Czapek expands its Faubourg de Cracovie chronograph collection with the incorporation of this California Dreamin’ model. Although its name will have you humming the Mamas & the Papas 1965 hit song, it has nothing to do with nostalgia for California sunshine. Nor does it have anything to do with the historic figure of François Czapek, […]
Kees Engelbarts might not a household name for most people. Readers of MONOCHROME, however, have been introduced to the watches of this most original Dutch engraver whom Frank has been following since 2009. Engelbarts is an independent watchmaker, a free spirit with a lively fantasy and a talent for engraving that situate his watches closer […]
John McGonigle is a name that will immediately sound familiar to some of the most seasoned watch collectors. After a career in high-end watchmaking, working for some of the most prestigious watch manufactures, creating some of the finest grande complications, it was time for the Irishman to come back to his home country. John didn’t leave […]
John McGonigle is a name that will immediately sound familiar to some of the most seasoned watch collectors. After a career in high-end watchmaking, working for some of the most prestigious watch manufactures, creating some of the finest grande complications, it was time for the Irishman to return home. John didn’t leave horology though, and […]
Atelier de Chronométrie is something special in the watchmaking scene… Truly special. And what these Barcelona-based guys are doing is absolutely fascinating. ‘Handmade’ takes on its original meaning here and wristwatches in the Atelier are crafted in the good old traditional way. Specialized in 1940s-styled watches based on revived vintage Omega calibres, what you’re about […]
Laurent Ferrier is coming up for its tenth anniversary this year and celebrates with the release of this Classic Origin Opaline watch in a 40mm Grade 5 titanium case and the pared-down elegance we have come to associate with Laurent Ferrier. The first time the brand recurs to titanium, this straightforward time-only model with small […]
Last year saw the introduction of a new brand on the independent watchmaking scene, a brand that impressed with a novel way to display the time; Genus Watches. While the vast majority of watches display the time in a classic way (with 2 or 3 hands rotating over a round dial), Genus came with something radical, […]
The first time we met with Remy Cools and presented his work on MONOCHROME was in 2018. At the time, Cools had freshly graduated from his watchmaking school, the Lycée Edgar Faure in Morteau. This talented young craftsman had caught our attention with his montre d’école, the school watch that he completed in order to […]
The density of horological technicality packed into this watch is enough to take your breath away. Following in the stellar wake of Brainstorm Chapter One released in 2019, Chapter Two takes on board a host of complications: double-sided flying tourbillon; world timer indexed to a second time zone; and moon phase and power reserve indicators. […]
An independent watchmaker from the Vallée de Joux, Romain Gauthier is considered a master of hand decoration in Swiss watchmaking, demonstrating the savoir-faire of his team through impeccably finished movements. To mark the 15th anniversary of the Romain Gauthier brand, what better way than to take one of his outstanding models and make it even […]