Category: Novelty

When The Crown Goes Classic… The Rolex Cellini Moonphase Ref. 50535

Usually, when you imagine a watch bearing the name Rolex, you have something purpose-built, casual-sport (not always, but usually the dressier you can think about is a Day-Date) and quite simple in terms of complications (to the exception of the Sky-Dweller… but it is one watch in the middle of mainly time-and-date pieces). Yet, in 2014, Rolex revived a name synonymous of elegance and dressed watches: Cellini. Built around a classical and subtle case, this watch already introduced several complications, with all of them being rather practical. But what if The Crown goes where you don’t expect them… into poetical complications. Not very Rolex you’ll admit. Though, this is what you’ll get with the new Rolex Cellini Moonphase Ref. 50535 and it feels very satisfying.

8 years ago

Tutima Tempostopp – The 90th Anniversary Watch, With Superb In-House Hand-Wound Flyback Chronograph

For one reason or another, Tutima was not part of Monochrome’s team 150 meetings for Baselworld 2017. As we passed by one of its displays however, we were captivated by a particular watch and its movement: a bi-compax chronograph with a perfectly balanced dial and large, optimally spaced sub-counters. We wanted to know more and we were not disappointed, as the Tutima Tempostopp deserves interest… Especially when the back is revealed.

8 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.

8 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.

8 years ago

CONFIGURATE | SHARE | WIN – Win Your Personalized Armin Strom Watch With the Online Configurator

Recently, we reported to you a achievement that we, at Monochrome, think will be the next level of watchmaking, the Armin Strom Watch Configurator. As we told you, there’s no way that industry can still rely on old-fashioned production and selling channels. The next step is named “customization” and Armin Strom is the first to come with a proper achieved idea, an exhaustive Watch Configurator – where every aspect of the watch and the movement can be configured. Well, apart from this, there’s something extremely cool that we wanted to share: the possibility to win your personalized Armin Strom watch by sharing your configurated watch on Instagram in a creative way… Sounds interesting, right?

8 years ago

Hands-On – H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Centre Seconds Automatic – When Simplicity Becomes Essential

As we already showed several times here, on Monochrome, the Schaffhausen-based manufacture H. Moser & Cie. (also known as the Robin Hood of watchmaking… Those who know will understand, otherwise read this) is all about simplicity and purity of their watches, by removing even the logo on the dial and any kind of markers. But simplicity can also come from a display and functionality, and in this case, this word is nothing pejorative and I would even refer to essential… Something that the new H. Moser Cie. Endeavour Centre Seconds Automatic, presented at Baselworld 2017, defines quite well.

8 years ago

Hands-On – Glashütte Original Senator Excellence Perpetual Calendar (and my unexpected love for the sporty steel version)

While some brands came with over 100 novelties at Baselworld 2017, the Saxonian brand Glashütte Original only introduced 2 new masculine watches during the show. And to be honest, why doing more when you offer new products of such quality. Together with the surprisingly sporty Steel Senator Chronograph Panorama Date, Glashütte Original also introduced an elegant, refined and complex Perpetual Calendar version of the precise Senator Excellence. Elegant and refined? Not only, as I surprised myself to have a crush on an unexpected sporty steel version of this QP watch, not the kind of combination that you imagined from GO…

8 years ago

Kickstarter – Get Back To Basics With Vintage Inspired Watches From Baltic

It seems there is no shortage of watch projects on Kickstarter these days. Whilst some elicit a yawn at best, others genuinely try to do something cool and unique and have gone on to become real success stories, like REC Watches. Today we’re showing you a highly anticipated project that has just launched from newcomer Baltic Watches, featuring two seriously cool, neo-vintage style watches with step-cases inspired by the minimalist designs of the 1940’s.

8 years ago