What we look for in a watch nowadays is not quite what it used to be. As you know, at Monochrome we do have a liking for different ways to indicate time. The simple art of telling the time has evolved into something almost magical, with each watch telling its own story and history. The Hawker Harrier II brings to life something that is only dreamt of – a Pegasus inspired pilots watch.
Some rules are made to be broken. When you think MeisterSinger, you usually have in mind accessible watches (yet with automatic movements) and single-hand displays. Well, if that second rule is somehow a motto for the brand, the first one will be transgressed today… and we’re not complaining, as what you’ll see is a proper good looking watch. Here is the MeisterSinger Peter Henlein Edition, with proprietary Circularis Calibre, a gold case, a 5 digit price tag, a super-restricted limitation, and that crazy looking antique dial.
Some of you might be like us, quite bored sometimes by the concept of the traditional watch, with traditional 3-hand display, on the traditional central axis, running on a traditional round dial. This is not a big issue, knowing that many watchmakers offer other displays of the time. However, not all of us can afford a MB&F or a MCT. This is why MeisterSinger, with their offer of single-hand watches (Circularis, Phanero, Neo…), might be under your scope already. Well, not bad already but you can even have more, as the brand introduced a watch that both features a single hand and a jumping hour (not that usual) and that features a sapphire dial to expose all the mechanics: the MeisterSinger Salthora Meta Transparent. Ready for the horology lesson?
When it comes to unique displays of the time, you though you’ve already seen everything: wandering hours, chains, magnetic balls, liquid-filled capillary, rotating prisms… Then, in terms of complications and construction of the overall watch, you thought the same. Well, you’d better look at this watch, the Ressence Type 3, simply because it has both a very special display and an almost unique construction. Certainly, the Type 3 doesn’t have the visual flamboyance of a MB&F, the bold high-tech design of an URWERK or the apparent complexity of an HYT. However, under this restrained attitude and this relative discretion hides a watch filled with oil and that does not use hands to display the time. And that makes the Ressence Type 3 very special to us.
What is a color? The perception we have of a reflection of light on a surface. What is black, as perceived by human eye? It is the opposite of color. Black is an achromatic color, literally a color without hue. Black is a surface that reflect or emit only very low light and that absorb most of the visible light. What is pitch black, in its purest form? It is the complete absence or complete absorption of light. Real black doesn’t really exist (except a black hole) and what we name black usually is dark grey, dark blue, dark red, etc… And even if pure black can’t be achieved by any material, some tried anyway. And MCT Watches, with the S110 Evo Vantablack made with artist Anish Kapoor, try to get as close as possible from black, with the blackest material ever produced by humankind.
Memento Mori. Remember that you have to die – Several brands have released skull watches that look badass while reminding of the importance of seizing the day. Not to be outdone, MCT watches present a skull version of its Sequential One S110 available in exclusive limited editions.
With URWERK, you know the deal: super-bold, super-cool, super-technical… Well, we can’t hide our love for the brand here. URWERK is part of the indy watchmakers, meaning small structures full of creativity and with almost no limits. No marketing brainstorms, no year-long debates about the feasibility of a piece or a display… If these guys thinks the product is legitimate, they do it. Of course, this can sometimes lead to quite weird watches, but in the end, watches from URWERK are never cold. And that’s not about to change with this brand new URWERK UR-105 Raging Gold.
Most of you probably know THE main feature of MeisterSinger watches: the mono-aiguille / single-hand display. That alone is already enough to tickle our interest, linked to the fact that their watches are nice, elegant, quite unique and, best of all, rather inexpensive. What some of you probably don’t know is that since 2 years, the brand can also be called a manufacture, as they have their own in-house movement, the Circularis. This year, the upper-end offer of the brand evolves and turns into a self-winding movement. Here is the MeisterSinger Circularis Automatic – and for once, in-house really adds something more.
After the first Velsheda, Speake-Marin’s vision of the mono-aiguille watch (single-hand), a timepiece that was both relatively classical in terms of design and discreetly extravagant, followed later by a Gothic edition, showing a very specific typography for the numerals – something that definitely pushed this watch in the extravagant (in a good way) category – the brand today introduces a new version. What we have here is a model still with gothic inspiration, evolutions on the dial and in a limited edition of 8 pieces. Here is the second iteration of the Speake-Marin Velsheda Gothic.
The MB&F Horological Machine 8 (HM8) is here. It’s become something of a ritual. With the highly-anticipated presentation of the brand’s latest creation, MB&F enthusiasts are getting their fix today. The Horological Machine 8 “Can-Am” is infused with the passion for supercars and 1970s design of Max Büsser: rev up your engines and meet the latest wristwatch from his creative Horological Lab.