Category: Value Proposition

Review – Hamilton Jazzmaster Regulator Cinema

When I think of Hamilton and movies, I always picture Will Smith wearing a Hamilton Ventura in Men in Black. The company’s affiliation with the film industry goes much farther back, however, to the Golden Age of Hollywood. The 1932 classic, Shanghai Express, was Hamilton’s first brush with fame as it shared the screen with movie stars of the day (Marlene Dietrich and Clive Brook). Hamilton watches have since appeared in over 500 feature films, including on the wrist of Elvis Presley in Blue Hawaii and approaching Europa in 2001: A Space Odyssey. In 2006, the brand created the Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards, honoring the off-screen talents that make movies possible (screenwriters, set designers, prop masters, costume designers, etc.). And to celebrate their tenth awards show and 86 years in films, Hamilton launched the movie-themed Jazzmaster Regulator Cinema.

6 years ago

Value Proposition – The Carpathia Ascent, Now Launching on Kickstarter

We’ve seen dozens of microbrands on the market recently, but only a few get mentioned on MONOCHROME. Not new to the watch industry, the people behind Carpathia are launching their first watch – an elegant, slightly original model named the Ascent. Swiss engine, American and Polish roots for a competitive package. Carpathia was founded in 2016 […]

6 years ago

Introducing – Hamilton Khaki Field Murph – The Watch Seen In “Interstellar” Finally Produced

It has become a common thing to see watches appearing in movies. Think for instance Omega in Bond, Seiko in Apocalypse Now, Hamilton in Men in Black or Heuer in Le Mans. Most of the time, we talk appearances. In some movies, however, this accessory can become a true cast member. So was the case in Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” (2014), where two Hamilton watches are visible and one plays a huge role in the plot. This watch, created specifically for the movie, is now available in a limited edition. Meet the new Hamilton Khaki Field Murph.

6 years ago

Value Proposition – E.C.Andersson Denise – The Scandinavian Brand’s First Dive Watch

Few are the microbrands that have genuinely convinced us, but E.C.Andersson is definitely one of them. This Scandinavian watch company has created several interesting, well-executed sports/tool watches, including North Sea II and Calypso, which combined a cool design, solid cases and overall accessible prices. Today, the brand is releasing a new model named Denise, a watch that they see as an “all-season tool watch”, or a dive watch that can be brought onshore for exploration.

6 years ago

Review – Baume HRS Limited Edition Automatic – When Richemont goes Microbrand-Like

When you hear the word Baume, most would assume it’s referring to Baume & Mercier, a popular luxury watch brand dating back to 1830 and now part of the Richemont Group. And they’d be partially correct. Baume is an offshoot of Baume & Mercier with Marie Chassot (Product Marketing Director for Baume & Mercier) coming in as the lead, along with several other executives from the parent company. Baume is, however, very much an independent company with different design philosophies and strategic guidance, and a strong focus on sustainability.

6 years ago

Hands-on – Fugue Chronostase, Making a Case for Modularity

Modularity has become a big thing in the watch industry, with more and more embracing the concept of customisation (at least for some very high-end brands) and interchangeable strap/bracelet system – think Vacheron Constantin, Maurice Lacroix or Cartier. Yet, in the end, you have the same watch on a different strap. Certainly a nice first […]

6 years ago

Introducing – The Pinion Atom 39, An Accessible British Tool-Watch (Hands-On)

The watch industry is in a shift. E-commerce is on everyone’s lips, new ways to deal with end-customers are the main topic for brands and, most importantly in the present context, there are hundreds of microbrands rising – some more outstanding than others. Among those young brands, one that stands out from the crowd and that already successfully launched several pieces is named Pinion. Classic in the execution, offering robust tool watches, the British brand is now launching a new watch, the Pinion Atom 39 – an accessible watch that has been created after an interesting collectors’ survey.

6 years ago

Value Proposition – Martenero Kerrison – A Stylish and Affordable Automatic All-Rounder

While a growing list of microbrands are producing well designed, high-quality watches that are nipping at the heels of brands like Hamilton, Tissot and Seiko, they don’t have the marketing or mass production prowess of those established brands. Some of the watches themselves, however, are bonafide contenders. Martenero is a young microbrand based in New York that already has a handful of intriguing lines in their portfolio. They recently funded a sequel to one of their bestsellers on Kickstarter, the Edgemere Reserve. It follows the original Edgemere and adds three complications, a 24-hour sub-dial, date and reserve indicator (the original Edgemere was a time-only piece). One of my favorite Martenero lines is the Kerrison, which is clean and conservative, but also full of personality. They remind me of the Three Hand Automatics from another young microbrand, Farer Universal. Both use splashes of color to add a little fun to otherwise subdued (yet stylish) dials. Let’s take a closer look at the Martenero Kerrison in black.

6 years ago