The vast majority of mechanical watches available nowadays rely on a central oscillating weight to provide power to their movements. Of course, we see lots of variations on this theme – for instance the winching system of the Jacob & Co. Twin Turbo Furious, off-centred micro-rotors, peripheral rotors or even linear rotors. However, the principle […]
The 20-second Tempograph has been part of the Louis Moinet collection since 2014. With its movement displayed in full glory, it stages an original complication: a retrograde 20-second indication producing a playful and rather hypnotic spectacle, giving material form to passing time. The visible retrograde mechanism is triggered by a ratchet gear sliding on a […]
There is something quintessentially appealing about German high-end watchmaking. Often understated, elegant designs fitted with complex yet superbly finished movements, you can spot them amongst their Swiss counterparts quite easily. One of those German brands is Lang & Heyne, based in Dresden, which last year has introduced its rectangular watch called Georg. For this year, […]
Denis Flageollet, the watchmaker and creator behind De Bethune, is known as one of the most brilliant watchmakers of his generation, in particular for his technical developments. The new De Bethune Maestri’Art collection reveals another facet of his talent and his passion for Asian art. The collection aims at celebrating métiers d’art and the artisans crafting these works of art – De Bethune worked with master engraver Michèle Rothen for these two unique pieces.
Not long ago, we reviewed a watch that many collectors and watch aficionado love (for good reasons), the Habring² Doppel-Felix. Also, we took a closer look at the “simple” 3-hand version named Felix. The common thread running through them? The same pared-down design and the same base movement manufactured in-house (quite an achievement for such a small company). But what if you take these two watches and try to find the one that will stand right in the middle? Well, the answer is the Habring² Chrono-Felix.
The big day has arrived for MB&F enthusiasts, or those of you who have been following the Horological Machine series since 2005. The latest opus in the series, the HM9, has just been unveiled… A new, unconventionally good-looking, mechanically complex and design-centric creation inspired by one of Max Busser’s countless dreams and passions… pure MB&F! And today, we have it live for you here, on MONOCHROME.
Schwarz-Etienne is an independent watch manufacture whose origins go back to the early 20thcentury. If the brand has been flying a bit under the radar, it has a lot to offer. Today we take a look at the Roma Petite Seconde, a watch that feels rather simple at first but, like the rest of the brand, is full of details and packed with watchmaking expertise.
Mechanical watches and fluids don’t mix! In fact, keeping fluids outside a watch case is a major issue for all mechanical watch brands. Six years ago, a small company named HYT did exactly the opposite and created a watch that indicates the time with fluids. But don’t expect water to swoosh around the watch case like […]
As they say “if you’ve got it, flaunt it”. With a new in-house automatic COSC-certified movement, the dial of the One & Two is openworked to reveal the calibre in almost all of its mechanical glory. Presented in titanium and 18k red gold cases, the One & Two Openworked models prove that a partially skeletonised dial can be extremely elegant. With an exposed barrel and rotor and the small seconds counter perched at 1:30, the action on the dial is guaranteed. Both the dapper One & Two Academic models, reviewed here, and these Openworked models are distinguished by the unusual position of the small seconds counter adding that touch of British eccentricity that the brand cultivates.
The Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept consolidates superlatives as one of the most precise, one of the most spartan, and certainly the darkest moon phase watch on the market today. Presented in two versions – one in red gold with a signature Moser fumé dial and another in steel with a pitch-black dial – the steel model is the talking piece. With a dial made from Vantablack – the darkest, blackest synthetic substance on our planet – a dramatic black hole canvas serves as a stage for the Moon to perform its orbit. Alluring and mysterious, Vantablack brings the alien sensation of a black hole one step closer to earthlings.