Chances are, you’ve never heard the name Steffen Cornehl before. That’s because he is an independent watchmaker of the more obscure variety. He doesn’t come from one of the major brands, nor is he based in Switzerland. Instead, he works out of a small studio in Stuggart, Germany, where he restores antique clocks and vintage […]
We’ve been exploring the Dutch fields of watchmaking recently, with for instance the Van der Gang 20019 chronograph, the 3D-Printed watches of Dutch watchmaker Michiel Holthinrichs or the first watch by De Rijke Watches & Co, the Amalfi Series I. Today we shed light on yet another Dutch creation, driven by one man’s passion for […]
The Speake-Marin One&Two collection was launched just two years ago. First, the brand’s signature case, the Picadilly, got a facelift – a tasteful redesign conducted with Eric Giroud. Secondly, the movements inside are worth a look. In addition to the Small Seconds model and its Openworked development, the brand added a GMT version at SIHH 2019. And there was a nice, astronomical watch next to it, the Speake-Marin One&Two Academic Full Moon.
In a radical departure from the smooth, pebble-shaped cases we associate with Laurent Ferrier, the Bridge One embraces a new geometry marked by flowing rectangular lines with rounded edges and a strong Art Deco vibe. The movement, shaped to match the case, is also new and fitted with a traditional Swiss lever escapement as opposed to the natural escapement featured on most of LF watches. Unveiled during the SIHH 2019, we were able to spend some time with the novel Bridge One.
In the last years we have seen two very different faces of Greubel Forsey: on the one hand, we get extraordinarily complex watches with big cases and uneven shapes that look like a boxer after an unsuccessful fight night. Its famous GMT is a prime example of that. On the other hand, it also produces watches with round cases and simpler dials. Still the same insane obsession with the best finishes possible, but less information and a more traditional arrangement. It started with the Tourbillon 24 Secondes Vision, with live pictures here, that secured the manufacture the 2016 Aiguille d’Or, the highest prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genéve (GPHG). That same year we saw the Signature 1, with an even simpler structure. And that’s the case of the new Greubel Forsey Balancier Contemporain.
Watches produced by Louis Moinet are never shy and usually showcase a certain exuberance. However, the brand also has an impressive horological background (the first chronograph timepiece ever created, for instance) and today’s collections still feature complex movements. Not changing its usual codes, the brand today presents a new, highly ornamented piece with a tourbillon, the Louis Moinet Mogador.
Johan Gustafsson and Patrik Sjörgen, founders of GoS Watches, create watches that encapsulate their passion for Scandinavia’s Viking past and the natural beauty of Sweden’s landscape. As unique as they are unusual, GoS watches are a far cry from the minimalist aesthetic we tend to associate with Scandinavian design. Ahead of Baselworld 2019, GoS introduces […]
Regular readers of MONOCHROME might remember the name of Michiel Holthinrichs, the Dutch designer who combines traditional mechanical watchmaking with cutting-edge 3D printing. By introducing 21st-century technology into the mix, Holthinrichs is able to create highly specialised designs, reduce costs, and explore the potential of his revolutionary method. His first watch, Ornament 1, featured a […]
Romain Gauthier is, without doubt, one of the top watchmakers when it comes to decoration – check this… you’ll understand. His watches are mechanically fascinating, rare and his level of expertise in movement’s finishing, in the traditional “Vallée de Joux” style, undeniable. Mouthwatering material for seasoned collectors. Today, the man unveils its latest watch, based on the (apparently) simple Prestige HMS, and for the first time crafted in stainless steel. Don’t believe in compromises though, as the execution of the dial and the movement compensate entirely. Meet the HMS Stainless Steel and Meteorite.
Most watches that really spark my interest have either Swiss or German roots, but on rare occasions, a piece will surface from an unlikely place. I recently reviewed the Classic Enamel PS-801-CE from American watchmaker, RGM (based in Pennsylvania) and I’m always impressed with the company’s in-house calibres and old-school craftsmanship. America was once a hotbed for watchmaking with brands like Hamilton, Waltham, Elgin, Ingersoll and Westclox, but acquisitions, bankruptcies and European competition have all but shut down American production. While RGM represents a resurgence of American watchmaking with several in-house calibres, a much younger company in Los Angeles has been producing an in-house movement since 2016. Weiss Watch Company has only existed for a few years and initially relied on Swiss movements for American-made cases, but their in-house Calibre 1003 has made them a bonified American watch brand. Let’s take a closer look at the Weiss 42mm Limited American Issue Field Watch, designed and manufactured in the United States.