Hands-on – Santos de Cartier Chronograph – Respecting the Innate Elegance of an Icon

Having given the Santos new wings in 2018, Cartier expands the bestselling men’s collection in 2019 with the addition of a chronograph.  Thicker, wider and infinitely sportier, the new Santos de Cartier Chronograph has found an elegant solution to replace the classic two-pusher chronograph configuration with a modified version of its automatic 1904-CH MC calibre. Presented in three versions – solid 18k pink gold, steel and yellow gold bezel, and steel with a black ADLC bezel – we have selected the stylish pink gold model for our hands-on review.

7 years ago

Video – Looking Back at the Best Watches of SIHH 2018

With the SIHH 2019 just around the corner, we thought it was the perfect moment to look back at what the 2018 edition of the Geneva Watch Fair, a.k.a Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) had to show… And it had a lot to show. Technical, beautiful, innovative, ultra-complicated or simply well-thought everyday pieces. […]

7 years ago

SIHH 2019 – Santos de Cartier Large Model now with Gradient Blue Dial

The revamped Santos was the star of the SIHH 2018 for Cartier and for multiple reasons, it was a success. Well designed, well equipped, well executed and relatively fair when it comes to the price, Cartier gave this iconic shape a slightly sportier (or let’s say more modern) touch and some nice details, such as a clever strap/bracelet system. Just before the SIHH 2019, this model appears now in the collection with a new dial. White is too shy for you? The new gradient blue version might be the answer then.

7 years ago

Pre-SIHH 2019 – Introducing the Cartier Libre Jewellery Collection – Freedom of Shape and Colour

Cartier manages to fuse a unique touch of French sophistication with a very liberal attitude towards design. Cartier’s love affair with fascinating shaped watches has lasted for a century and you’d be hard pressed to find a straightforward round watch chez la Maison. Unusual shapes, like the square Santos, the rectangular Tank, the barrel-shaped Tortue, or even the weird and wild 1967 Crash watch inspired by a Baignoire Allongée model that was purportedly mangled and melted in a car crash, have been and still are very much an identity trait of the brand.

7 years ago

Pre-SIHH 2019 – The Comeback of the Tonneau in the Cartier Privé Collection

The Tonneau Watch by Cartier always had a special place amongst collectors. Certainly less famous than other shaped watches designed by the Parisian Maison (Tortue, Crash, Tank, Santos, Drive, Ballon Bleu and many more), it remains one of the most original and certainly one of the most elegant creations ever done by Cartier. Thanks to the Revival of the “Privé” branding, with the reinterpretation of the Crash in 2015 and the Tank Cintrée in 2017, we see more of those beautiful shapes watches coming back in the brand’s portfolio. For the SIHH 2019, the Tonneau Watch is coming back.

7 years ago

Buying Guide – The 10 Best Watches of 2018 from EUR 5,000 to 10,000 (Plus the 11th One)

Just like we did on previous weekends with our Top 10 watches below EUR 2,000 and between EUR 2,000 and 5,000, it is now time to look at the best watches introduced this year in the hyper-strategic EUR 5,000-EUR 10,000 price range – it is certainly where the competition is the fiercer, with most of the “luxury brands” having their core collections (Rolex, IWC, Cartier, Panerai and many more). After long debates at the MONOCHROME redaction room, here are our 10 “best 2018 watches” picks if you’re in the 5k to 10k market.

7 years ago

A Technical Perspective – The Peripheral Rotor, a Smart and Stylish Solution

Since 2009 and the introduction of the Carl F Bucherer Calibre A1000, peripheral rotors are getting more and more in vogue. With this smart and stylish solution, the winding mass is an annular segment mounted and swinging around the movement, instead of a centrally mounted oscillating weight rotating over it. This offers an unobstructed view of the movement along with providing the convenience of automatic winding. In addition, peripheral rotors allow watchmakers to design thinner self-winding watches, without adding to their thickness with an oscillating weight rotating over the movement.

7 years ago

Entry Price – The Most Accessible Watches You Can Get From Established Brands (Rolex, Omega, Patek… and many more)

Everyone has a Rolex. If you don’t have a Rolex by the time you reach 50, then you have clearly failed in life.” Some of you – at least our French-speaking readers – might remember this outrageous statement pronounced by Jacques Séguéla as the advertising tycoon tried to defend Nicolas Sarkozy’s bling-bling style on French TV. If owning a Rolex is the sine qua non of success for some, it’s a good time as any to review the entry-level prices of watch candidates from the leading brands. 

7 years ago

Buying Guide – 5 Elegant Watches for Women under EUR 5,000

In our previous guide, we’ve been looking at sports watches but an elegant, well-chosen dress watch will take you through the day and into the night. Distinguished yet subtle, a refined three-hander should look good in any context and be able to complement your look without dominating your wrist. The kind of watch that will endure changing fashions and that you can wear as a valuable every day – and hopefully – lifetime companion. Our line-up of candidates have been chosen for their timeless good looks, solid mechanical movements and, best of all, their attractive price tags, all retailing for under EUR 5,000.

7 years ago

Buying Guide – Yellow gold Is Warming Up Again

When thinking of yellow gold, the first thing that may come to your mind is your parents’ or grandparents’ watch. Well, if you feel yellow gold is outdated, it might be time for a change. The status symbol of the 1960s to 1980s is making a comeback. As trends come and go, it fits perfectly in the current vintage craze – just like the unexpected comeback of the 1980s spirit in fashion and music. And interestingly, the way watchmakers use it today makes it look super chic and trendy. Here are 6 of the most notable yellow gold watches introduced recently.

7 years ago