Category: independent watchmaking

In-Depth – The F.P. Journe Vagabondage III (And The History Of The Vagabondage Series)

François-Paul Journe has always been a bit apart in the watchmaking industry. Yet, most of his watches are easily recognizable and are imbued with a clear, distinctive DNA. However, a specific series of watches does not respect the rule; the Vagabondage watches. Entirely different case, entirely different displays, entirely different philosophy… 2017 marks the arrival of a third tortue-cased watch, the F.P. Journe Vagabondage III (which we already showed to you in video here). A splendid watch and the first-ever mechanical watch with digital jumping-seconds. And today, we take a closer look at it.

9 years ago

Czapek & Cie Unveils A Platinum Limited Edition & The 38.5mm Quai des Bergues

The name Czapek came back on the front of the scene in 2015, with the launch of the Quai des Bergues (Read our story about the re-birth of Patek ex-partner here). The watch has been very well received and was even awarded with the Public Prize at Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2016. This stylish 42.5mm timepiece has been offered in different versions and Czapek now unveils a limited edition of 10 pieces in the noblest of metals, platinum and with an engraved case, as well as smaller 38.5mm edition.

9 years ago

Louis Moinet Mobilis – An Hypnotic Double Tourbillon & Kaleidoscope Watch

Mobilis in Mobile – please welcome the Louis Moinet Mobilis – The ‘indie’ watchmaking brand honoring the memory of the great Louis Moinet unveils a sculptural, hyper-active and hypnotic watch. On the dial of this Louis Moinet Mobilis, no less than a double tourbillon powering a mesmerizing kaleidoscope automaton. Let’s take a closer look.

9 years ago

SIHH 2017 Personal Perspectives: Greubel Forsey

Greubel Forsey claimed one of the most complicated watches unveiled at SIHH 2017 with a grande sonnerie wristwatch, but also debuted variants of its two entry-level timepieces, the Signature 1 and Tourbillon 24 Seconde Vision. Boasting an incline tourbillon and automatic winding for the second barrel, the Grande Sonnerie is styled in the typical Greubel Forsey manner – large […]

9 years ago

The Ressence Type 1 Squared – A Subtle and Dressier Take on the “Beyond Hands” Concept (Review)

When just before the SIHH 2017, we, at the Monochrome redaction, received the news about a new Ressence Type 1, I have to admit that I was personally quite curious. From what I could see on the photos, this new “Squared” was clean, more horological, slimmer and with a shape that I love, an elegant cushion. Still, nothing worth a try on the wrist (you can’t imagine how many deceptions I had after strapping on the wrist a watch that I loved on photos). And, oh boys and girls, what a pleasant surprise I had with the Ressence Type 1 Squared…

9 years ago

SIHH 2017 – A Second Look at the Sculptural Christophe Claret Maestro

Christophe Claret had been teasing us for a while, sharing glimpses of this new concept… The watch was revealed just before the SIHH 2017, which made us even more curious to see it in the metal. Well, as we have got the chance to do so when in Geneva, we were not disappointed by what is the smallest and least expensive Claret watch so far. We now share live pictures and have a second look at this stunning piece of watchmaking design: The Christophe Claret Maestro.

9 years ago

Introducing the De Bethune DB25L Milky Way, the Galaxy on Your Wrist

A brilliant metallic blue sky scattered with stars is a favourite of De Bethune, with the latest being the Milky Way. The DB25L Milky Way uses the brand’s traditional heat blued titanium for its dial, with tiny white gold spheres embedding by hand into the polished surface to represent the stars. And fine gold flakes […]

9 years ago

A Detailed Look at the Thin, Complex and Compelling F.P. Journe Vagabondage III

Only just introduced while SIHH 2017 takes place in Geneva, the F.P. Journe Vagabondage III is a world’s first, featuring both a jumping hours and digital jumping seconds, a well as a remontoir d’egalite.  According to François-Paul Journe himself, this complication has never been done in either pocket or wristwatches. And despite the complexity of the movement, F.P. […]

9 years ago

Just Because, the new F.P. Journe Vagabondage III In Video

OK, we’re not going to enter into too many details now – and you probably learned a lot about this watch with some of our colleagues already. Still, the new F.P. Journe Vagabondage III is a massive novelty: it’s superb, it’s technical, it’s playful, it’s unique in terms of display and it’s rare. In a few days we’ll come with a proper review of this mega-watch (and there’s a lot to say, both on the technical and historical sides).

9 years ago