Category: High-end Watches

Hands-On – The Geo. Graham Orrery – A Star Gazing Invitation from Graham

You probably know Graham for their bold Chronofighter, a polarizing stopwatch with its signature left-hand side lever to actuate the chronograph, but you would be wrong to think that was the only face of the brand. A part of their collection is a tribute to one of the first modern planetariums made by George Graham, the great British clockmaker and maker of scientific instruments. We go hands-on with the entrancing Geo. Graham Orrery.

8 years ago

Live From QP – New Versions of the Schwarz Etienne La Chaux-de-Fonds Tourbillon Petite Seconde Retrograde

Today is the official opening of the London-based watch show, Salon QP. This means novelties from some of the 50 watch brands exposing there. First one to shoot is Schwarz Etienne, which unveils some new versions of its fascinating La Chaux-de-fonds Tourbillon Petite Seconde Retrograde – one steel with blue Lapis Lazuli stone dial edition and one white gold with blue Opal stone dial. Luxurious dials, nice finishing and complex movement… Overview!

8 years ago

HYT Unveils a Third Alinghi Edition – Time for H1 to Celebrate the Yacht Racing Team

No need to present HYT and their fluidic watches anymore. They are unique, bold and mechanically fascinating. What is probably less known is the link between the watchmaker and the sea… Indeed, HYT has just unveiled a third limited watch in the frame of their partnership with Alinghi Yacht Racing Team. After the H4 and the H2, HYT has elected its signature H1 model to celebrate the iconic Swiss Sailing Team founded by Ernesto Bertarelli, the first European Syndicate to win the America’s cup.

8 years ago

Hands-On – The Alfred by Urban Jürgensen, The Steel Entry-Level to In-House Beauty

Recently, we showed you Urban Jürgensen’s real entry-level watch, a steel version of the Big 8 (priced at €12k), yet full of high-end details (crazy guilloche dial, superb hands, hand-finished case) but powered by an externally-sourced automatic movement. Now, if you want to enter into the beauty of exclusive calibres, no need to go crazy expensive and to go gold anymore. Urban Jürgensen has a new watch, the Alfred, which features, inside its steel case, the Maison’s P4 movement. It’s much more accessible, it is still superbly executed and it is sold online only.

8 years ago

Introducing – Jaquet Droz Tropical Bird Repeater, Sound and Motion from Métiers d’Art

For those who know their watch history, it is no secret that the singing bird has been a beloved creature adorning clocks, music boxes, snuffboxes and other objects of art for centuries. However, for years now, Jaquet Droz has been bringing the saga of the singing bird to wristwatches in alluring versions that feature sculpted birds as automatons on dials of musical watches. Now the brand brings the concept to all new heights with the unveiling of the Jaquet Droz Tropical Bird Repeater.

8 years ago

Why the New Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921 Mid-Size is More Masculine Than Some Will Tell?

Recently, Vacheron Constantin unveiled a mid-size version of one of its most appealing watches, the desirable and highly original Historiques American 1921. Yet, there’s something tricky with this watch, and it’s all about its name, and the size that is implied by this “mid-size” appellation. Such watches have always been complex in terms of market segmentation… Large feminine watch, smaller masculine timepiece? It often falls between two stools, but in the case of the American 1921 Mid-Size, my decision is now clear… I needed to wear it and here’s what we (a unanimous decision from the Monochrome editorial team) think.

8 years ago

Introducing – Breguet Classique 5175 “Ginza Anniversary” No-Date, Blue Enamel Dial (Exclusive To The Japanese Market…)

In 2007, the Breguet Boutique in Ginza, Tokyo, opened its doors for the first time. Situated in one of the world’s most expensive and elegant luxury shopping destinations, it has quickly become a popular destination for Japan’s most discerning watch connoisseurs. Following extensive renovations in 2014, which included a substantial expansion in size, the Breguet Boutique is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with the unveiling of a stunning blue-dialled watch created exclusively for the Japanese market, aptly named: the Breguet Classique 5175 “Ginza Anniversary” special edition. And there’s a lot to love in this watch!

8 years ago

Watch of the Year 2017 with CH24.pl and the Special Jury Prize for #SpeedyTuesday

For several years I’ve been a member of the jury of the Watch Of The Year in Poland, organised by our friends of CH24.pl. Last week was the gala award ceremony, as per usual held in the beautiful Sobanski’s Palace in Warsaw. Last year we celebrated the many prize winner, and especially the Grönefeld brothers who won no less than two prizes! This year the Special Jury Award went to a fellow Dutchman and that’s #SpeedyTuesday founder Robert-Jan Broer.

8 years ago