Smart watches… even the name annoys me. There are however, a league of (more profound) reasons why we do not cover such wrist ornaments on Monochrome. Of course we get questions from our readers asking why we have not reviewed the ref. 5396 Patek Annual Calendar, and rightfully so. We should have reviewed that watch, and as soon …
Somehow the information leaked out just before SIHH 2017 – Audemars Piguet would be presenting its first all-ceramic watch (bracelet included) during the Geneva fair, an all-black version of the iconic Perpetual Calendar Royal Oak. Not surprisingly this news immediately created a buzz of excitement amongst collectors, because clearly, this Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Black Ceramic is hot.
Somehow the information leaked out just before SIHH 2017 – Audemars Piguet would be presenting its first all-ceramic watch (bracelet included) during the Geneva fair, an all-black version of the iconic Perpetual Calendar Royal Oak. Not surprisingly this news immediately created a buzz of excitement amongst collectors, because clearly, this Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Black Ceramic is hot.
This year, Ulysse Nardin is on the rush… After the impressive collection launched at the SIHH 2017, which showed more modern and more refined designs, yet “very Ulysse” in the style, we now have a succession of several rather surprising watches, with a vintage-inspired theme. After the Diver Le Locle, a dive watch inspired by a 1960s timepiece, here is now the Ulysse Nardin Classico Paul David Nardin, this time referring to a 1945 watch. And once again, the look is just superb.
This year, Ulysse Nardin is on the rush… After the impressive collection launched at the SIHH 2017, which showed more modern and more refined designs, yet “very Ulysse” in the style, we now have a succession of several rather surprising watches, with a vintage-inspired theme. After the Diver Le Locle, a dive watch inspired by a 1960s timepiece, here is now the Ulysse Nardin Classico Paul David Nardin, this time referring to a 1945 watch. And once again, the look is just superb.
25 years ago, the highly-respectable manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre innovated not with a new complication or a new material, but by implementing the “1000 Hours Control” procedure, an in-house certification comprising a series of radical tests to ensure that the watches are reliable and precise. As a tribute to this anniversary, Jaeger-LeCoultre had no best idea than to create a entire new collection of Master Control, with just stunning sector dials. Today on Monochrome, we take a look at these 3 watches: the Master Chronograph, the Master Geographic and the Master Control Date (and wait to see the prices…)
Think about it for a second… What is the most important feature of a dive watch? Its water resistance? Its second hand? Its bezel? Of course, it is a combination of these elements however, pro-divers won’t contradict me, THE ultimate feature of a dive watch is the minute hand. For safety reasons, the minute hand is key to calculate remain diving time and decompression stages. Oris knows about it for already some years and comes back with a new version of the Regulateur ‘Der Meistertaucher’, a watch intensively thought, built for pro-divers and with the appeal of its original display.
Maurice Lacroix unveiled a new version of its Masterpiece Double Retrograde at Baselworld this year – and the watch has never looked so good. Here is a hands-on look at this tastefully executed facelift with a new clous de Paris dial that is definitely more modern and chic – and still with this great display, complex and legible at the same time.
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”.
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.