Long considered the domain of delicate watches, grandes complications (in the more extensive use of the term, and not the traditional definition of the grande complication – repeater + chrono + calendar) have found their way into collections designed for adventure. The incorporation of complications reflects a broader change in watchmaking, where tradition is no […]
One of the most classical and complex yet satisfying complications to master is, of course, the Perpetual Calendar. It was Patek Philippe who first put a perpetual calendar pocket watch movement into a wristwatch in 1925, but the history of the Quantième Perpétuel, as it’s called in French and explains why it’s often abbreviated to […]
The intricate world of watchmaking has just gotten a bit more intricate, complex and bewildering. Through several truly technical new watches, we learned there’s still new ground to break, new records to be achieved, and new complications to be introduced. With the aim of helping to digest everything we saw during Watches & Wonders and […]
Watches and Wonders 2025 is about to close its doors and it’s time for Team MONOCHROME to fly back home after one of the most intense weeks of the year. We’ve seen hundreds of watches, if not thousands, published way over a hundred articles, took several thousands of photos and published over a dozen videos […]
Vacheron Constantin celebrates its grand 270th anniversary this year. For a brand with such an illustrious and storied past, an anniversary of this calibre means rolling out the big guns. To commemorate the date, Vacheron Constantin unveils a new high-end manufacture calibre combining a tourbillon and a perpetual calendar. Limited to 127 pieces and presented […]
Not all of Vacheron Constantin’s 270th-anniversary pieces are steeped in classicism. The three Traditionnelle Openface models are refreshingly contemporary, offering a view of the modern architecture of their calibres. While the complications differ from model to model, the new trilogy shares openworked dials, a special guilloché pattern designed to mark the anniversary and luxurious platinum […]
Select members of Vacheron Constantin’s Traditionnelle and Patrimony families have been invited to join in the 270th-anniversary celebrations. Eight references from both families have been singled out for the special treatment and flaunt dials decorated with a unique motif created for the 270th anniversary of the brand. As important as the dial, the manufacture calibres […]
First presented for the 222nd anniversary of the venerable watchmaker Vacheron Constantin, the 222 was the brand’s answer to the then-growing demand for luxury sports watches with integrated bracelets. The third member of the iconic Holy Trinity of luxury sports watches, next to the Royal Oak and the Nautilus, all three sharing the same base […]
It is a thing… The watch industry loves to celebrate anniversaries and important milestones. Being emotionally driven products, playing on nostalgia feelings has long proven an efficient strategy for watch brands. And in reality, such anniversaries have seen the creation of some truly important models – the Kermit for the 50th anniversary of the Submariner, […]
It’s almost upon us, the most festive time of the year. Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa and plenty of others all kick off this month. And with it, there will be plenty of parties, dinners, social gatherings and other events filling up our agendas and keeping us occupied. To keep track of time in the most pleasurable […]