High-end Watches Archives - Page 78 of 122

Pre-SIHH 2019 – Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon Sky Chart

The new Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon Sky Chart is the second unique piece unveiled by the Geneva-based brand in the frame of its Pre-SIHH 2019 presentations. Just like the Grande Complication Phoenix we unveiled a few hours ago, the Minute Repeater Tourbillon Sky chart is exceptional in every respect, combining three major complications (tourbillon, minute repeater and sky chart) housed in a white gold case set with 112 baguette-cut diamonds.

Pre-SIHH 2019 – Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Grande Complication Phoenix

With SIHH 2019 fast approaching, brands are pre-releasing selected models to whet our appetites. Among them is Vacheron Constantin, which has released the first images of two unique pieces, Les Cabinotiers Grande Complication Phoenix and Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon Sky chart we will introduce in a separate article. But for now, let’s look at the first model, a complex watch with no fewer than 15 complications.

Buying Guide – The Best of Independent Watchmaking 2018 – Part 2

Yesterday, we started to look at the best watches created by independent watchmakers in 2018, with more “classical” watches (if ever the indie scene could be labelled classical). Today, in the second part of this guide, we move to the most creative, daring, highly technical of them all. Sci-fi designs, unusual displays of the time, […]

Buying Guide – The Best of Independent Watchmaking 2018 – Part 1

Creative, daring, highly technical or crafted to a level that you simply cannot achieve in mass production – there are many reasons why independent watchmaking has been on the rise over the past twenty years. “Indies” are passionate about watchmaking and are often just a little bit crazy. Without massive marketing budgets or product committees, their creations are simply born from dreams, enthusiasm and entrepreneurial spirit. Their ingenuity, vision, diversity or simply their smaller size give watchmaking fans a wealth of unique creations. Today, we take a look at some of the best 2018 creations of the independent watchmaking scene.

Video – Inside Bovet, a Unique Manufacture of High-End, Astronomical Watches

The independent watchmaking “scene” is vast and comprises dozens of brands, ateliers and one-man shows. What still impress us here, at MONOCHROME, is how those watchmaking brands manage to create passion and to differentiate with striking products. Among them is Bovet, a unique manufacture with impressive horological skills, superbly decorated movements and a focus on astronomy, creating watches like no others. Today, we’re in Motiers, at the brand’s headquarters, to talk with owner Pascal Raffy about these fascinating timepieces.

First Look – The new Grönefeld 1941 Principia – Simpler, Automatic, Still Superbly Finished

It took Tim and Bart Grönefeld, the charismatic “Horological Brothers”, almost three years to reveal a new watch. Certainly, they are not the most prolific watchmakers when it comes to novelties – meaning that when something new is coming to the market, we’re quite enthusiastic. While all of their previous creations feature a complication (a tourbillon, an oversized dead-beat second or a remontoire), their new watch is a simple automatic 3-hander. But we prefer to avoid the word “entry-level” here as, clearly, the new Grönefeld 1941 Principia is all about (very) fine watchmaking.

6 years ago

Hands-on – Ferdinand Berthoud FB1 Malaspina Edition (Unique Piece)

With the Malaspina Edition, Ferdinand Berthoud further explores the theme of the “Age of Discovery” in relation to marine chronometers. Alessandro Malaspina was an Italian born navigator, who spent most of his life at the service of the Spanish Marine. In particular, he led the Malaspina Expedition (1789-1794) exploring and mapping the west coast of the Americas throughout the Pacific Ocean. To guide him in this scientific-political expedition, Malaspina navigated with two Berthoud marine chronometers, N°10 and N°13.

6 years ago

Hands-on – The Impressive Armin Strom Masterpiece 1 Dual Time Resonance

In 2016, Armin Strom impressed us with a brand-new watch featuring a stunning complication. Armin Strom is a watch brand that was known mainly for its bold skeletonized movements, however mostly time-only watches. But with the Mirrored Force Resonance, the brand showed unprecedented horological skills. This year, the brand pushes the concept even further, not only by using the concept of Resonance but by using the double-balance construction to create a Dual Time watch. Two movements in one watch… Meet the Armin Strom Masterpiece 1 Dual Time Resonance.

6 years ago

In-Depth – Jacob & Co – The Method Behind the Madness

One of the most sensational watches presented at Baselworld 2018 is a creation by Jacob & Co. The uber-complex Twin Turbo Furious is a beast of a watch featuring an insane, staggering combination of complications: a double high-speed triple axis tourbillion; a decimal minute repeater; and a mono-pusher chronograph with reference time indication! For some, the discovery that the most complex watch of Baselworld was a ‘Jacob the jeweller’ creation came as a surprise, for others who have been following the brand, the Twin Turbo Furious is representative of the spectacular, mind-bogglingly complicated watches the brand is capable of producing.

6 years ago

Introducing – HYT H20 Brown Limited Edition

With HYT, an independent watchmaker headquartered in Neuchatel, time is fluid. Since 2012, it has measured time in the most unconventional way. Its flow is displayed by the continuous movement of a coloured and a transparent liquid in a capillary. Several models have been presented since the inception of the brand and here’s the latest creation: the HYT H2O Brown.

6 years ago