Category: Novelty

Introducing – Chopard L.U.C Perpetual T “Spirit of the Chinese Zodiac”

Since 2010, Chopard has released a menagerie of beautifully crafted Urushi dials to celebrate the animals of the Chinese zodiac. At the end of 2017, Chopard decided to regale collectors with a superlative one-off piece. Not only did it congregate all 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac, hand-engraved on the sides of the case, but the L.U.C Perpetual T Spirit was also equipped with a perpetual calendar and a tourbillon. A similar collector’s edition, decorated with motifs of Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations was presented during the SIAR and sold in six minutes flat. For 2019, which coincides with the Year of the Pig, Chopard repeats the formula and unveils its latest homage to Chinese cultural traditions with this unique L.U.C masterpiece.

7 years ago

Pre-SIHH 2019 – Piaget Altiplano Automatic 40mm with Meteorite Dial (Hands-On)

Two years ago, for the SIHH 2017, Piaget unveiled several new watches (almost a collection) for its best-selling piece, an icon of the ultra-thin concept, the Altiplano 60th anniversary editions, as well as a series of bolder variations with colourful dials. Based on the same concept of an automatic an ultra-thin piece with great attention to the dial, Piaget presents, as part of the pre-SIHH 2019 novelties, a new version of the Altiplano Automatic 40mm, this time with a meteorite dial. And we had the chance to get our hands on it way before January.

7 years ago

Hands-on – TAG Heuer Carrera Fragment – Retro-Style and Calibre Heuer 02

Today, TAG Heuer announces a new partnership with one of the most influential personalities in the world of streetwear: Japanese designer Hiroshi Fujiwara, the face behind the brand Fragment. While some might find a certain interest in this venture, this is clearly not what will get us excited here, at MONOCHROME. However, there is something very special with this new creation… It looks just stunning. Meet the TAG Heuer Carrera Fragment, a reasonably-sized, retro-inspired, back-to-basics Carrera powered by the in-house calibre Heuer 02 – and that is just plain cool.

7 years ago

Hands-on – Brellum Duobox Pandial Black-DLC

Brellum is a niche independent watch brand that was launched just two years ago by Sebastien Muller, a fourth-generation watchmaker in the Swiss Jura. His first model, the Duobox, is a no-nonsense chronograph offering excellent value for the money. Recently, the collection received a cool-looking Panda version (white dial with black sub-counters) – the “Pandial”, reviewed here – and today, this model gains boldness with a new black DLC-coated case. Meet the Brellum Duobox Pandial Black-DLC.

7 years ago

Hands-on – Jaquet Droz SW Chrono – A Sporty Take on the Brand’s DNA

For many, a ‘Jaquet Droz Sport Watch’ might come across as an oxymoron from a brand about to celebrate its 280th anniversary and intimately associated with refined artistic watches and complex automata. And I’m guessing that not too many of you knew that Jaquet Droz has had a Sport Watch (SW) in its catalogue since 2008, a sporty rendition of the Grande Seconde family, known as the Grande Seconde SW. Taking the sports watch concept into sportier terrain, Jaquet Droz presented a column-wheel chronograph at Baselworld 2018 with an upgraded silicon balance spring in the movement. Released in two contemporary dial colours, the SW Chrono abandons the iconic figure-eight dial configuration of the Grande Seconde in favour of a horizontal chrono display. Let’s take a closer look at the SW Chrono.

7 years ago

Introducing – Zenith x Bamford Chronomaster El Primero Solar Blue Limited Edition for MR. PORTER

The Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Solar Blue is an original initiative. Exclusive for MR. PORTER, this ‘tripartite’ limited edition is a collaborative development by Zenith and British watch customizer Bamford Watch Department. It is a further evidence that MR. PORTER is strengthening its watch operations and offerings, with more and more brands in its portfolio and a number of exclusive editions. This will come as no surprise all the more as Richemont took control of Yoox Net-a-Porter.

7 years ago

Introducing – The Habring2 Erwin LAB01 – A Bronze Edition from the Newly-Created Massena LAB

On one side: William Massena, one of those inescapable names of the watch industry. A former head of an auction house, Managing Director of one of the largest watch forums, he is first and foremost an avid watch collector and a true connoisseur. On the other side is Habring², a small, independent watchmaker from Austria with superb craftsmanship and interesting (but not overpriced) complications. So what happens when you mix these two? The Habring² Erwin LAB01 Bronze, the result of William’s new project, the Massena LAB.

7 years ago

Introducing – Tudor Glamour Double Date 42mm With Manufacture Movement

When the name Tudor is mentioned, we certainly all have models such as “Black Bay” or “Pelagos” in mind. For sure, the brand communicated (and created) a lot on these products – which are admittedly great watches. However, there are more watches in the collection than these sporty, vintage-inspired pieces – and that includes, for instance, the “Style“, the recently introduced “1926” or the Glamour – a watch that remained under the radar for us… Until now. Today, the brand unveils a redesigned and slightly more masculine version of this watch, now equipped with a brand new version of the manufacture movement. Meet the Tudor Glamour Double Date ref. 57100/57103.

7 years ago

Introducing – Heritage Corum Lab 01

With its new Lab collection, Corum aims at taking risks and experimenting. The timepieces of this collection eschew traditional codes and instead provide an off-beat take on watchmaking where mechanics take precedence. Meet the Heritage Corum Lab 01, a shaped watch with a bold design and an openworked, micro-rotor movement. The first two ‘Labs’ are […]

7 years ago