Category: Tourbillon

Introducing – Glashütte Original Senator Tourbillon Edition Alfred Helwig

Glashütte Original is not necessarily known for its super-complicated watches, although there are certainly a few notable ones in the collection, such as the Senator Cosmopolite and the PanoLunar Tourbillon. What the German watch-manufacturer is known for, however, is making high-quality, elegantly designed timepieces that meld tradition with modern techniques. The latest example of this comes in the form of the newly announced, Senator Tourbillon – Edition Alfred Helwig. Read on for all the details.

7 years ago

Pre-SIHH 2018 – Hands-On with the IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Edition 150 Years

As part of the new “150 Years” collection, which includes already two superb watches, the re-edition of the Pallweber and the Portugieser Tourbillon Constant Force, IWC treats us with an unprecedented combination of complications, integrated inside the iconic Portugieser case. Using the classical nautical look of this model with the addition of the new lacquered dials, here is the IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Edition 150 Years, introduced as a Pre-SIHH 2018 novelty, and part of the 27 special watches that the brand will unveil at the 2018 Geneva watch fair.

7 years ago

Hands-On – Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph 25th Anniversary

As we told you in a recent article, next year will be the 25th anniversary of a modern icon, a watch that simply created the trend for bold sports-luxury watches: the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore. In 1993, the brand impressed (or shocked) the industry with this watch, and to celebrate this, AP has some commemorative pieces to show. The first one looks at the past, as being a re-edition of the first ROO. The second one, which goes under our loupe today, looks at the future. Aggressive, impressive, complex, architectural… Here is the bold (to say the least) Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph 25th Anniversary.

7 years ago

Pre-SIHH 2018 – Ulysse Nardin Marine Tourbillon Now with Guilloche/Enamel Dial

Last year, for their first attendance at the Geneva watch fair (a.k.a. the SIHH), Ulysse Nardin surprised guests and collectors with an impressive collection, which achieved to merge the classical style of the brand, some refined crafting techniques and very decent prices. One of the best examples of this strategy was the Ulysse Nardin Marine Tourbillon, a steel watch with white enamel dial and very nice movement, priced at just (relatively speaking) CHF 28,000 – making it one of the most accessible tourbillons on the market. As a preview of the SIHH 2018, Ulysse Nardin has a new version of this Marine Tourbillon, this time with their classic Guilloche/Grand Feu Enamel blue Dial.

7 years ago

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