The horological landscape is a complex and interesting one, filled with not only mechanical marvels for your wrist but also myriad other interrelated products. The connection with some, such as watch winders, is obvious, whilst others are a little more abstract. Berd Vaye horological sculptures definitely fit into this latter category, displaying vintage watch parts from around the world in a whole new light.
Decidedly feminine and intriguingly alluring, the new Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Stars Manufacture watch (yes, it is a long name) will dazzle you in an instant. The magnificent midnight blue dial depicts a stunning rendition of the moon and stars that captures the eye at a glance. However, this watch is not just a pretty face, as it will also talk to those with love for the nice mechanics.
Recently, we had the opportunity to spend some quality hands-on time with the new Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance, and it now receives some superb guilloché dials. Creating an outstanding contrast between technology and modernity (the movement) and tradition (the dials), the creation of this new watch involved more than Armin Strom’s watchmakers… We had previously seen the watch at SalonQP in London, but it wasn’t quite ready for publication then, so we had to hold off until now to share all the tantalising details with you. We’re pretty sure you’ll agree though, that it was definitely worth the wait.
The Manero Collection has been a MONOCHROME favourite within the Carl F. Bucherer line-up for a long time. For simple reasons: these are the most elegant, refined watches and it comprises the most complex movements (including in-house ones). In addition to the Chronograph Perpetual, The Lucerne-based Manufacture has just added a QP-only watch to its …
Launched in the early 1990s, the Masterpiece family is Maurice Lacroix flagship collection. It offers small complications, yet with creative displays and with relatively accessible prices. At Baselworld 2017, the brand unveiled new versions of two models with retrograde indications, a speciality of the brand since 1999. Based on the same design introduced by the Masterpiece Double Retrogade we reviewed, here is the Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Moon Retrograde, with yet another interesting display.
If you’re a long-time reader of MONOCHROME, you should already be familiar with Brellum, a young Swiss-based brand responsible for the Duobox. This watch is everything of a no-nonsense chronograph: slightly vintage-inspired, robust, very well built and overall, cool to wear. We now have the first main evolution of this watch, the Duobox Pandial. The racing inspiration is now clear, with a two-tone dial and an external tachymeter bezel. Let’s have a closer look.
Glashütte Original is not necessarily known for its super-complicated watches, although there are certainly a few notable ones in the collection, such as the Senator Cosmopolite and the PanoLunar Tourbillon. What the German watch-manufacturer is known for, however, is making high-quality, elegantly designed timepieces that meld tradition with modern techniques. The latest example of this comes in the form of the newly announced, Senator Tourbillon – Edition Alfred Helwig. Read on for all the details.
Piaget and ultra-thin are two words that go together very well. For over 60 years now, the brand has developed a true expertise in ultra-thin watches and movements (don’t forget that Piaget started its life as a movement manufacturer and not as a jeweller). From the Calibre 9P to the recent 900P, the brand has gone from one world-record to another. Last year, a certain Italian-rooted brand unveiled what was the thinnest automatic movement in current production… Today Piaget comes with their answer. They took one the thinnest hand-wound watches in the world, the Altiplano 900P, and added a peripheral rotor making it an automatic. And not just an automatic but the world’s thinnest automatic wristwatch.
Vintage-inspired watches have been one of the hottest trends of 2017 and this looks set to continue in 2018. Automotive-focused watches from the golden era of the 1960’s and 1970’s, such as the Bell & Ross Vintage Bellytanker and the Heuer Autavia, have been particularly popular, no doubt helped along in no small part by the $17m sale of a Rolex Daytona owned by some guy. Not everyone can afford the premium price tags these types of watch command, however, so today we’re getting hands-on with a much more accessible alternative from Netherlands-based watch designer and producer, Aramar Watch Co. Called the Long Beach Racing Chronograph, it’s already exceeded its funding goal on Kickstarter, with just under a month still to go. Read on for all the details.
If you’ve been searching for the perfect gift for that hardcore watch nerd in your life, we may have the answer: a 3D-printed pendulum clock from Ingénieur du Temps. That’s right, a pendulum clock that uses centuries-old traditional techniques, but which is constructed entirely from 3D printed parts. Perfect for a man cave or your living room, the Ingénieur du Temps not only makes for a great talking point but also gives you the opportunity to examine the inner-workings of a mechanical clock up close. All the details after the jump.