Bulgari Launches Skeleton Version Of The Octo Finissimo Tourbillon

By Martin Green
It is hard to surpass a watch like the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon. Its style is subtle, yet distinctly Bulgari, Roman flair combined with the finest in Swiss watchmaking. That last part, that remarkable ultra-thin tourbillon, with a height of only 1.95 mm has always been hidden behind a dial with only an opening for the tourbillon. That is now about to change with the new skeleton version of this extraordinary watch.

8 years ago

SIHH 2017 – Hands-On with the Drive de Cartier Extra Flat (and it looks stunning)

Last year, at the SIHH 2016, Cartier came with a new men’s creation, the Drive, which has been praised here, on Monochrome-Watches (see introducing article and review) for its great elegance and the way it mastered shapes. This is what Cartier is all about for us here, a master of shapes and elegance, a brand that can achieve to create a unconventional watch that still looks brilliantly classy and understated. Still, to us, the Drive de Cartier had one issue regarding its dimensions – a bit too thick and a bit too large. This year, for the SIHH 2017, the Drive de Cartier has been revamped and now comes in its best option so far, the Extra Flat Calibre 430MC.

8 years ago

SIHH 2017 – Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra Thin 15202 in Full Yellow Gold

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is an icon born in 1972 under the pencil of a certain Gerald Genta. It was notable for several reasons – it was the world’s first luxury sports watch, it was imposing, yet impressively thin and, despite being the most expensive watch of its type on the market, it was available only in stainless steel. Collectors had to wait until 1977 to see the apparition of precious metal in this icon (an idea that for long has been rather antinomic with the whole Royal Oak concept). For the SIHH 2017, to mark the 40th anniversary of the first precious metal Royal Oaks, Audemars Piguet introduces a new series of the splendid Royal Oak Extra Thin Ref. 15202 in yellow gold.

8 years ago

Pre-Baselworld 2017 – Slim d’Hermès Quantième Perpétuel Platine

Clean, inspired, well-powered, coming from an old Maison, which at first was not that inclined in doing watches, but that managed with the time to be respected, the Slim d’Hermès was a refreshing surprise when introduced. Its style is undoubtedly elegant and sleek, while sharing the codes of this famous brand. The best came from a superb ultra-thin movement with micro-rotor, which could even be fitted with a complex perpetual calendar mechanism. For the 2017 edition of Baselworld, the latter comes in a new variation, the Slim d’Hermès Quantième Perpétuel Platine / Blue dial.

8 years ago

Piaget Altiplano 60th Anniversary: Ultra Thin line between genius and madness

In 1976, a little known (in modern time) watchmaker named Jean Bouchet-Lassale was making ultra thin movements in the fairly esoteric category of “prestige watches”. In magical terms, “the prestige” refers to the final act of an Illusionist where he performs an act of illusion so nigh miraculous and beyond common understanding that it…

8 years ago

Pre-SIHH 2017 – Piaget Altiplano 60th Anniversary Collection, Celebrating 60 Years of Ultra-Thin Watches

Keep these three informations in mind: 1957 – 9P – 2mm. Three informations that sum up an immense technical achievement and define an icon of the watchmaking industry: the Altiplano. If we had to summarize Piaget to one single fact, it would inevitably be “ultra-thin” watches – even if this would clearly be a disappointing shortcut. Since 1957, Piaget is one of the best, if not the most significant representative of the ultra-thin concept, a story that started with the calibre 9P and its 2mm height (and now, you know why these three informations are so important). To celebrate 60 years of ultra-thin watchmaking, here is the Piaget Altiplano 60th Anniversary Collection, to be introduced at the SIH 2017.

8 years ago

Taking a closer look at the Bulgari Octo Finissimo collection (Specs and Pricing)

Debuted in 2014, the Bulgari Octo Finissimo (Italian for extra-flat) collection is both a design statement and a testament to the brand’s watchmaking expertise. This collection is part of Bulgari’s Octo line that comprises of three collections: the Octo Solotempo, the Octo Velocissimo (two years ago we showed you the special edition for Masserati) and the Octo Finissimo collection. Today we’ll take a closer look at 3 models from this last collection, the quintessential Finissimo Small Seconds and two of the expressive black-clad ‘ultranero’ versions that were introduced earlier this year.

8 years ago

Hands-On Review – Chopard L.U.C XPS 1860 in stainless steel – High-end made accessible

It all began 20 years ago, when “in-house” and independent sourcing of movements were not yet in vogue across the watch industry. The presentation of a splendid micro-rotor movement manufactured in Fleurier, a watchmaking town of Val-de-Travers, gave birth to the Chopard L.U.C series, a highly respected collection among watch connoisseurs. This Chopard collection now celebrates its 20th anniversary, with the introduction of several models. Among these, the XPS 1860 houses the brand’s original micro-rotor movement in a steel case and is definitely worth a close look.

8 years ago