Hands-On – The New Ressence Type 5G, The Full Titanium Diver

When it has been launched, back in December 2015, we’ve been fairly surprised with the Ressence Type 5… In a very good way, this has to be said. For sure, a dive watch from Ressence was really not expected, however, when knowing the evolution of the concept initialized with the Type 3, it felt like a natural evolution. Apart from the cool display, this watch, thanks to its oil-filled dial, allowed to be the only mechanical dive watch with zero reflections underwater (and if you’re doubtful, see our field test here). Just between the SIHH and the upcoming Baselworld, Ressence now comes with a full titanium version of this watch, the Type 5G, and it has some arguments to convince. And after you saw it yesterday on all our competitors’ websites with press photos, we, at Monochrome, go hands-on with it.

9 years ago

In-Depth – The F.P. Journe Vagabondage III (And The History Of The Vagabondage Series)

François-Paul Journe has always been a bit apart in the watchmaking industry. Yet, most of his watches are easily recognizable and are imbued with a clear, distinctive DNA. However, a specific series of watches does not respect the rule; the Vagabondage watches. Entirely different case, entirely different displays, entirely different philosophy… 2017 marks the arrival of a third tortue-cased watch, the F.P. Journe Vagabondage III (which we already showed to you in video here). A splendid watch and the first-ever mechanical watch with digital jumping-seconds. And today, we take a closer look at it.

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 – 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

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

Just Because, the new F.P. Journe Vagabondage III In Video

OK, we’re not going to enter into too many details now – and you probably learned a lot about this watch with some of our colleagues already. Still, the new F.P. Journe Vagabondage III is a massive novelty: it’s superb, it’s technical, it’s playful, it’s unique in terms of display and it’s rare. In a few days we’ll come with a proper review of this mega-watch (and there’s a lot to say, both on the technical and historical sides).

9 years ago

SIHH 2017 – A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Decimal Strike (with a new striking complication)

For the SIHH 2017, A. Lange & Söhne just reveled a new model in the emblematic Zeitwerk collection, and not just a new execution of an existing watch, but a new type of complication. This watch joins 3 other members in the family: the Zeitwerk, the Zetiwerk Striking Time and the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater (the latter two being chiming watches). For this new kid in the collection, A. Lange & Söhne introduces a new type of striking mechanism, the Decimal Strike, which gives echo to the unique display of this watch. Please meet the A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Decimal Strike.

9 years ago

SIHH 2017 – MB&F HM7 Aquapod – The Machine Turned Aquatic Sports Watch

Figure out this situation. Beginning of last week, I was working in front of my computer, writing about upcoming SIHH 2017 watches, headphones glued to my ears, listening to a Quartet for Strings by Gustav Mahler – so-to-say, a quiet situation. Then arrived an email from MB&F, entitled “Horological Machine N°7“. This was already a drastic change of music. I switched to rock and roll. And then, I had to change to alternative-punk-rock when I looked at what basically was a huge “jellyfish-like-aquatic-sports-watch” with MB&F printed on the dial. Yes, you read perfectly, what you look at is the brand’s first attempt of a sports watch. But hey, you’re at Max Bûsser & Friends, so of course we had to expect something hyper-creative again. And that’s exactly what this new MB&F HM7 Aquapod is.

9 years ago

SIHH 2017 – URWERK UR-T8, The New Concept For The 20th Anniversary

As you might know, this year is the 20th anniversary of a rather unique and disruptive brand named URWERK. As we already showed to you in a dedicated movie, this independent watchmakers started with their first watch at Baselworld 1997, as they were still almost kids. However, even if they just turned 20, don’t believe that Frei & Baumgartner are now old men who are sleeping behind their desks… And as proof of the strong vitality and creativity of URWERK, here is their latest creation, the impressive URWERK UR-T8, which renew the concept of satellite complication and of traditional case.

9 years ago

SIHH 2017 – Ressence Type 1 “Squared”, the new Cushion-Shaped Version of The Minimalistic Watch

With Ressence, everything started with a style, a shape and a perception of the watch that were rather different from the traditional codes of watchmaking. Very round, almost void of case, smooth, without crown, almost entirely focused on the dial and the display, this concept used on the Type 1, and even emphasized on the Type 3, was the hallmark of the brand. Then came the Type 5, a dive watch which combined the Orbital Convex display with what was a proper materialized case. Today, Ressence comes with its fourth watch, the Type 12 (or Type 1 “Squared”), less dematerialized and more horological than before, in an assertive cushion-shaped case. Still, the fantastic “Beyond Hands” display of the brand has been kept.

9 years ago