Baselworld 2018 – Maurice Lacroix Introduces Automatic (and accessible) versions of its Aikon

In 2016, Maurice Lacroix introduced a new collection named the Aikon. Based on a 1990s design, the Calypso, it was unfortunately (at least for us here, at MONOCHROME) only available with quartz movement. After the launch of a flagship version with skeleton movement earlier this year, it is time now for the brand to unveil the automatic versions of its sports watch. Meet the Baselworld 2018 Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic, 3-hand and Chronograph.

8 years ago

Baselworld 2018 – Glashütte Original Adds New Dials and Casual Styles To The Senator Excellence Collection

At Baselworld 2016, Glashütte Original introduced a full new Senator collection named Excellence. Originally comprising no less than 4 different versions (time-only, tima-and-date, date-and-moon and perpetual calendar), it was only available with a classic design – Roman numerals and blued hands. For Baselworld 2018, the Saxon brand adds some casualness to two of the versions. Here are the Senator Excellence Panorama Date and Date and Moon with new dials and 42mm steel cases.

8 years ago

VIDEO: 5 TAG Heuers that impressed at Baselworld 2018

TAG Heuer’s 2018 line-up is, as you’d expect, dominated by chronographs. But just because one complication is the focus, it comes in a surprisingly diverse range of forms. First up is the Carrera Calibre 16, a round steel number with a pleasingly retro dial offered in blue or black. It’s a good looking watch, and one squarely aimed at the vintage lovers out there. Also on the vintage side of the fence is the boldly striped Monaco Gulf 2018 Special Edition. For the more modern types there’s the latest take on the modular-cased Carrera, the Carrera Heuer 02 GMT Chronograph. This large 45mm is quite distinctive, with a blue and black ceramic bezel and red GMT. While blue and black might not be the colour we historically associate with Heuer GMTs, it has appeared in their catalogue in recent years. Keeping with the big and bold theme, there’s a very cool blue ceramic tourbillon, with an even cooler name — the Tête de Vipère, or viper’s head. And finally there’s the smaller version of the Connected, the Modular 41, which essentially is still the same watch, just a little smaller, which is, I think, a very good thing.

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8 years ago

HANDS-ON: The Seiko 1968 Automatic Diver’s Commemorative Limited Edition (ref. SLA019)

With another contemporary nod to Seiko’s original hi-beat diver – the 1968 ref. 6159 – a familiar face has received a limited-edition update. Based on the venerable Seiko MM300 dive watch, this commemorative limited edition not only pays tribute to its vintage inspiration with a host of updates, but also to the lush green forests and abundant marine life that can be found around the island of Yakushima at the southern end of the Japanese archipelago. Vital statistics The one-piece 44.3mm case is now set off with a deep green dial and zirconia ceramic bezel. And Hardlex has been replaced by a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both the inside and out. Giving life from within is the Seiko calibre 8L35 with 50 hours of power reserve. And the 5, 10, 15 and 20-minute markers on the bezel have been given an especially bright dose of Lumibrite to increase their presence in the dark. Both the stainless-steel case and a matching steel bracelet are also given a super-hard coating, with the option to switch out to a silicone strap that’s also supplied. On the wrist The MM300 has long been a favourite of the Seiko community, and this commemorative…

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8 years ago

VIDEO: 8 of the best Seiko watches from Basel 2018

Seeing Seiko at Basel 2018 can be a pretty overwhelming experience. There’s. Just. So. Many. Watches. Trays and trays of them. It’s easy to get distracted, to lose sense of the bigger picture and be bogged down in the minutiae of Presage dials or the subtly tweaked new cases. But we managed to stay above the fray this time ’round, to use our limited time to focus on the surefire hits from the line-up. Like the new blue enamel-dialled Presage, the significantly re-worked Astron, and Prospex. Lots of Prospex. There’s the new limited edition Turtle, with an incredible dial inspired by a blue whale. Then there’s the epic re-creation of the first quartz saturation diver. And finally, the real stars of the show, the 1968 Automatic Diver’s models. But you know what, we’re only scratching the surface with these watches. There’s still plenty of Seiko stories to tell this year …

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8 years ago

INTERVIEW: We talk to Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo at the launch of TAG Heuer’s latest smartwatch

TAG Heuer have a long history in motorsport. Heuer chronographs adorned the dashboards of now priceless Porsches and Ferraris that were being rallied in the 1960s. Fans of Steve McQueen will know he wore a Monaco in his famous 1971 film Le Mans. Then only three years after that film, TAG Heuer championed digital precision timing at the highest echelon of motorsports – Formula One. Their relationship with F1 is so strong in fact, they’ve had the Formula 1 watch in their range for more than three decades. These days, TAG Heuer are a major sponsor of the Red Bull Racing F1 team. Time+Tide were invited to the international launch of the Red Bull Racing Connected watch earlier this week, an event held in the lead-up to the first race of the F1 season at Melbourne’s Albert Park. The official name of the watch is the succinct TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45 Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Special Edition, and is a limited run of their second generation Connected, a smartwatch Andrew spent some time with a year ago. This new Mod 45 is surprisingly slight on the wrist, due to TAG’s employment of a titanium case and lugs. But…

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8 years ago

First Look – Patek Philippe 5270P Perpetual Calendar Chronograph with Superb Salmon Dial

The perpetual calendar chronograph is a combination of complications that ‘belongs’ to Patek Philippe. The 5270 continues a long tradition initiated in 1941. It was introduced in 2011 with a in-house movement as the successor of the 5970, itself an evolution of the 3970 (read our article about the different generations of the 5270 here). It is now available for the first time in the noblest of all metals, platinum. And it comes with a truly stunning salmon dial that – as often with salmon dials – is elegant, unostantatious but with that very special twist.

8 years ago