Novelty Archives - Page 417 of 418

Introducing Classi, a connected strap that makes any watch feels smarter (but not looking like a Cupertino guy)

Here’s the dilemma: you love watches, mechanical watches, with a classical or vintage look. On the other hand, you also love connected items and the concept of a smart watch is something you dug into, especially since the introduction of the Apple Watch. However, you don’t like it. You think it’s not going to fulfill your needs of mechanical / vintage / luxury timepieces (and you’d be right). You don’t want to wear two watches either and the solution found by Sinn is… weird. Well, Maintool, a young French startup, might have a solution for you, with a discreet connected strap that can be used on any kind of watch. Here’s Classi.

Introducing – Giuliano Mazzuoli Manometro with green and blue dials and still the same super-cool design

If you think about Giuliano Mazzuoli – in case you know it, and if not, now you know – you might have in mind a minimalistic but recognizable design as well as the use of fancy materials, rarely to never seen in watchmaking, like for instance marble or cement – yes, the case is made with these materials! Well if you think this is going a bot too far for, there might a solution in-between these and a traditional black or white dial, with the new Giuliano Mazzuoli Manometro with green and blue dials.

2016 TAG Heuer Mikrograph 100th Anniversary – The TAG that goes vintage and fast

You thought that TAG Heuer was only about to do normal watches, with a more entry-level objective – and we thought that too, especially after what we told you here. Well, it seems that it’s not going to be the case and that concept watches, even if rare, are still part of the new strategy implemented by Mister Biver. As a proof, TAG Heuer will launch a new limited and exclusive watch, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Mikrograph, the first stopwatch able to time events to the 1/100th of a second. Here is the highly desirable 2016 TAG Heuer Mikrograph 100th Anniversary, the TAG that goes vintage and fast, as still to the 1/100th of a second.

Hands-On with the very Monochrome Hublot Big Bang Unico Sapphire All Black

“Monochrome and exposing intricate mechanics”… definitely sounds like something we love here, at Monochrome-Watches! Living up to the promise and presented at Baselworld 2016, the Hublot Big Bang Unico Sapphire All Black features a smoked transparent case crafted out of sapphire, based on the already introduced clear version. Time to go hands-on with a time-stopper not to be left in the dark.

Column – Red Rover… TAG Heuer to team up with China Space Agency for Mars Exploration

When I bought my Omega Speedmaster X-33 many moons ago, it was a shoe-in for the first watch to Mars – at the time it was the only watch qualified for missions to Mars. Jean-Claude Biver – the Lazarus of the watchmaking industry – has partnered up with China’s State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (CNSA) to put an end to that reign. The Red Planet for the Red Country… Seems natural! And TAG Heuer will be part of the show.

Hands-On – MB&F LM101 in Platinum with Blue Dial (Personal Thoughts, Live Pics & Price)

MB&F and their crazy horological machines… Even after 11 years and 12 watches (plus all the special editions), what Max Bûsser and his team and friends achieved still fascinates us. Even the most classical, most rational piece of the collection, the LM101, is far from being an usual suspect. And the latest edition, combining a platinum case with a striking blue dial is not going to change what I think about this specific watch. Overview of the MB&F LM101 in platinum with blue dial.

French & Independent – Olivier Jonquet Introduces New Watches, the Carosse and the Capitaine (Specs & Price)

2 years ago, a French passionate had a rather crazy idea: launching a watch brand. In this market driven by massive companies, there is however some room for smaller, more exclusive and more soul-driven pieces, some watches that will answer the needs of more mature or more selective collectors. The Olivier Jonquet Elie achieved its subscription process and all the pieces offered were sold. Time is now for more rational projects, with new watches to be introduced, still with the same concept. Here are the Olivier Jonquet Carosse and Captain watches.

Hands-on Review of the 2016 Patek Philippe 5170R Chronograph, now in rose gold (live pics, specs & price)

At Patek Philippe, chronographs are something considered with an almost clerical serious. From the extremely complex split-seconds or perpetual calendar versions – or even both – to the most simple variation, all of them are extremely desirable. One thing to note in the actual collection is a sort of back to basics, with cleaner and more elegant watches, slightly vintage inspired – something we’ve seen with the 5370 or the 5270. Launched in 2010, with a first evolution in 2013, followed by a stronger lifting in 2015, the 5170 undergoes this year its largest cure of youth, becoming the Patek Philippe 5170R Chronograph, with 2 new references in rose gold – and one older reference being discontinued. But don’t expect a revolution. As usual, the devil is in the details.

Hands-on – 2016 Cartier Santos 100 ADLC, now back fully black and in-house (live pics, specs & price)

With no fanfare or fireworks, quietly, in the middle of the rush of the SIHH 2016, in the luxurious salons of the Cartier booth, nearly forgotten because pushed into the background by the introduction of the Drive, Cartier introduced this year a new version of an icon, the Santos 100. Well, if the design remains the same as the previous editions, some new colors are available. No big deal… However, it was until we’ve been told this watch came for the first time with a manufacture movement. Here is the 2016 Cartier Santos 100 ADLC, the icon back in full black and in-house.

Introducing a new independent watchmaker, Kaj Korpela, and its “Timepiece No. 1”, a properly hand-made tourbillon

In the watchmaking industry, some terms are certainly often misused, like for instance “independent watchmaking” or “hand-made“. What we are going to show you today represent these two notions in their purest form, something in the vein of Roger Smith, Georges Daniels or Philippe Dufour – don’t expect us to make comparisons on the watch or the level of finishing here, we’re talking about the spirit behind the watch. Today, open your eyes and enjoy the Kaj Korpela “Timepiece No. 1”, a truly hand-made tourbillon, from a properly independent watchmaker. This is why we love watches here at Monochrome and it immediately brought a big “WOW” on our lips. And keep in mind that this is the first watch, from a new brand…

Watch Dandy

Category: Novelty