Sunday Rewind: Chronograph Vs. Dive Watch
Comparing two classic formulas – but which is best?
Space odyssey: How the Omega Calibre 321 became the first watch movement on the moon
In many ways, outer space and space exploration have become a routine part of life. We all carry a device that listens to signals from space in the form of our mobile phone. Most can receive messages from GPS satellites in medium earth orbit more than 20,000km away. Just as space is now entwined with our lives, so is timekeeping inseparable from space. GPS relies upon clocks. A satellite sends a signal that says “I sent this at time X.” Your phone provides the time, Y, when the signal was received. The elapsed time between sending and receiving (Y minus X seconds) when combined with the known speed of the signal (Z km/s, from physics) reveals your distance from the satellite ( (Y-X)*Z). If your distance from three satellites is determined, your location can be trilateralated. The three distances are the diameter of three unique circles, each with a GPS satellite at its centre. Those three circles intersect at only one point and that point is your location. What is truly remarkable about timekeeping and outer space is that when astronauts are in this treacherous vacuum they typically employ a mechanical device to mark the time. No circuitry, no battery,…
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Buying Guide – The 3 Best Watches of the LVMH Watch Week (Bvlgari, Hublot and Zenith)
Earlier this week, French luxury powerhouse LVMH staged its first Watch Week in Dubai to showcase the novelties of its four brands, Bvlgari, Hublot, Zenith and TAG Heuer (even though the latter had no new watches on display), which we’ve covered on MONOCHROME. But to end this rather intense week, let’s take a look at […]
The 6 best pilot's watches according to a pilot
Rolex GMT-Master II 126710BLNR As transatlantic commercial flying routes increased in the early 1950s, prominent US airline Pan Am requested that Rolex develop a watch for their crews that could accurately display multiple time zones at once. In response, Rolex launched the world’s first GMT watch – the GMT-Master in 1954. Pros: Accuracy of ± 2 seconds per day, it’s Rolex Con: No anti-reflective coating IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Heritage IW501004 The Flieger design has offered wearers precision readability since its World War II origin when companies such as A. Lange & Söhne, Stowa and IWC mass produced these tool watches for the Luftwaffe. Today’s IWC Big Pilot is one of the most recognisable modern Flieger representations and has gained favour with watch collectors around the world. Pros: 7-day power reserve, superb legibility Con: At more than 46mm it won’t suit all wrists Cartier Santos de Cartier WSSA0009 While Cartier is not usually a brand that people associate with aviation, they actually hold the distinction of producing the first ever pilot’s watch. In 1904, Brazilian pilot and aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont complained to his friend Louis Cartier that pocket watches were not practical for use in flight. Cartier responded with…
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RECOMMENDED WATCHING: A beginner's guide to Grand Seiko
Editor’s note: Ever wanted to know why Grand Seiko is so revered in the horological hemisphere? Well, this video perfectly sums up why the doyen of Japanese watchmaking is considered the crème de la crème on so many levels. So, if you’ve got the time, sit back and enjoy an explanation as to why Grand Seiko’s movements, cases and dials are some of the best on the market, regardless of price. For years, Grand Seiko was a very underground, for-those-in-the-know type brand; its visibility outside of Japan was limited, and its passionate supporters revelled in the arcana of cryptic reference numbers, nicknames and shorthand galore. All that changed a few years ago when Grand Seiko went global, but there’s still an air of mystique around the Japanese brand. So, to help clear a few things up, I decided to run through a short explainer, providing a flying overview of some of the key details, covering off the basics around movements, cases and dials. So, if you don’t know your Snowflakes from your Spring Drives, aren’t too sure if you’re team 9S or 9F, or have ever wondered just what Zaratsu actually is, this video is for you. We can’t explain…
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Tissot trifecta: The 3 most important Tissot watches of 2019
Tissot had a resolutely excellent end to the decade, releasing plenty of exciting new timepieces in 2019 that got the watch community talking. What’s more, the Swiss watchmaker made a conscious effort to cater to both people just getting into watches, as well as the dyed-in-the-wool veterans. We won’t cover every new timepiece Tissot unveiled in 2019, but these were the three most important: TISSOT CHRONO XL CLASSIC Extra-large is an apt description for this 45mm wide, 15mm thick stainless steel monster. The Tissot XL Classic emphasises size and presence rather than high-tech horology. Powered by a Swiss quartz chronograph movement, the sub-dial layout is typical of a battery-powered module (with all three sub-dials bunched in a triangle formation around the centre of the dial). Three classic colourways exist for this model. This grey sunray reference is a smart and versatile option. Ref No: T116.617.16.057.00 / Case size: 45mm / Case material: Steel / Movement: Quartz / Price: $475 TISSOT HERITAGE 1973 CHRONOGRAPH The Tissot Heritage 1973 Chronograph is a handsome vintage timepiece and one of the finest in the Tissot range in terms of its attention to detail. The ETA 7753 movement powering the show is respected by watchmakers…
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Tissot trifecta: The 3 most important Tissot watches of 2019.
Tissot had a resolutely excellent end to the decade, releasing plenty of exciting new timepieces in 2019 that got the watch enthusiast community talking. What’s more, the Swiss watchmaker made a conscious effort to cater to both people just getting in to watches, as well as the dyed in the wool veterans. We won’t cover every new timepiece Tissot unveiled in 2019, but, these were the three most important: TISSOT CHRONO XL CLASSIC Extra-large is an apt description for this 45mm wide, 15mm thick stainless steel monster. The Tissot XL Classic emphasises size and presence rather than high-tech horology. Powered by a swiss quartz chronograph movement, the sub-dial layout is typical of a battery-powered module (with all three sub-dials bunched in a triangle formation around the centre of the dial). Three classic colourways exist for this model. This grey sunray reference is a smart and versatile option. Ref No: T116.617.16.057.00 / Case size: 45mm / Case material: Steel / Movement: Quartz / Price: $475 TISSOT HERITAGE 1973 CHRONOGRAPH The Tissot Heritage 1973 Chronograph is a handsome vintage timepiece, and one of the finest in the Tissot range in terms of its attention to detail. The ETA 7753 movement powering the…
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Weekend Round-Up: Xenobots, Airspace, And High Flying Crimes
Look down from your stolen plane at the muggles and their unified visual aesthetic.
My week with the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin 37mm
“Authentic” is an often misused and even abused accolade in today’s disposable and instant-service world. Consumers tend to be impressed for brief moments with the speed and functionality of an app, or the savings and convenience that a subscription model lends to their lifestyle. Less and less frequently, consumers are able to appreciate a product offering durability and longevity and, thus, when they do encounter such a thing, simply write it off as frivolous luxury. The A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin 37mm guise initially presents as frivolous luxury indeed. For nearly $20,000, the consumer earns the right to know only the time on a small-ish, seemingly simple dial. Sure, the watch is made of gold, but there isn’t even a matching bracelet to emulate the weight of those dollar bills on your wrist. To really understand the Saxonia Thin, the value of its authentic qualities need to be examined from some arm’s length perspectives. History always lends credibility and it is within the historical perspective that the Lange scores a big win. The end of the Cold War and fall of communism in Eastern Europe gave the world a lot of things, some good and some not. The resurrection…
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The Petrolhead Corner – 2020 Car Season – What to Expect this Year for Classic Car Events, Motor Shows and F1 Season
A couple of weeks ago, we looked at the most anticipated cars for 2020. Still, there are many more things to expect in 2020, if you’re petrolheads like us. Not only will we see the launch of hundreds of new models, which is why you should take note of the International car shows that will […]