Hands-on with the MCT Dodekal One D110 & Its Unique Mechanical-Digital Display

The MCT Dodekal One D110, which we introduced to you here, is simply one of the most impressive mechanical digital hour indications on the market. MCT is the abbreviation of Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps, and the name actually says it all. This “very contemporary” watch manufactory, which was launched in 2007, does not create wrist watches that indicate time simply by 2 or 3 hands. And their latest creation, the Dodekal One that we’re looking at today, is, even in the field of watches with another way to display time (something we love here at Monochrome), an absolute rarity. Today we go hands-on with the Dodekal One D110. 

9 years ago

The Superb Grand Seiko Spring Drive 8-Day Now in Rose Gold & Sparkling Black Dial (Ref. SBGD202)

In a recent personal piece, our editor-in-chief Frank gave credits (no to say it was a love letter) to the superb Grand Seiko Spring Drive 8-Day, of course based on the platinum / white dial version that Grand Seiko (don’t call them Seiko anymore, as GS is now a brand on its own) introduced in back in 2016. This was certainly one of the rare times a watch without classical balance was featured on Monochrome, but this was properly deserved. Well, today we do it again, as there’s a new kid in town: the Grand Seiko Spring Drive 8-Day Now in Rose Gold & Sparkling Black Dial (Ref. SBGD202).

9 years ago

SPOTTED! BY AG: Dispatch 9, June 2017 – the collector’s edition

The past few weeks have been eventful, to say the least. With the team (again) scattered across the country (and the world), here’s what I’ve been up to. We’ve nicknamed this dispatch the “collector’s edition” – for reasons you’ll soon find out… To kick things off, Australian Race Car Driver and host of Top Gear Australia, Steve Pizzati, dropped past T+T HQ for a coffee. It turns out that Steve’s quite the watch fan, having flipped and flopped his way into a very respectable collection. I caught him wearing his PAM372, but he’s got big plans for his next acquisition. Favouring larger pieces, he’s now eyeing off an IWC Big Pilot or an Aquatimer. As we progressed through the month, it just so happened that Emmanuel Breguet (yes, of THAT Breguet) was in the country. Felix and I hit Crown Casino for a dinner hosted by Monards, at which Emmanuel himself gave a fun and educational presentation on the history of Breguet. It’s always great to hear these stories of a brand’s provenance, especially from someone who shares the name! Later in the month Sydney was calling, and the entire team (welcome, Ali) made the trip up for the opening of…

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9 years ago

EDITOR’S PICK: The most impressive quartz watch in the world and 3 other surprising things I learned about Seiko in Japan

Editor’s Note: Until relatively recently Seiko’s watchmaking – in particular their Grand Seiko and Credor lines – was something of an insiders’ secret, with their quality of finish and precision of workmanship not as widely recognised (or marketed) as those of the Swiss marques. That’s all begun to change, and looks set to change even more now that Grand Seiko is a fully independent brand. Last year I took a trip to discover more about the secrets of Seiko. This is what I found… I’ve always liked Seiko. One of the first watches I ever bought was a Black Monster, followed by an ever-rotating roster of rock-solid SKX divers as well as the odd vintage piece including an original Turtle, a 6139 ‘Pogue’ chronograph (sadly missed) and not one but two 4006-6031 Bell-Matics (neither of which are currently running, but that’s a different story). So when Seiko Australia invited me to tour the company’s Japanese production facilities (wearing an Astron), I jumped at the chance. It’s fair to say I had some pretty solid preconceptions about what I’d experience. I was super-pumped to see the Micro Artists Studio, and Morioka, where Grand Seiko is assembled. Turns out I was not prepared, at…

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9 years ago