Category: Tourbillon

Hands-On – The New Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB1.4, In Titanium and with Sapphire Bridges on the Movement

Ferdinand Berthoud strips down its spectacular Chronomètre FB1. After the recently introduced platinum edition, it’s now the movement that evolves. Indeed, sapphire bridges now offer an unimpeded view on its killer inner workings, and this mechanical beauty is now housed in a titanium case (with 2 different dials available). Meet the Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB1.4, available in two different versions, which shows quite some evolutions compared to the previous models of the brand.

7 years ago

Introducing – H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Tourbillon Concept, Fighting Gravity in the Purest Way

Creating an object without a single mention of its provenance on the dial and that, however, remains recognizable is far, far from easy. Yet, Schaffhausen-based brand H. Moser & Cie., with their pure/nude watches, achieved this – at least, among an audience of well-educated collectors. Pushing the idea even further are the Concept watches of the brand: no text, no indexes, no Swiss-Made mention… Actually, nothing! A dial and its hands, that’s all. This idea is now applied to another watch in the collection, the most complex of them all, with Endeavour Tourbillon Concept.

7 years ago

NEWS – Phillips Sells the Omega Tourbillon 30 I, One Of The First Tourbillon Wristwatches Ever, For a Monumental CHF 1,428,500 (Most Expensive Omega Ever Auctioned)

Today is the second day of the Geneva Watch Auction Six (GWA6) by Phillips. While there were some impressive lots (is that even a surprise from Aurel Bacs and Phillips…), with a Patek 2523 or an incredible Patek 2497 in white gold, the star of the show for us here, at MONOCHROME, certainly was the Omega Tourbillon 30L – a 1947 watch and one of the very first tourbillon wristwatches ever made, and the first to have been completed in Switzerland. This watch just sold for an impressive CHF 1,428,500, making it the most expensive Omega ever auctioned.

7 years ago

Introducing the Bell & Ross BR-X1 White Hawk Collection

If Bell & Ross is known for their aviation- and military-oriented pieces (which has been demonstrated again several times this year with for instance the Vintage BR V1-92 Military or the BR03-92 Horograph and BR03-92 Horolum), the brand also has different inspirations (racing cars for instance, with the Renault F1 partnership) or experimental watches (such as the surprising BR-X2 Tourbillon). Part of this “experimental” collection is a watch that we’ve seen, reviewed and appreciated here on Monochrome, the BR-X1. For the end of this year, the model is back with a new colour scheme and new materials, with the Bell & Ross BR-X1 White Hawk Collection.

7 years ago

Hands-On – The Geo. Graham Orrery – A Star Gazing Invitation from Graham

You probably know Graham for their bold Chronofighter, a polarizing stopwatch with its signature left-hand side lever to actuate the chronograph, but you would be wrong to think that was the only face of the brand. A part of their collection is a tribute to one of the first modern planetariums made by George Graham, the great British clockmaker and maker of scientific instruments. We go hands-on with the entrancing Geo. Graham Orrery.

7 years ago

Live From QP – New Versions of the Schwarz Etienne La Chaux-de-Fonds Tourbillon Petite Seconde Retrograde

Today is the official opening of the London-based watch show, Salon QP. This means novelties from some of the 50 watch brands exposing there. First one to shoot is Schwarz Etienne, which unveils some new versions of its fascinating La Chaux-de-fonds Tourbillon Petite Seconde Retrograde – one steel with blue Lapis Lazuli stone dial edition and one white gold with blue Opal stone dial. Luxurious dials, nice finishing and complex movement… Overview!

7 years ago

First Look – The Bell & Ross BR-X1 Skeleton Tourbillon Sapphire

Last year, Bell & Ross set a new benchmark for itself with the unveiling of the BR-X1 Chronograph Tourbillon Sapphire. Housed in a jaw-dropping, sapphire case that left little to the imagination, the (way-too) limited-edition timepiece made it crystal clear (pun intended) that the brand is about far more than just military and aviation-inspired watches. Now, Bell & Ross is taking the challenge of transparency a step further, with the new BR-X1 Skeleton Tourbillon Sapphire.

7 years ago

Hands-On – The New Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Type 390, Inspired by the Impressive Chiron

Parmigiani Fleurier had lifted the veil on this development over a year ago with the presentation of a spectacular concept watch, on the occasion of the launch of the Bugatti Chiron at the 2016 Geneva Motor show. After a few more months of development, the model has now made it to production in an updated version – and it looks even better! Here is the final version of the Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Type 390.

7 years ago

Introducing – Greubel Forsey QP à Equation now with Rhodium-Coloured Gold Dial

After exploring the tourbillon, by improving it on all aspects (by adding inclination to the cage, by having not one but two or even four of them or by changing the usual one-minute rotation to a faster 24-second cycle), it was time for Greubel Forsey to focus their mechanical creativity on something different… The choice was made to give a new vision of one of the most traditional complications, the Perpetual Calendar. Launched 2015, the Greubel Forsey QP à Equation now receives a new Rhodium-Coloured Gold Dial.

7 years ago

VIDEO – The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Trilogy Explained

For quite some decades, the concept behind ultra-thin watches was focussed almost exclusively on classic, elegant and sleek designs. However, Bulgari had something else in mind. Why not house these ultra-thin movements inside a collection of modern and bold watches, inspired by the Italian sense for design, or in other words the icon that is …

7 years ago