Category: Novelty

Introducing – Chopard L.U.C Full Strike – The Minute Repeater Reinvented

With the L.U.C Full Strike, the high-end collection of Chopard Watches welcomes a minute repeater, a complication never explored by the brand, and launched as the crowning point of the celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of Chopard Manufacture. We’ve seen some tourbillons, some perpetual calendars with chronograph, super slim and eco-friendly watches, but never a striking watch. Well, you could easily imagine that it is just another minute repeater, and that, even if nicely-designed and superbly finished, it has nothing spectacular (in any case we can consider that a minute repeater is not spectacular…). However, this Chopard L.U.C Full Strike is featured with something brand new and innovative, and it makes it different from any other minute repeater we’ve seen before.

8 years ago

Pre-SIHH 2017 – Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Frosted Gold 37mm (and why, as a man, I really like it)

Yes, this watch is advertised as a ladies’ watch. Yes, it does celebrate 40 years of Royal Oak for ladies (as the first one was introduced in 1976 and designed by Jacqueline Dimier). But, on the other hand, this watch has everything of the iconic 1972 Jumbo and the current 41mm men’s version, just in a smaller 37mm case –  which isn’t that small in reality. It has the iconic Genta-look, it has the hand-guilloche dial, it has an in-house automatic movement and, that’s the novelty here, it comes with a superb surface finishing, named gold hammering or frosting, and that is really appealing to us. Overview of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Frosted Gold 37mm.

8 years ago

Introducing – Hublot Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph Concrete Jungle made with Artist Tristan Eaton

Hublot is no stranger for doing the unorthodox thing, whether it being on the technical side or on the aesthetical side. Talk about innovative technical prowess and the Hublot LaFerrari pops up. Mention weird or wonderful materials and perhaps you think of the Hublot Classic Fusion Berluti, with its leather dials. Now though, Hublot incorporates a rough-and-tough material, not often used for watchmaking: concrete! Here is the Hublot Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph Concrete Jungle made with Artist Tristan Eaton.

8 years ago

Announcement – “Patek Philippe: The Authorized Biography” by Nicholas Foulkes – Available now via Patek.com

Some manufactures grew to an almost mythical status and became legends, and not only among watch collectors. Their fame have simply crossed the circle of initiates to gain a worldwide aura. And as always with legends, there is a gray area. One of them is Patek Philippe. Many tried to bring light on the history of this Old Maison, we did try to bring light on some parts of the story (cf. Nautilus History) but today, you’ll have the opportunity to know everything about Patek, with an official book that can be seen as the definitive history of the legendary Swiss manufacture. Here is “Patek Philippe: The Authorized Biography” by Nicholas Foulkes – and it is available now via Patek.com.

8 years ago

Hands-On Review – Seiko Presage SPB041J1 – Vintage Flair and Great Elegance for an accessible price

If you follow the actuality about watches on a regular basis, you’ve certainly noticed that Seiko – no the smallest company around, to say the least – is moving quite fast these days. The brand has evolved considerably, introducing watches in all categories of price and expanding the higher-end collections, including Grand Seiko of course, but Presage too. We already showed you earlier this week, with the Presage SSA303J1, that value for money and horological content were the motto of the collection. And this is not about to change with this other novelty in the collection, a more luxurious, more refined and more vintage-oriented watch named Seiko Presage SPB041J1… and again, you’ll have a hell of a watch for your money.

8 years ago

Introducing the Revolutionary Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance – and why it is a such Breakthrough in Watchmaking (VIDEO)

A breakthrough in Watchmaking: introducing the Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance. Until now, Armin Strom was known for its superb skeletonized watches, mixing haute horlogerie features and sporty design. Today, Armin Strom propels a century old concept, Resonance, well and truly into the 21st century. In an exclusive first look, Monochrome unveils this revolutionary development (yes, simply that…) with technical insights, video and pictures.

8 years ago

Kickstarter – Our take on the Huckleberry & Co Atticus Watch (Value Proposition)

Kickstarter has garnered a huge amount of watch startup projects, but we like to choose the promising proposals that stand out from the crowd. One company that really caught our attention here at Monochrome, is known as Huckleberry & Co, and what they came with is named The Atticus Watch… Mechanical movement, stylish look, sleek design, minimalist inspiration, an overall refined package with affordable price! A lot to love here.

8 years ago

Introducing – Maurice Lacroix Pontos S Diver “Blue Devil” Limited Edition for North America – The Devil is in the Details

The Maurice Lacroix Pontos S Diver has been covered before, but now the Swiss brand is offering a new iteration; the Maurice Lacroix Pontos S Diver “Blue Devil” Limited Edition. It has all the design elements that made the original Pontos S Diver so cool but in a new color derived from… a fish! Usually it is something of a historical reference, the ocean itself or simply the best legible color combination available that determines the look of a watch. Well, not in this case.

8 years ago

Kickstarter – Back from the future with the TiMe22 Robusto Automatic

There are many different types of watch projects being proposed on Kickstarter, but it’s our job to sort through and find the new up and coming ideas that tick off a few crucial boxes, here at Monochrome-Watches. We like to see pieces with re-introduced mechanical movement, combined with an innovative design or function. The TiMe22 Robusto Automatic, with a retro design and futuristic construction seems to fit perfectly into our gauge.

8 years ago