Category: independent watchmaking

F.P. Journe Centigraphe Souverain Anniversaire In Titanium, For The 10th Anniversary of The Geneva Boutique

If you look closely, it is hard to figure that F.P. Journe is still a young brand. Of course, François-Paul, as a watchmaker, is active for already a few decades but F.P. Journe, as a brand, isn’t. It’s even clearer when you look at when official boutiques were opened: only 10 years ago. In order to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its boutiques, F.P. Journe offers a limited series, the Centigraphe Souverain Anniversaire, in a very unique materials and colors combination. After Hong Kong and Tokyo, the Geneva F.P. Journe Boutique was the third to celebrate its anniversary, unveiling its Anniversary Edition in a limited series of 10 pieces.

9 years ago

Introducing – Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance now in Stainless Steel

To make things clear from the beginning, the Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance was one of the watches that impressed us most here, at Monochrome-Watches, in 2016 – and when you know our level of snobbery, it is quite a title that we gave here. This watch had it all: a massively impressive technical solution, a respect of watchmaking history, a traditional manufacturing process and an unchained look. While only available in gold, the Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance is now offered in Stainless Steel – Mainly for the look than but also a bit for the wallet…

9 years ago

Beat Haldimann Goes Back To The Essential With The New Steel H11 and H12

Purity, an absence of the unnecessary and a focus on the essential… Beat Haldimann unveils his first steel watches with new versions of the no-frill H11 & H12: two superb blue dialed timepieces radiating authentic, uncompromising craftsmanship. We take a hands-on look at these rare objects.

9 years ago

The MB&F LM1 Final Edition In Steel – The Farewell Edition of a 6-Year Success Story…

At MB&F, everything started in 2005, with the HM1, followed by 3 other HM watches. From this inaugural piece to 2011, MB&F was all about radical Horological Machines. Sci-Fi design, unusual displays, über-complex movements, organic or space-like shapes… Nothing was traditional. But in 2011, Max Büsser and his friends launched a surprisingly classical watch (relatively-speaking…), a watch that, for the coming 6 years, will become a best-seller of the brand. This watch was the LM1 and soon, its production will stop. No sad feelings though, but a farewell party instead, with the LM1 Final Edition, a steel / brown dial version.

9 years ago

RGM Introduces the “Chess in Enamel” For Its 25th Anniversary (And It Is American-Made!)

American-Made watches… Certainly a dream for many of our readers on the West side of the Atlantic. Watches that are really made (meaning with parts manufactured and assembled in the US) are rare, too rare honestly – and the Shinola-gate is not going to help this issue. However, such a dream is possible, with a brand named RGM Watch Co. – for Roland G. Murphy. The manufacture, which will turn 25 this year, celebrates this jubilee with a first watch, inspired by an also American-Made pocket watch, the RGM “Chess in Enamel”.

9 years ago

Meerson Introduces the Mutiny Chronograph – A Limited Production Bespoke Watch Collection

Creating a watch brand from scratch, especially when you don’t rely on new funding processes such as Kickstarter, is sort of a daring gamble in times of “crisis” and “slow demand”. However, that’s exactly what Alexandre Meerson did 3 years ago, and not with an affordable piece, but with a complete collection of luxury watches, with a quite unique tailor-made idea. After the Altitude and the D-15 GMT collections, Meerson comes back with a third piece, this time entirely focused on the Limited Production / Bespoke concept, the Meerson Mutiny Chronograph.

9 years ago

The Porsche 911 And The REC 901 And How They Are Related – A Personal Story

Forgive me, this will be a deeply one-sided article. I will not focus on anything else but my own love and experience for once. Usually we see the light AND dark side of something, and try to relate that to you, our readers. Not this time, oh no! Now, it has become personal! Why? Because of my passion for all things “Zuffenhausen“. Yes, there will be talk about watches and yes I will share hands-on experience with you, however first I have to get something off of my chest…

9 years ago

The Porsche 911 And The REC 901 And How They Are Related – A Personal Story

Forgive me, this will be a deeply one-sided article. I will not focus on anything else but my own love and experience for once. Usually we see the light AND dark side of something, and try to relate that to you, our readers. Not this time, oh no! Now, it has become personal! Why? Because of my passion for all things “Zuffenhausen“. Yes, there will be talk about watches and yes I will share hands-on experience with you, however first I have to get something off of my chest…

9 years ago

Hands-On – Arnold & Son DBG Skeleton Dual-Time – With (Almost) Two Movements in One Watch

Symmetry in the construction of the displays and movements have always been a huge part of Arnold & Son’s DNA. In their case, the design doesn’t drive the development of the movement, but the opposite. See for instance the Constant Force Tourbillon, the Nebula or the Time Pyramid and you’ll see how symmetry influenced the brand. Playing on this same concept, the brand pushed the idea even further, by having a watch with two entirely separate time displays, driven by an incredible twin-movement. And in order to enjoy this mechanical feast, a new version, the Arnold & Son DBG Skeleton, exposes all its entrails in a demonstrative but elegant way.

9 years ago