independent watchmaking Archives - Page 135 of 159

Ressence Type 2 e-Crown Concept – The First Self-Setting Mechanical Watch (or how Smart-Tech can make sense)

Here, at MONOCHROME, we’re not huge fans of the smart-watches, to say the least. We cherish and celebrate watches in their purest (probably old-school) form: ME-CHA-NI-CAL! We love gears, pinions, hand-decoration, complications but also all the devoted people that work behind the scenes. Smart-watch, as tech objects, never ticked the boxes. However, we have to keep up with the times and admit that in some cases, technology can be brilliant (we are, after all, a web medium). Today, Ressence launches the Type 2 e-Crown Concept and they might have found the recipe to reconcile us with electronics…

H. Moser & Cie. does it again with the Swiss Icons Watch – Another Irreverent Piece to Draw Attention

H. Moser & Cie. does it again with the Swiss Icons Watch…! Yes, it is a mess. Yes, it looks terrible. No, it is not a joke and it does really exist. But indeed, it is again a brave move from the brand. Early 2017, Moser decided to remove the “Swiss Made” inscription from their watches and coincidentally they launched the Swiss Mad Watch (100% Swiss, including the cheese case). Now, the brand again wants to make some noise and to point what they believe to be the watchmaking industry’s main issue; the lack of creativity and the overly-present marketing.

H. Moser & Cie. does it again with the Swiss Icons Watch – Another Irreverent Piece to Draw Attention (UPDATE, Moser retracts this watch)

First look at the DeWitt Academia Endless Drive and its Surprising Power Reserve Display

Presenting the DeWitt Academia Endless Drive, a watch with a visually appealing power reserve indicator staged and animated in a unique way. And if the power reserve is the pièce de résistance of this new piece, you’ll see that there is more than meets the eye. Here’s an advance hands-on look at this original design, totally in keeping with the brand’s DNA.

The Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance now with Guilloché Dials by Voutilainen

Recently, we had the opportunity to spend some quality hands-on time with the new Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance, and it now receives some superb guilloché dials. Creating an outstanding contrast between technology and modernity (the movement) and tradition (the dials), the creation of this new watch involved more than Armin Strom’s watchmakers… We had previously seen the watch at SalonQP in London, but it wasn’t quite ready for publication then, so we had to hold off until now to share all the tantalising details with you. We’re pretty sure you’ll agree though, that it was definitely worth the wait.

The Unusual Louis Moinet 20-Second Tempograph

Presented in 2014, the Louis Moinet 20-Second Tempograph isn’t a new watch. Yet, as it features a playful retrograde second hand staged with volumes, contrasting materials and colours, it deserves that we, at MONOCHROME, take a closer look at a watch that is both unusual, technically complex, visually daring and unique in its display.

Review – Grönefeld 1941 Remontoire with Bespoke Dial – Best Men’s Watch at GPHG 2016

My wrist is a lucky one as I get to test a lot of seriously brilliant wrist watches. Whether it’s the understated Galet Square Tourbillon Double Spiral from Laurent Ferrier, the magnificent Datograph from A. Lange & Söhne, the ultra-thin and über-clean Piaget Altiplano in white gold, or even the € 60.000 Euro impressive Grand Seiko Spring Drive 8-Days, I get to test (and enjoy) some of the most spectacular timepieces of our time. When I got the call from my fellow countrymen Bart and Tim Grönefeld, that they finally secured a 1941 Remontoire for me to test, I was delighted and excited. Here are my thoughts on the Grönefeld 1941 Remontoire that now also comes with bespoke dials featuring guilloche and translucent enamel.

Introducing – Atelier de Chronométrie AdC #5 – 1940s Style and Mechanics Brought Back in Hand-Made Timepieces

If there’s one thing I love about my job is to discover new watch brands. I’m always stunned by the level of creativity infused by independent watchmakers, from the Sci-Fi creations of Urwerk or the ultra-classic propositions of Laurent Ferrier (who can do nice things together…) One brand we recently discovered at MONOCHROME cumulates quite some intriguing specificities. It isn’t Swiss, it makes things in an ultra-traditional way, whether for the design or the manufacturing process, and it’s all about one-off pieces. This brand is Atelier de Chronométrie and their latest creation is the AdC #5, which brings back to present times the superb 1940s design and mechanics

Introducing – GoS Sarek Midnight Blue, Known Watch, New Dial (And what a dial…)

A unique piece is something few people can afford, but a lot of us dream about. Whether it might be a record-smashing Patek Phillipe for Only-Watch or simply your custom ordered life-long desired piece; there is a massive appeal in knowing you are the only one in the world with the said watch. But there is also another option: artisanal watches where REALLY no two watches are alike despite being part of a certain theme or a limited production run. And the new GoS Sarek Midnight Blue is one in the latter category; it’s a watch that despite the fact that they will build more than 1, you’ll still have a stand-out, unique piece on your wrist!

Women’s Watch Wednesday – A Lady’s Perspective on a Configured Armin Strom Manual

Earlier this year, when Armin Strom presented its “Watch Configurator” to the world, the brand was a leader in the concept. Select your component colours, select the case and colours, select the strap and stitching, so on and so forth until you have a “uniquely yours “watch… not something the luxury watch world is too familiar with. So, when I decided I wanted to wear and review an Armin Strom watch, I knew I wanted something with some amount of configuration to it. The solution is a bold yet beautiful and powerful statement for women: Armin Strom’s Cameleon Manual Watch.

Watch Dandy

Category: independent watchmaking