SIHH 2017 – Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Symphonia Grande Sonnerie 1860

SIHH 2017 – Vacheron Constantin unveils its first ever Grande Sonnerie wristwatch with the one-of-a-kind Les Cabinotiers Symphonia Grande Sonnerie 1860, a horological masterpiece boasting ingenious security devices, a smart strike-mode selector operated via the bezel and “phantom” quarters elimination. It’s an impressive watch that we present to you today (and one that we’ll be reviewing in greater detail once the SIHH over).

9 years ago

SIHH 2017 – Audemars Piguet Introduces the Refreshed Royal Oak Chronograph

The best way to ruin an icon watch is certainly to deeply redesigned it. It seems that Audemars Piguet has this statement massively printed everywhere in the design department. Don’t change the Royal Oak, as you’ll certainly end with a result that is not as good at what you already have. Still, the market is a sucker for novelties and some fresh air is needed, from time to time. With this in mind, Audemars Piguet Introduces the Refreshed Royal Oak Chronograph at the SIHH 2017. So no big move, just some tiny little evolutions to make it rather appealing in the end, including a two-tone dial design.

9 years ago

SIHH 2017 – MB&F HM7 Aquapod – The Machine Turned Aquatic Sports Watch

Figure out this situation. Beginning of last week, I was working in front of my computer, writing about upcoming SIHH 2017 watches, headphones glued to my ears, listening to a Quartet for Strings by Gustav Mahler – so-to-say, a quiet situation. Then arrived an email from MB&F, entitled “Horological Machine N°7“. This was already a drastic change of music. I switched to rock and roll. And then, I had to change to alternative-punk-rock when I looked at what basically was a huge “jellyfish-like-aquatic-sports-watch” with MB&F printed on the dial. Yes, you read perfectly, what you look at is the brand’s first attempt of a sports watch. But hey, you’re at Max Bûsser & Friends, so of course we had to expect something hyper-creative again. And that’s exactly what this new MB&F HM7 Aquapod is.

9 years ago

SIHH 2017 – Ulysse Nardin InnoVision 2 (And Why It Makes Us Rethink The Future Of Mechanical Watchmaking)

SIHH 2017 – Ulysse Nardin is about to make some noise for its first SIHH showing off, with cutting-edge technology. The watch you’re about to see is nothing like you’ve seen before. Every part of this watch boasts an innovation, whether we talk about the escapement, the display, the winding system or even the hands. Meet InnoVision 2, a concept watch featuring avant-garde innovations that may make us rethink the future of mechanical watchmaking.

9 years ago

Live From SIHH 2017 – The mighty Vacheron Constantin Celestia

Here we are, live from the SIHH 2017. And as you can imagine, things are quite hectic. So, this is why we’ll show you short stories to discover some of the best novelties we’re been presented. No long articles, just the pleasure of live photos. Still, don’t worry, we have dozens of longer articles coming. To start the show, here is the mighty (understatement) Vacheron Constantin Celestia.

9 years ago

SIHH 2017 – A. Lange & Söhne Tourbograph Perpetual Pour le Merite (with tourbi, split-seconds, QP and fusée-and-chain)

Here we go. Monday 16th January 2017, 9am Geneva time. The SIHH 2017 is officially opened. And what could have been better than this A. Lange & Söhne Tourbograph Perpetual Pour le Merite to sound the start of the show. In short, this watch is simply mega. If you are into watches for already a few years, you might be aware of the 2005 A. Lange & Söhne Tourbograph Pour le Merite, an impressive watch combining a tourbillon, a split-seconds chronograph and a fusée-and-chain transmission. Add to that a perpetual calendar and you’ll have one of the most impressive watches ever created by the Saxon Manufacture (after the Grande Complication), which is the brand’s highlight for his year. Here is the A. Lange & Söhne Tourbograph Perpetual Pour le Merite.

9 years ago

SIHH 2017 – IWC Da Vinci Tourbillon Retrograde Chronograph

As previously announced on Monochrome, the Schaffhausen-based manufacturer is revamping its Da Vinci collection in 2017 including a return to the original round case which popularised this collection in the 1980s (read our article here). SIHH 2017 is just about to get underway and so IWC has finally unveiled all the new editions for this year, including this complex model combining a flying tourbillon with hacking mechanism, a chronograph and a retrograde date.

9 years ago

SIHH 2017 – URWERK UR-T8, The New Concept For The 20th Anniversary

As you might know, this year is the 20th anniversary of a rather unique and disruptive brand named URWERK. As we already showed to you in a dedicated movie, this independent watchmakers started with their first watch at Baselworld 1997, as they were still almost kids. However, even if they just turned 20, don’t believe that Frei & Baumgartner are now old men who are sleeping behind their desks… And as proof of the strong vitality and creativity of URWERK, here is their latest creation, the impressive URWERK UR-T8, which renew the concept of satellite complication and of traditional case.

9 years ago

Five Things I learned When Visiting Seiko in Japan

To most of us Switzerland is the centre of the world, when it comes to watches. The “Swiss Made” sub-title seems to be the best way for brands to make their watches more appealing, however that’s certainly debatable these days. Still, Switzerland is known for precision, fine mechanics and cleanness. Germany is also known for precision, cleanness and fine mechanics, and they also manufacture some very nice watches! Together with the Swiss, the Germans serve to an ever growing clientele who are interested in mechanical wrist watches. And that’s when you realise that there’s another country, on the other side of our globe, that is known for exactly the same qualifications: cleanness, precision and fine mechanics. I’m talking about Japan. Already in 1881 Kintaro Hattori started making watches, and today the company is led by his great grandson Shinji Hattori. Now that’s a proper family business! Recently I had the distinct pleasure of visiting several Seiko manufactures in Japan, and I remained awestruck. Later more about this trip, however we’re going to start with five things I learned about Seiko.

9 years ago

SIHH 2017 – Greubel Forsey Tourbillon 24 Secondes Vision now in Platinum with 4 Dial Options

Launched in 2015, the Greubel Forsey Tourbillon 24 Secondes Vision is the brand’s vision (pun intended) of a pure and clean watch, a piece that doesn’t scream too loud its noble origins and that discreetly display the time, a small second and a tourbillon. All of that was encased in a very round watch (not usual for the brand) and, well, it is just as plain as a Greubel Forsey can be. Still, turn it back and you’ll see an incredible level of finish and a fast-rotating tourbillon. The Greubel Forsey Tourbillon 24 Secondes Vision will see new versions for the SIHH 2017 and will now be offered with 4 dials options, including the very appealing Salmon version on top of this article (and I know someone at the Monochrome redaction who’ll love it).

9 years ago