Montblanc 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter Limited Edition Bronze with new Salmon Dial
In late 2015, Montblanc introduced the first version of the 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter. Fitted with a Minerva/Villeret monopusher movement, we were instantly smitten. The initial 18k red gold edition was soon followed by a version in steel, and then a gorgeous bronze number with a champagne dial. This year, Montblanc continues the bronze theme with the introduction of its latest limited edition 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter, this time paired with a striking salmon dial.
If you had said to me, on the eve of SIHH 2018, that the one brand I would be most surprised by at SIHH would be Panerai, I honestly wouldn’t have believed you. Panerai have gotten to where they are today by following the sort of slow and steady product development path that luxury and timeless style is built upon. Next thing you know, I’m in the Panerai press presentation, quietly losing my mind (and not because of the incredible Lo Scienziato). No, I’m losing it because Panerai’s 2018 line-up is dominated not by the big, bold 45mm watches I’ve come to expect, but instead by more delicate 38 and 42mm cases — the latest members of the Luminor Due family. While the significant expansion of the Due line included some 45mm options, including the mesmerisingly handsome GMT, it was the smaller 42 and 38mm options that really got people talking. And not just because the 38mm is the smallest PAM to date, but because these watches make Panerai a viable option for people who might not before have considered them an option. Don’t be fooled by the small case sizes though, these watches pack just as much of a…
With aeronautical instruments remaining a main source of inspiration for Bell & Ross, it’s fair to say they’re passionate about aviation. And while we’ve come to expect flight-ready four-sided designs from the Parisian brand, last year’s third-generation Vintage collection not only evoked the look of instrument panels from aircraft of the 1960s but also featured a more classically styled round case. This year, as a preview to Baselworld, the collection has been given an update and an even stronger vintage feel with the release of two new Steel Heritage versions of the BR V2. They’re designed to meet modern military specs while also paying tribute to the best of days gone by. The three-handed BR V2-92 and the BR V2-94 chronograph now feature sand-coloured luminous hour markers and hands – a look we’ve seen in other collections from Bell & Ross – that recall the patina of aged tritium and add to the new-old charm of the collection. A red line of text for the printed 100m depth rating also replaces a previously white one on the dial. And the vintage theme is continued elsewhere with both versions now available on an old school-style tropic rubber strap – as well…
