Hands-On – The Comeback of Favre-Leuba & the Retro-Inspired Raider Harpoon Dive Watch

The Raider Harpoon is a contemporary revival of Favre-Leuba’s rich dive watch tradition. Dormant for a number of years, we were pleasantly surprised a few months ago to discover that this illustrious brand was active once again, kicking things off with a superb, retro-themed dive watch collection. Its bold, quirky design is enhanced by striking colors, a unique time display and a dual crown: meet the Favre-Leuba Raider Harpoon.

8 years ago

Pre-Baselworld 2017 – MCT Dodekal One D110, With Digital-Mechanical Hour Indication

One thing to know about MCT Watches… They don’t do things like the others, and when it comes to play with the display of time, let’s all agree that their watches, with large numerals displayed on rotating prisms are simply on the other side of the planet, compared to traditional hands. Well, for Baselworld 2017, Denis Giguet (founder of MCT) comes with again something unusual, a digital hour indication recalling LCD screens of old electronic devices – but don’t worry, no quartz movements have being used here. Here is the MCT Dodekal One D110 and its super-cool hour display.

8 years ago

Introducing – Ulysse Nardin Classic Sonata, The Alarm Watch with Cathedral Gong, Now with a Subtler Design

While not new, the concept of the Ulysse Nardin Classic Sonata still is captivating, as being one of the few alarm watches on the market, and one with quite some great features. Indeed, the pièce de resistance is the chiming system of this watch, as you’ll get your alarm chiming with a cathedral gong (something usually reserved to super-high-end minute repeaters). Previously introduced in a very “Marine” style, the Ulysse Nardin Classic Sonata is now unveiled in a much subtler version for 2017, and with a steel option.

8 years ago

Pre-Baseworld 2017 – Omega Speedmaster Racing Master Chronometer (Specs, Availability & Price)

This year, one of the most iconic watches ever created will celebrate its 60th anniversary. Its name: the Speedmaster. As you can imagine, with such a long history and so many iconic versions, every new Speedmaster carries the spirit and design inspiration of the models that came before. As a preview of the future collection that will come at Baselworld 2017, the Biel-based brand shows this concept with the new Omega Speedmaster Racing Master Chronometer, with a dial that refers to a 1968 Speedmaster model (the Racing-Dial Speedmaster), yet with modern size and features.

8 years ago

Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Aérolithe Performance – A Bold Automative-Inspired Creation

The Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Aérolithe Performance is an automative-inspired watch, a specialty of the Fleurier-based brand, inspired by another mythical car of the no less mythical brand Bugatti. Mythical because this magnesium car (completely unusual back the days) remained at a prototype stage and lasted for a very short period. The watch we have today is much more concrete and has some desirable features and a bold design to offer. Here is the Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Aérolithe Performance.

8 years ago

Pre-Baselworld 2017 – The Very Cool Hamilton Intra-Matic 68 Chronograph

Hamilton is usually not a brand we cover much on Monochrome, maybe because they are positioned a bit on the lower side of the range, with various quartz offers. Yet, from time to time, the previously American brand, now under the umbrella of the Swatch Group, can surprise us, especially when look at their rich history. This year, for the upcoming 2017 edition of Baselworld, the brand will have something simply cool, a nice, vintage-inspired and affordable automatic chronograph., with iconic roots. Here is the Hamilton Intra-Matic 68.

8 years ago

First Look – The New Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Range Rover Velar Special Edition (Live from Geneva Motor Show)

Live from Geneva – Range Rover just revealed the Velar, its new mid-size SUV, filling the gap between the urban-oriented Evoque and the larger Sport model. This more luxurious variant by Range Rover debuts at the Geneva International Motor Show. This was the opportunity for Zenith to unveil a new special edition, in the same vein as the first limited edition: a sleek (no fuss) chronograph powered by the iconic El Primero. Please welcome the Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Range Rover Velar Special Edition.

8 years ago

Elegance in Purity – Up Close & Personal with The Laurent Ferrier Galet Micro-Rotor “Montre Ecole”

“Purity” is, to me, a very desirable notion. This word has a great echo in my books and really is positively oriented. Nothing like “clean” or “uncluttered”. I personally have a soft spot for minimalistic design, for the beauty of a shape and of proportions, for the delicate curves and angles that create an object and that makes it bold, unique and desirable. I love minimalistic and simple approach in design, in furnitures, in architecture and, surprisingly (or not…), in watches. To me, purity also goes along the word detail; because purity and simplicity doesn’t mean void. And that’s where purity becomes beauty… and this where the Laurent Ferrier Galet Micro-Rotor “Montre Ecole” caught me.

8 years ago