atelier Wen, Inspired by China, With Porcelain Dials

No doubt anymore, the face of the watchmaking industry has changed with the arrival of dozens of Kickstarter projects… Some more inspired than others, some worthy of being covered on MONOCHROME, many failing to catch our interest. With such a large amount of new “brands”, differentiation is key. Atelier Wen, the project of two young Frenchmen, is all about that. Slightly vintage-inspired watches but with a rather unique focus on China – both for the design, the manufacturing and the targeted audience. Overview of their inaugural collection, the Porcelain Odyssey.

7 years ago

Value Proposition – The Méraud Bonaire, a Cool, Retro-Inspired Dive Watch from Belgium

Belgium might not be the first country you think of when it comes to watches. Of course, there’s Ressence and its impressively modern watches, but that’s about it. And now there’s a newcomer on the market called Méraud, which has just launched its first watch a few hours ago on Kickstarter. Get used to this new launch pad format because it is the way to go nowadays when you want to start a brand. The first model is named “Bonaire” and it is quite a cool-looking, retro-inspired dive watch with multiple details to catch our attention. Overview.

7 years ago