The Kalpa collection was originally introduced by Parmigiani Fleurier in 2001. It is one of the most recognizable models of the brand with its distinctive tonneau-shaped case extended by rounded, stylized teardrop lugs. Last year, at SIHH 2018, the Kalpa got a facelift with a tastefully modernized case and the use of shaped movements across […]
The J12 is turning 20 and it’s got a brand new bag.
Our editors look ahead to what’s coming at the year’s biggest watch fair.
When you think of an elegant and discreet watch, with a certain old-school dandy feel, the Master collection by Jaeger-LeCoultre won’t disappoint. We’ve seen multiple models in the past – QP, Moon, or even the cool Sector Dial editions – and all share that underrated, clean, thin, non-showy elegance that makes them timeless. As part of the SIHH 2019 (yet discreetly unveiled) was an updated version of the flagship model, the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon. Sober yet complex!
Editor’s note: The mighty Calibre 11-powered Monaco turned 50 just a few weeks ago, and what better time, with Baselworld 2019 only hours away, to have a look at one of the defining chronographs of our time. Now, this version here is, no doubt, a stone cold classic. But I’ve got to wonder, what has TAG Heuer cooked up to celebrate the big 5-0? Here’s hoping we find out soon. The story in a second: 2015 saw TAG Heuer release the bold Heuer 01, the smart Carrera Connected and a faithful re-edition of one of the most iconic watches ever made – the Monaco. Heuer made a lot of cool watches, but none more so than the Heuer Monaco. Instantly recognisable, thanks to the large square case, and powered by the legendary Calibre 11 automatic chronograph movement, there’s no doubting the Monaco’s cred. But the frosting on the ice-cool cake is Steve McQueen. The King of Cool was a hot property in the ’60s and ’70s, and the prominent placement of the Heuer Monaco on McQueen’s wrist in the 1971 film Le Mans saw the watch enter the pantheon of totemic objects that have come to symbolise the icon for…
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A look back at an epic road trip to the biggest watch show in the world.
To say there’s a sea of microbrands out there pushing dive watches would be an understatement. The Marnaut Dark Surge 300m Series, UNDONE Aqua and Farer Aqua Compressor Endeavour are recent examples. Comparable to drivers of four-wheel drive SUV’s, many dive watch owners rarely (if ever) use the timepieces for their intended purpose, preferring form […]
So, this exists. Look, I write about high-end mechanical watches on the daily, so I’ve got a pretty high threshold for the superfluous things in life, but this is just ridiculous. A company called Caviar (of course they’re called Caviar) has revolutionised the world of both watchmaking and iPhones by releasing (and I quote): “the first iPhone with a Tourbillon”. Now, when I first read the press release I thought it was an iPhone case with tourbillon, which, I mean, isn’t the worst. Tourbillons are cool and if you want to spend more money than is sensible on a case … hey, it’s your money. But, no. They’ve Dr Moreau’d this thing and given us the worst of both worlds. Starting from $8350 USD. Nope.
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In these days of globalised production and democratised design it seems like there are more micro watch brands than ever before and, really, most of them are pretty forgettable, all riffing from the same songbook/factory catalogue. So when something a little left of centre shows up, I tend to pay attention. The Ianos Avyssos is one such watch. On the surface it’s a dive watch, rated to 300 metres, with the bezel, lume and other bits and bobs you associate with the genre. But pretty quickly you work out that it’s the other elements that separate this watch from the pack. In case the name didn’t give the game away, the Ianos Avyssos is a watch of Greek origin, and the brainchild of Jacob Hatzidimitriou. But the Hellenic inspirations of this piece go beyond the name, and well, to the small seconds at six. Rather than a typical hand, there’s a rotating disc that, if you’re an aficionado of archaeology or ancient horology, might look familiar. The design is based on the Antikythera mechanism — the world’s oldest clock mechanism that dates back to around 100 BCE. The mechanism was discovered off the coast of Antikythera in 1901 (hence the name),…
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Armin Strom was already known for their fascinating juxtaposition of modern skeletonization and traditional Haute-Horlogerie finishing. Something that here, at MONOCHROME, we’ve always seen as true “watchmaking lesson on the wrist”. Due to their openworked nature, you can see how the movement works. In 2016, Armin Strom introduced a watch that is nothing short of spectacular and that showcases one of the ultimate challenges in chronometry: resonance.