Category: Novelty

Value Proposition – The anOrdain Model 1 – With Enamel Dial Hand-Made in Glasgow, Scotland

There are a lot of new watch brands coming to market these days. And I mean A LOT. Some go down the popular Kickstarter route, whilst others – like the brand we’re looking at today – prefer to do things the old-fashioned way. The one thing they all share in common is a desire to differentiate themselves from each other and from other established players. It’s a tall order in what is a very crowded market, and many never quite get there. Newcomer, AnOrdain, from Glasgow, has adopted a decidedly simple approach to standing out from the crowd and so far, it seems to be working. Today, we’re getting hands-on with their first watch, the Model 1, which features a stunning enamel dial made in-house.

7 years ago

Hands-on – Alpina Startimer Pilot Heritage GMT

The retro-hype is alive and to be honest, if it is done right, it can result in some very nice watches. Often considered as the golden age of watch design, the 1970s is used as inspiration by many brands to relaunch former collections or to introduce new ones harking back to historical models. Under the Startimer collection, Alpina’s pilot-style range of watches, the brand launched the Alpina Startimer Pilot Heritage, in 4 different colourways. And indeed, the 1970s-inspiration is fully there.

7 years ago

Introducing – HYT H20 Brown Limited Edition

With HYT, an independent watchmaker headquartered in Neuchatel, time is fluid. Since 2012, it has measured time in the most unconventional way. Its flow is displayed by the continuous movement of a coloured and a transparent liquid in a capillary. Several models have been presented since the inception of the brand and here’s the latest creation: the HYT H2O Brown.

7 years ago

Hands-on – Frederique Constant Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Manufacture – the Sub-20K Case Study

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Frederique Constant wowed the crowds in Paris with its double complication at an unbelievable price. Once again, Frederique Constant sticks to its slogan of ‘accessible luxury’ and proves that acquiring a quality, manufacture watch with complications does not mean having to mortgage your house. Frederique’s Constant QP Tourbillon Manufacture snubs the tradition of hyper-expensive complications and offers its very own, in-house take on this classic complication for an exorbitantly contained price. As the culmination and showcase of all the technology FC has amassed over the years, the Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon is equipped with the new automatic FC-975 in-house movement. Presented in three different metals and with an openworked or closed dial, the one everybody will be zoning in on is the stainless steel contender with an unbeatable price tag of EUR 19,495.

7 years ago

Value Proposition – Trifoglio Italia to launch its new Veloce model on Kickstarter

Things have really changed in the watch industry. When I was a boy, if you wanted a watch you went to a jewellery store and picked one out of the cabinet. If you were really particular, the dealer would let you look at his catalogue and you could order one and wait (and wait (and wait)). Now if you want a watch you can go to an online retailer and have it shipped to you the next day. What if you don’t want a watch that already exists? What if you want a watch that is either technically or stylistically cutting-edge? Thanks to Kickstarter, you not only get to see the newest and greatest watches, but you also get to take a hand in their very existence! Trifoglio Italia, the brainchild of Alessandro Baldieri and Jessie Yeo are launching their first series of watches on Kickstarter: The Veloce (speed in English).

7 years ago

Value Proposition – Martenero Edgemere Reserve – An Affordable Mechanical Watch with a Nautical Theme

Founded in 2014 in New York, Martenero already has six lines of watches in its portfolio. Their latest line, the Edgemere Reserve, is the most detailed piece yet with three complications. Inspired by the marine chronometer (a timepiece accurate enough to allow ships to use celestial navigation), the new line has bold, contrasting colours and a bit of playfulness that remind me of watches from Farer Universal. Like that company, Martenero has found a unique aesthetic without going overboard, being both fun and sophisticated. The Edgemere Reserve follows the original Edgemere with a more mature sequel and is the first follow-up to a piece for the company.

7 years ago

Hands-on – Blancpain Villeret Quantieme Perpetuel 6656 – A Classic among Classics, Modernised

A classic among classics, the Le Brassus-based manufacture revisits its perpetual calendar complication with moon phases in 2018, in a larger 40mm case size and a choice of two metals: 18k red gold and stainless steel. With subtle design tweaks on the dial and a secured movement, the new Villeret Quantième Perpétuel 6656 models are presented in a more contemporary case size and in a more ‘democratic’ choice of steel… Is Blancpain on the hunt for younger customers?

7 years ago

Hands-on – Louis Moinet 20-second Tempograph Chrome

The 20-second Tempograph has been part of the Louis Moinet collection since 2014. With its movement displayed in full glory, it stages an original complication: a retrograde 20-second indication producing a playful and rather hypnotic spectacle, giving material form to passing time. The visible retrograde mechanism is triggered by a ratchet gear sliding on a […]

7 years ago

Introducing – De Bethune Maestri’Art Collection

Denis Flageollet, the watchmaker and creator behind De Bethune, is known as one of the most brilliant watchmakers of his generation, in particular for his technical developments. The new De Bethune Maestri’Art collection reveals another facet of his talent and his passion for Asian art. The collection aims at celebrating métiers d’art and the artisans crafting these works of art – De Bethune worked with master engraver Michèle Rothen for these two unique pieces.

7 years ago

Value Proposition – Formex Essence Automatic Chronometer – Truly Affordable, COSC-Certified, Now on Kickstarter

Regular readers of MONOCHROME will already be familiar with the name Formex. We’ve previously written about the brand here, here and here. Known for its rugged action watches, the company has continued to refine its offering since Raphael Granito took the reins a few years back. Its latest offering, the surprisingly refined Essence Automatic Chronometer, continues this evolution. And offers great value for money too! We recently spent some hands-on time with this entry-level model that delivers a COSC-certified chronometer for under USD 700, now launching on Kickstarter.

7 years ago