Marking the conclusion of a six-year collaboration with the luxury retailer Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, Ressence introduces the Type 1 DX3 – a limited edition watch seamlessly blending Arabic mosaic patterns with cloisonné art. As the final chapter in this partnership trilogy, it follows the releases of the Type 1DXB in 2019 and the Type […]
Ever since its creation in 2002, De Bethune has shown a unique approach to watchmaking, combining artistic and technical innovation. The works of Denis Flageollet, the mastermind behind the brand, have placed the brand outside mainstream watchmaking in a class of its own. A case in point, the DBD Digitale combines a distinctive case design […]
2001 stands out in history, marked by events that significantly shaped our future – some fascinating, some terrifying. In the realm of watchmaking, 2001 witnessed a groundbreaking moment with the unveiling of the Freak by Ulysse Nardin – a “horological UFO with no dial, no hands, no crown, and a novel silicon direct impulse escapement,” […]
Looking back at the entire collection of Horological Machines by Max Büsser and Friends, there is no denying the extreme audacity of the designs. Inspirations are eclectic and highly original, from vintage supercars to jetfighter engines, jellyfish to spaceships, a panda, a frog, a bulldog and even something that I’ll leave to your own imagination… For […]
In 2020, Urwerk bid farewell to the UR-210, one of its most iconic watches, with the announcement of its final edition. Shortly after that, the UR-220 Falcon emerged, retaining the easily recognizable features of its predecessor while introducing a new case, redesigned movement, and additional functions. Fast forward three years, Urwerk founders Baumgartner and Frei […]
In 2022, I had the great pleasure of meeting Ondřej Berkus in person and spending a day at his workshop. The experience was like nothing I had ever experienced, and I decided to write about it here as my way of remembering every detail of the visit. Nearly exactly one year later, I had the […]
It’s not often that we get to introduce completely new brands that do things in a completely unique way. Sure, most watches we present, even the ones from breakout watchmakers, still rely on the same format of central hands making a rotation once every 12 hours. Watches that rewrite or even completely throw out the […]
A relatively young Swiss watchmaker, CODE41‘s motto is to break the codes of traditional watchmaking and distribution – to innovate off the beaten track. Not only is the creative process shared with its community, which can decide on aspects of future creations, but the brand has also created highly distinctive watches over the years, powered […]
Ever since 2004, the Germand brand of MeisterSinger has made it a habit of presenting annual special editions geared towards the Dutch market. This line of so-called NL Editions has not only captured the hearts of the Dutch but is actually quite popular outside of our small country as well. However, since production volumes are […]
As a rule, we rarely cover battery-powered watches on MONOCHROME – but rules are made to be broken, or at least make exceptions. And the quirky Gelfman IN-16 Nixie provided the perfect opportunity. With its retro-futuristic design, this digital display watch is simply in a class of its own… as the jury of the GPHG […]