RECOMMENDED READING: The dreaded ‘If you could only wear one watch’ question

Every time a bunch of watch guys get together and have a few drinks, this old chestnut rears its head: “What if you could only wear one watch?” It’s a question loathed and loved in equal measure. Loved because it forces you to distill your values, tastes and hoarding tendencies into a single piece, which can provide clarity. Loathed because it forces you to distill your values, tastes and hoarding tendencies into a single piece, which is a scary proposition. So when Justin from Robb Report US reached out and asked me this exact question, I stewed on it for a good 24 hours. And I guarantee if you ask me tomorrow, the watch will be different. While I chose something a little left field, I was quite surprised to see just how diverse everyone’s answers were and the rationale behind them. And by the way, it’s an impressive array of people — everyone from auction heavyweights, Paul Boutros and Eric Wind, through to the actor, Aldis Hodge. I ended up (hypothetically) picking ochs und junior’s Perpetual Calendar, and this is why: “What a question! OK, let’s deal with this logically. Immediately I have to rule out anything super rare…

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9 years ago

Introducing – Ulysse Nardin Marine Torpilleur, A Well-Thought-Out Facelift of the Emblematic Marine Collection

Ulysse Nardin’s history has been founded on Marine roots, as for over a century, the brand has been one of the main providers of Marine Chronometers. Since a few months, we’ve seen some extremely pleasant evolutions of the collections: new and more subtle designs, slightly vintage inspiration, easily wearable watches. With this in mind, Ulysse Nardin unveils the Marine Torpilleur, a well-thought-out facelift reinvigorating the brand’s emblematic Marine collection. Here is an early hands-on look at this classic yet urban timepiece.

9 years ago

INTRODUCING: IWC’s renaissance – the Da Vinci Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph

At the beginning of the year, IWC declared it the year of the Da Vinci.  Saying  “arrivederci” to the tonneau style case and returning to the classic round case design of the 80s with those seductive, articulated lugs. The flagship for the new collection is the all new and very complicated Da Vinci Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph. As its name would suggest (and in a first for the company) this watch sports flying tourbillon, chronograph, and retrograde date complications. The trio of functions all wrapped up in the newly designed in-house 89900 movement, adding another branch to the 89000-calibre family tree – the limbs of which are already laden with many of IWC’s other chronograph models, like the recently revised Portugieser Chronograph Classic and the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph. As with the rest of its kin, this new model is a flyback, column-wheel chronograph with a vertical clutch and automatic winding. The power reserve is also kept the same at an impressive 68-hours, even with the addition of the tourbillon — made possible thanks largely to the manufacture of the pallet and escape wheel from a diamond coated silicon, reducing the friction and compensating for the increased power that the…

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9 years ago

REPORT – Car & Watches With Blancpain at the Blancpain GT Series

It’s loud, it’s fun and it’s exciting… Monochrome was fortunate enough to spend the week-end with Blancpain at Le Castellet (circuit Paul Ricard). Bentley took its first Endurance Cup victory in the Blancpain GT Series in three years in the day-night 1000km race. We took the opportunity to “get our hands dirty” taking a closer look …

9 years ago