Category: High-end Watches

History of the Patek Philippe Nautilus, Part 1 – The Birth an Icon, the 3700 (1976/1990)

Stating that the Patek Philippe Nautilus is an icon is probably too easy… but there is no way to evade this. The Nautilus is an icon. No debate. Introduced in 1976, and designed by one of the most famous watch-designers, who can be seen as the creator of a new species of timepieces – the luxury sports watch. The Nautilus is praised by all sorts of collectors, and it is now celebrating its 40th anniversary. Last week we explained the 40th anniversary editions  to you, and now it is time to look at the entire timeline of this watch. The first part of the history of the Patek Philippe Nautilus is of course dedicated to the very first version, the Ref. 3700.

8 years ago

Introducing – Parmigiani Fleurier Kalpa XL Hebdomadaire Anniversaire, a solid gold movement in a steel case

Recently, the high-end brand Parmigiani Fleurier introduced a special piece for its 20th anniversary, the Parmigiani Fleurier Kalpa Hebdomadaire Anniversaire Piece unique. Apart from its nice design, paying tribute to the very first watch designed by Michel Parmigiani, the main interest was in the combination of an almost commoner steel case with a splendid hand-engraved solid gold movement. We thought it would have remained a unique iteration, but in front of the success encountered, Parmigiani decided to introduce a limited edition of 10 pieces, the Parmigiani Fleurier Kalpa XL Hebdomadaire Anniversaire.

8 years ago

Konstantin Chaykin Introduces the Most Complicated Clock ever made in Russia, the Moscow Comptus Easter Clock

There’s one question that always seems to come up at parties I attend; what do you give the Russian oligarch in your life that already has everything? Ok, so maybe that question doesn’t always come up and maybe I don’t know any Russian oligarchs (or attend parties for that matter) but I do happen to know the answer. Presenting the wonderfully elaborate Moscow Comptus Easter Clock by Konstantin Chaykin, the most complicated clock ever made in Russia.

8 years ago

F.P.Journe Launches “Patrimoine”, a new service to acquire past collections, restored in-house

We, watch collectors, all know how difficult and risky it can be to purchase a used watch. How can I verify the authenticity of the watch? Are all the parts originals? How the desired watch has been serviced or worn? What amount of trust should I give to the seller? Is it a stolen watch? What warranty will it come with? Too many questions that some will never agree with and thus, you will stick to new watches. To counteract this issue, F.P. Journe just launched “Patrimoine”, a new service for collectors to enrich their collection by giving them the opportunity to purchase rare watches that are no longer manufactured (brass movement, unique pieces, limited editions…), entirely serviced, controlled and restored in-house. Interesting, right?

8 years ago

Testing (really testing) the Arnold & Son Constant Force Tourbillon (and see if such mechanisms have a chronometric interest)

The watch we’ll test today is worth of a chronometric contest. It has been created with a unique goal in mind: being as accurate as possible, in all positions and during the whole range of its power reserve. Usually, we would have written a review exposing the case, the dial, the finishing or the wearability of the piece. However, with the Arnold & Son Constant Force Tourbillon, this would have been short. We had to test it, and when I mean “test”, I mean looking at it on a watchmaker’s bench, with professional measuring tools. So here we are, with the test (and not the review) of this demonstration piece, and answers about the utility of such complex devices in a watch.

8 years ago

Introducing – Ulysse Nardin Classic Sonata, a Complex Alarm Watch with Cathedral Gong

The concept of the Sonata by Ulysse Nardin is not new, but still, you’ll see later in this article, it’s a really captivating concept. Several watches have been created with the Sonata complication, however, most of them, even if mechanically attractive, were bold, highly sportive and masculine watches. Since a few months, Ulysse Nardin is giving a new identity to its watches, with more subtle and more elegant designs, and it will be the case for this Sonata too. Here is the Ulysse Nardin Classic Sonata, a complex and unique watch, with a melodic cathedral gong for tis alarm complication.

8 years ago

Several New Vacheron Constantin Harmony Models, Including Complete Calendar Moonphase and New Iterations

When in 2015 Vacheron Constant presented the Harmony, it was already an entire collection, comprising a simple Dual Time, a small size chronograph (women-oriented), a Monopusher Chronograph (the superb 3300), a Tourbillon Chronograph and a stunning ref. 3500 ultra-thin, automatic, split-seconds chronograph. Even if there was no new editions at the 2016 Edition of the SIHH, which was entirely focussed on the Overseas, it’s time now for the Harmony Collection to see evolutions. As a sort of early Pre-SIHH, here are several new Vacheron Constantin Harmony models, including a brand new and elegant Complete Calendar Moonphase and new iterations of existing versions.

8 years ago

Introducing – Patek Philippe Nautilus 40th Anniversary Editions, including Platinum 3-hand 5711/1P and WG Chronograph 5976/1G (with price)

40 years ago, Patek Philippe introduced a watch that has become an icon over the past 4 decades. This watch was designed by the legendary watch-designer Gerald Genta. Inspired by the porthole, legend told it was drawn on a restaurant table in 5 minutes. It was the Nautilus ref. 3700, the first sports watch of the brand, which, in 1976, created the lineage, and which is today celebrating its 40th anniversary. As expected, Patek Philippe is about to offer its collectors dedicated jubilee editions. And there won’t be one but two of these Patek Philippe Nautilus 40th Anniversary Editions, including a platinum 3-hand 5711/1P and a white gold Chronograph 5976/1G. However, we have to say that we were both excited and also a bit disappointed by these two, and here is why…

8 years ago

VIDEO – The Montblanc Patented ExoTourbillon explained by Davide Cerrato, managing director of the Montblanc Watch Division

This year, at the SIHH 2016, Montblanc continued to impressed us with a new watch, the ExoTourbillon Slim, an elegant, luxurious and technically complex watch, which includes the brand’s latest innovation, the ExoTourbillon. This watch not only have a tourbillon regulator that clearly stands out of the crowd, with unique technical solutions, but it is also an extremely good “value for money” offer, in the actual accessible luxury motto of Montblanc. We, at Monochrome-Watches, decided that this watch and its regulator needed to be explained in details, and for that we’ve been visiting the Montblanc Manufacture in Villeret and asked Davide Cerrato, Managing Director of Montblanc Watch Division, to tell us everything about the ExoTourbillon.

8 years ago

The versatility of the Vacheron Constantin Quai de l’Ile in steel

Pretty much every watch is introduced with one specific strap, or bracelet, and usually that’s what determines its looks. Of course, watch brands design the watch for a specific purpose,  and therefore the watch must have a matching look / style, so that’s all fully understandable. But it can also be kind of boring, especially for those who feel that their watch might also look good on a different strap, and befit a different style. For people who like to change the looks of their watch to the “style of the day” or to changing activities, a few brands deliver some of their watches with two or three straps or bracelets, and we applaud that. However when I saw the new steel Vacheron Constantin Quai de l’Ile on its alligator leather strap, I really wanted to see it on a more sporty and more casual strap, and Vacheron Constantin was so kind to let me give this a try. Since I was already fully convinced of the versatility of the watch, I’m now interested to find out what you think of the Quai de l’Ile in a different look. 

8 years ago