Formex has just unveiled the Element; reimagining the brand design DNA into a bold, rugged chronograph offering excellent value for money. Just a few days after the watch premiered at Munich Time, we have visited the Formex team in Biel to go hands-on with their latest stopwatch… and here are the specs, some live pics and the price.
Earlier this year, Ulysse Nardin launched a new watch that we thought here, at MONOCHROME, best represented the essence of the brand, the Marine Torpilleur. Visually inspired by antique Marine Chronometers, powered by an in-house movement with Silicon parts (UN were the first to equip a watch with that), this piece showed an overall pretty cool look immediately recognizable as UN and a very attractive price tag. Well, as the SIHH 2018 is slowly appearing, Ulysse Nardin unveils a new version of this watch, the Marine Torpilleur Military. And while it is physically and technically (almost) the same watch, the look is something completely different.
Graham is not shy to create bold watches… If you know them already, you might be aware of the hyper-masculine and completely original Chronofighter watches, some large pilot-chronographs with a unique trigger device to activate the timing sessions. Even less common were the Vintage Nose Art Ltd. watches, showing on their dials some aviation-inspired pinups. And because the end of the year is coming, the brand has decided to bring something quite “à propos”, with the Graham Chronofighter Vintage Nose Art Merry Ltd…
While I love a complicated women’s watch chocked with horological prowess and lots of function, not every timepiece has to be over the top. Sometimes a simply clean and classic look works wonders. Such is the case with the German-Made Tutima Saxon One Automatic Lady watch, a brand-new offer from a brand more used to …
Last month, we introduced you to the stunning new MB&F Legacy Machine Split-Escapement. A successor of sorts to the highly popular Legacy Machine 1, which was officially retired by MB&F earlier this year after six years of faithful service, the Legacy Machine SE serves as yet another reminder that even when Geneva’s top Creative Lab is trying to be conservative, they’re still full of surprises. Luckily for us, MB&F were exhibiting at SalonQP last week, giving us the opportunity to spend a bit of hands-on time with this incredible new timepiece.
At Baselworld 2017, Seiko introduced a new line in the Presage collection, the “Cocktail” watches – colourful, elegant timepieces inspired by the glamorous world of the cocktail bar. Comprising no less than 8 models, this series of Presage watches have been praised for its audacious look and for the perfect combination of mechanical pleasure with highly decent prices. Today, Seiko enriches the collection with four new models (two new dials, with two different movements) that have been inspired by the work of a past winner of the International Bar Association World Championships. Here are the Seiko Presage “Cocktail” Starlight and Sakura Hubuki with references SSA361, 363 and SRPC01, 03.
If Bell & Ross is known for their aviation- and military-oriented pieces (which has been demonstrated again several times this year with for instance the Vintage BR V1-92 Military or the BR03-92 Horograph and BR03-92 Horolum), the brand also has different inspirations (racing cars for instance, with the Renault F1 partnership) or experimental watches (such as the surprising BR-X2 Tourbillon). Part of this “experimental” collection is a watch that we’ve seen, reviewed and appreciated here on Monochrome, the BR-X1. For the end of this year, the model is back with a new colour scheme and new materials, with the Bell & Ross BR-X1 White Hawk Collection.
For most of the youngsters, Timex is synonymous of accessible, fashion-oriented quartz watches. However, if we look back in time, Timex actually played a major role in the history of the American mechanical watch. Timex was one of the most, if not the most prominent US-based manufacture, until the early 1980s when the company made a drastic strategic move. Yet, times are changing, and without saying that Timex is about to go back to its glorious past position, it is to be noted that the US-based brand returns to mechanical, with the Timex Vintage Marlin, a hand-wound watch priced under $200. A lot to love, and also not to love… You’ll see!
Anonimo might not be the largest watch brand we know, the least we can say is that they had quite a productive year: a complete facelift of the Nautilo, some sailing editions, some colourful versions of their dive watch, some new “bronze” watches and finally, new editions of the signature military chronographs. Why such a profusion of novelties? Simply because the brand is celebrating its 20th anniversary. And because the year isn’t finished yet, here are some new pieces, the “dressed in white” Anonimo Nautilo Bianco.
This year, Jack Heuer, Honorary President of Tag Heuer and watch industry royalty, is celebrating his 85th birthday. To mark the occasion, Tag Heuer will unveil a limited edition of the iconic Heuer chronograph – the Autavia – specially designed by Mr. Heuer himself. In total 1,932 pieces will be produced – in reference to Mr. Heuer’s birth year – with piece number 1 to be offered as part of the exceptional timepieces at the auction “Heuer Parade” organised by Phillips on the 11th of November in Geneva. Read on for all the details.