Category: GMT Watches

Hands-on – Alpina Startimer Pilot Heritage GMT

The retro-hype is alive and to be honest, if it is done right, it can result in some very nice watches. Often considered as the golden age of watch design, the 1970s is used as inspiration by many brands to relaunch former collections or to introduce new ones harking back to historical models. Under the Startimer collection, Alpina’s pilot-style range of watches, the brand launched the Alpina Startimer Pilot Heritage, in 4 different colourways. And indeed, the 1970s-inspiration is fully there.

6 years ago

Review – Carl F. Bucherer Patravi TravelTec Black – A First Class GMT Watch for Today’s Globetrotter

The TravelTec is one of the few watches in the business whose name actually matches its functions: a highly technical travel watch. Carl F. Bucherer’s Patravi TravelTec upped the antes in the GMT arena when it was introduced in 2005 with a movement capable of displaying three time zones coupled with a chronograph. Now the globetrotting star of the Patravi collection, the TravelTec has adapted to the changing panorama of materials and also comes in this sleek matte black version with an integrated rubber strap. Although the designers might have had stealth aesthetics in mind with the dark DLC finish, this multi-purpose 46.6mm piece will not fly under the radar. Endowed with brawns and brains, the powerful masculine case of the TravelTec Black houses CFB’s automatic chronograph movement.

6 years ago

Hands-on – Blancpain Villeret Quantieme Complet GMT – Discreetly Complex

Despite what you may see on Instagram and Facebook, there are still plenty of watch connoisseurs who enjoy wearing a more traditionally styled watch. Something like the sophisticated yet practical Blancpain Villeret Quantieme Complet GMT. Introduced earlier in the year, this new model epitomises the classic aesthetic Blancpain is well known for, bringing together two genuinely useful complications in the form of the complete calendar and the GMT function. An ideal choice for the business traveller, we recently spent some time getting to know this latest version better.

6 years ago

Hands-on – The Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Hemisphères Rétrograde Now in Steel

Designed in 1996, the Toric is Parmigiani Fleurier’s dress watch. The model staged a comeback a few months ago with the Toric Chronometer and the smart Toric Hemisphères Rétrograde. The latter features a second time zone indication that can be adjusted to the minute via an additional crown. Unlike the vast majority of travel watches, the […]

6 years ago

Hands-on – Breguet Marine Alarme Musicale 5547 – Classic Complication, Modern Style

Breguet has always been known for making complex watches. The brand’s tendency towards a traditional aesthetic, however, has sometimes deterred younger buyers. That trend seems to be changing. The latest example comes in the form of the new models introduced into the Marine collection at Baselworld this year. We’ve already covered the Breguet Marine 5517 in detail here. Now, we’re turning our attention to the Marine Alarme Musicale 5547, a contemporary styled watch with some very traditional complications.

7 years ago

Introducing – Leica Camera Enters The Watch Game with the L1 & L2 Models

While cars and watches are known to be highly related worlds, photography and watches apparently don’t share many links. Yet, several already existing examples showed this connection – think Ming watches by photographer Ming Thein or shutter-inspired Valbray watches. Today, the story is different, as it’s one of the most prominent camera manufacturers that is entering the watch game, you name it: Leica. With “Made in Germany” in mind and quite an impressive mechanical package, meet the Leica L1 & L2 watches.

7 years ago

Review – Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time 5524R – A Time For Reconciliation

Let’s be honest… The Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time 5524G (the white gold version) was a hot topic of discussion when launched at Baselworld 2015. Whatever the intrinsic qualities of this watch, it has been misunderstood. Too early, too radical, too different maybe. 3 years have passed now and there’s a new version in the collection, now in rose gold with a warm brown dial, under the ref. 5524R. With this new combination of colours, we think it’s time for the reconciliation. Let’s have a closer look at the now very-Patekish Rose gold Calatrava Pilot.

7 years ago

Hands-on – Schwarz Etienne Roma GMT – Clean Lines and Fine Mechanics

It is not the first time we talk about Schwarz Etienne on MONOCHROME. This independent brand, based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, shows an impressive level of integration – especially given its rather modest size. It is one of the few brands to develop and manufacture its in-house movements and parts, including the hairspring. Today, we take a look at one of the classic yet highly pleasant watches of the Roma collection, the Schwarz Etienne Roma GMT.

7 years ago

Hands-on – The Complex Glashütte Original Senator Cosmopolite Now in Steel

The vast majority of people are comfortable with watches simply displaying hours and minutes but multiple time-zone watches are (and we can tell thanks to our own experience) useful for globetrotters or those who need to keep track of time in different countries. With the Senator Cosmopolite, Glashütte Original’s take on the complication is packed with a unique set of features, making for a highly functional and original travel watch. Initially launched in gold in 2015, its sophisticated mechanism is now cased in steel – thus more accessible (or, at least, less expensive).

7 years ago