Category: Constant Force

Review – Grönefeld 1941 Remontoire with Bespoke Dial – Best Men’s Watch at GPHG 2016

My wrist is a lucky one as I get to test a lot of seriously brilliant wrist watches. Whether it’s the understated Galet Square Tourbillon Double Spiral from Laurent Ferrier, the magnificent Datograph from A. Lange & Söhne, the ultra-thin and über-clean Piaget Altiplano in white gold, or even the € 60.000 Euro impressive Grand Seiko Spring Drive 8-Days, I get to test (and enjoy) some of the most spectacular timepieces of our time. When I got the call from my fellow countrymen Bart and Tim Grönefeld, that they finally secured a 1941 Remontoire for me to test, I was delighted and excited. Here are my thoughts on the Grönefeld 1941 Remontoire that now also comes with bespoke dials featuring guilloche and translucent enamel.

7 years ago

Pre-SIHH 2018 – Hands-On with the IWC Portugieser Constant Force Tourbillon Edition 150 years

IWC is turning 150 next year. To mark the occasion, the Schaffhausen-based manufacturer is set to unveil a special Jubilee collection at SIHH, comprising 27 limited–edition watches from different collections. Among these and a bit prior to the Geneva-Watch-Fair, the new Portugieser Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition “150 Years” is the first IWC to combine a constant-force tourbillon with a single moon phase display that only needs to be adjusted by 1 day after 577.5 years. Here’s an early hands-on look at this beauty housing an impressive and highly-complex movement.

7 years ago

Dominique Renaud’s Innovative Concept DR01 Is Completed, Working… And We Go Hands-On With It

Innovation in the field of escapements and oscillators is the new frontier in technological breakthrough of mechanical watches, as evidenced by revolutionary concepts by Ulysse Nardin, Girard-Perregaux, Parmigiani Fleurier or more recently the Zenith Defy Lab and its mind-blowing oscillator. Among these, Dominique Renaud presented an impressive concept dubbed DR01, the first of twelve just before Baselworld 2016. His idea is to manufacture 12 watches (each to be commissioned, personalized and priced at CHF 1,000,000), 12 evolutions of the concept to reach a fully developed version. It is now time for the horologist to unveil the progress made with this development and introduce the first watch in this series of twelve. Monochrome reports from Geneva where Dominique Renaud is exhibiting his project and the first watch in the series of 12.

7 years ago

Hands-On – The New Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB1.4, In Titanium and with Sapphire Bridges on the Movement

Ferdinand Berthoud strips down its spectacular Chronomètre FB1. After the recently introduced platinum edition, it’s now the movement that evolves. Indeed, sapphire bridges now offer an unimpeded view on its killer inner workings, and this mechanical beauty is now housed in a titanium case (with 2 different dials available). Meet the Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB1.4, available in two different versions, which shows quite some evolutions compared to the previous models of the brand.

7 years ago

A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange Jumping Seconds Now Offered In Pink Gold

Last year at the SIHH 2016, German watch manufacturer, A. Lange & Söhne, debuted the deliciously complex Richard Lange Jumping Seconds. Offered in a platinum case and produced in a limited series of just 100 pieces, it was an instant hit with collectors. Following on from this success, this minimalist timepiece is now being made available in an attractive pink gold case, complete with matching accents on the dial and buckle. As with the platinum model, this series will be limited to just 100 pieces, preserving the exclusivity of this exceptional mechanical machine.

7 years ago

First look – Ferdinand Berthoud unveils a Platinum Version of the Chronomètre FB1

When Karl-Friedrich Schefeule (the co-owner of Chopard) embarked on resurrecting Ferdinand Berthoud, one of the greatest horologists of all times, his ambition was obviously not to release a servile replica of past glories. Distilling and recombining this unique legacy into a personal perspective, the contemporary watches bearing this illustrious name are singular. While displaying an obvious respect for the classics, the Ferdinand Berthoud FB1 is a modern take on this heritage. The result is truly exceptional, crafted and designed with exacting attention to details. The GPHG 2016 Aiguille d’Or award, one of the most (if not the most) meaningful industry accolades is no small achievement. After white and pink gold versions, Ferdinand Berthoud is now releasing a stunning platinum limited edition that premiered at Les Ambassadeurs, in Geneva.

7 years ago

A Full Month of Power on the Wrist – Hands-On with the A. Lange & Söhne Lange 31

For the average automatic or hand-wound watch, a power reserve longer than 3 days is already quite comfortable. Yet, some watches can do more… A week? Easy. Over 10 days? It exists. But what if your watch was able to run for a full month, without the need for you to wind it? Clearly, this would be massive – and it would be the same kind of useless necessity that is offered by a Bugatti Chiron and its 1,500bhp engine… Such a powerful watch exists and is named the A. Lange & Söhne Lange 31. And while it is not a proper novelty, the recently introduced white gold/grey dial version is the occasion for us to look back at this monument, and to all the issues that go along!

7 years ago

Review – The A. Lange & Söhne Tourbograph Perpetual Pour le Merite (Spoiler Alert: It is MEGA)

No need to beat around the bush… Some subjects don’t really need to be debated. The new A. Lange & Söhne Tourbograph Perpetual Pour le Merite is a superlative watch, a proper masterpiece, mixing all the technical marvels of one of the best manufactures in the world (because for once, it’s outside Switzerland), with a strong respect to traditions and a devotion to what is (to me, at least) the most important in a watch; precision. Yes, you could say that the Tourbograph Perpetual Pour le Merite blows things out of proportion but still, whatever the critics will be, we all must admit that this watch is, in every aspect, mega.

8 years ago

SIHH 2017 – A. Lange & Söhne Lange 31 White Gold / Grey Dial

When you think power reserve, you thought that the 7-day IWC’s or the 8-day Panerai’s were already massively powerful – and obviously, they have more power than 99% of the mechanical watches produced. Well, if power is your thing and if you simply hate to wind a watch, you might have to consider the Lange 31… and 31 here is nothing about the diameter of the watch, but it is about the length of the power reserve, in days. Yes, this watch can run for 31 days, coming from one single barrel, when fully wound. Impressive, right. This powerful watch comes in a new version for the SIHH 2017, in white gold with a grey dial.

8 years ago

SIHH 2017 – A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Decimal Strike (with a new striking complication)

For the SIHH 2017, A. Lange & Söhne just reveled a new model in the emblematic Zeitwerk collection, and not just a new execution of an existing watch, but a new type of complication. This watch joins 3 other members in the family: the Zeitwerk, the Zetiwerk Striking Time and the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater (the latter two being chiming watches). For this new kid in the collection, A. Lange & Söhne introduces a new type of striking mechanism, the Decimal Strike, which gives echo to the unique display of this watch. Please meet the A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Decimal Strike.

8 years ago