Pre-BaselWorld 2017 – Bell & Ross BR03-92 Horograph and BR03-92 Horolum

Now that the SIHH 2017 is off, it’s time for the Baselworld-exposing brands to start to unveil (a part of) their new collections. One of the first watchmakers to pull the trigger is Bell & Ross, which is making a comeback to minimalistic aviation-oriented pieces, after a few iterations based on racing-cars or complications. Iconic square case, graphic lines, matte finishing, utilitarian look, monochromatic tones and Bauhaus inspiration… Here are the Bell & Ross BR03-92 Horograph and BR03-92 Horolum (the latter being a 500-piece limited edition).

9 years ago

Louis Moinet Mobilis – An Hypnotic Double Tourbillon & Kaleidoscope Watch

Mobilis in Mobile – please welcome the Louis Moinet Mobilis – The ‘indie’ watchmaking brand honoring the memory of the great Louis Moinet unveils a sculptural, hyper-active and hypnotic watch. On the dial of this Louis Moinet Mobilis, no less than a double tourbillon powering a mesmerizing kaleidoscope automaton. Let’s take a closer look.

9 years ago

SIHH 2017 – Baume & Mercier Debuts In Sports Watches With The Satisfying Clifton Club

The SIHH 2017 has seen the debuts of an entirely new collection for Baume & Mercier, the Clifton Club, exploring new territories for the brand: sports watches. Indeed, this universe is at first rather far away from what the brand used to do for the last decade. Still, this Clifton Club is an interesting novelty. No marketing artifices about heritage, vintage-inspiration or an obscure past collection. This watch is just what it looks like; a nicely executed, well-designed, well-positioned (price and style) watch that makes us think it might be a relevant reaction to the actual market. Overview.

9 years ago

Panerai PAM00684 – The Small & Gold Luminor Submersible that Rocks

Panerai watches are great. They look super-cool, they have that unique aura of a robust and vintage dive watch mixed with that Italian je-ne-sais-quoi. They are icons of watchmaking. Still, there might be one issue with these watches. Most are sized for lumberjacks’ wrists. If the 45mm or 47mm diameters participate to the look (and they are actually easier to wear than what you can expect), a smaller size could be welcome. That’s what happened with the Panerai Luminor Due, the smaller, slimmer and dressier versions of the icon. But what if you want the sporty look? Well, for the SIHH 2017, the answer came in the name of the Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Oro Rosso 42mm PAM00684, the small & gold Luminor Submersible that rocks.

9 years ago

The Ressence Type 1 Squared – A Subtle and Dressier Take on the “Beyond Hands” Concept (Review)

When just before the SIHH 2017, we, at the Monochrome redaction, received the news about a new Ressence Type 1, I have to admit that I was personally quite curious. From what I could see on the photos, this new “Squared” was clean, more horological, slimmer and with a shape that I love, an elegant cushion. Still, nothing worth a try on the wrist (you can’t imagine how many deceptions I had after strapping on the wrist a watch that I loved on photos). And, oh boys and girls, what a pleasant surprise I had with the Ressence Type 1 Squared…

9 years ago

SIHH 2017 – The Piaget Polo S Black ADLC / Rubber (The new Limited Editions That Make A World Of Difference)

Launched with great fanfare in the middle of last year – see our introducing article – the Piaget Polo S was both a breath of fresh air for Piaget and, at the same time (and unfortunately) the most controversial watch of the year 2016. This is the sad part of the story. This watch is great… alone. But it lives in a market full of competitors. It seems that Piaget heard the complaints and for the SIHH 2017, some new limited editions have been showed, the Piaget Polo S Black ADLC / Rubber 3-hand and chronograph – a world of difference… And that’s were the deal becomes pretty interesting.

9 years ago

SIHH 2017 – The Superb Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda 1950, Now In Steel

If you read Monochrome on a regular basis, you should know that the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda 1950 is a favorite of ours. Reasons are simple: it is a superb watch, with a great design, both elegant and slightly original (it sets apart from the masses of dress watches, without being too original) and it features a great, technical and hand-finished movement. For this 2017 edition of the SIHH, the brand comes with a great gift: the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda 1950, now in steel (good for the wallet), still with the same micro-rotor movement and its beautiful decoration (good for amateurs) and with a few updates. Overview.

9 years ago

SIHH 2017 – A Second Look at the Sculptural Christophe Claret Maestro

Christophe Claret had been teasing us for a while, sharing glimpses of this new concept… The watch was revealed just before the SIHH 2017, which made us even more curious to see it in the metal. Well, as we have got the chance to do so when in Geneva, we were not disappointed by what is the smallest and least expensive Claret watch so far. We now share live pictures and have a second look at this stunning piece of watchmaking design: The Christophe Claret Maestro.

9 years ago

SIHH 2017 – Hands-On with the Drive de Cartier Extra Flat (and it looks stunning)

Last year, at the SIHH 2016, Cartier came with a new men’s creation, the Drive, which has been praised here, on Monochrome-Watches (see introducing article and review) for its great elegance and the way it mastered shapes. This is what Cartier is all about for us here, a master of shapes and elegance, a brand that can achieve to create a unconventional watch that still looks brilliantly classy and understated. Still, to us, the Drive de Cartier had one issue regarding its dimensions – a bit too thick and a bit too large. This year, for the SIHH 2017, the Drive de Cartier has been revamped and now comes in its best option so far, the Extra Flat Calibre 430MC.

9 years ago

Hands-On – The New Manufacture Royale 1770 Micromegas Revolution Limited Editions

The 1770 Micromegas Revolution is a spectacular launch from the “Indie” watchmaking brand based in Vallorbe that we have not got a chance to review yet. Clearly, once you can manage to a closer look at this watch, you understand that this would have been a pity not to cover it. As the brand is introducing three exclusive limited editions, we take a look at this architectural double tourbillon – and with on of them rotating super, super-fast.

9 years ago