Introducing: The Urwerk UR-105 CT Streamliner
Go Deco or go home.
Hands-On – The IWC Pilot’s Watch MARK XVIII Edition “Antoine De Saint Exupéry”
Today, we are going hands on with a special edition of possibly one of the most legendary pilot’s watches of all time, or at the very least, one of the latest versions of it. Officially unveiled a few months ago, the IWC Pilot’s Watch MARK XVIII Edition “Antoine De Saint Exupéry” marks another addition to a long-line of military inspired models. It’s not a new watch as such, but rather part of an update to the existing Antoine De Saint Exupéry line, which includes two other models (a chronograph and a 36mm automatic ladies model). Like the standard Mark XVIII, it’s nicely sized at 40mm and features a third-party movement to keep the price down. Read on for the details and of course, some nice live photos.
INSIGHT: The 100 year history of the Cartier Tank, and the people who made it famous
For any designer, regardless of product type, the holy grail is to create an object that so perfectly balances form and function and so elegantly expresses an aesthetic that it will not only last for many generations but will forever look as modern as it did when it left the drawing board. Among those rare products are Le Corbusier’s Chaise LC4, Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair and Cartier’s Tank wristwatch. Louis Cartier’s practical, no-frills design has not only become one of the most successful and enduring watches of all time, it has accepted tweaks, updates and experiments without ever losing its integrity. And it is loved equally by men and women – for the not-so-simple reason that it’s perfectly suited to both. The beginning It’s hard to think of a less likely time than 1917 – three years into the havoc of World War I – for launching an object that would become a symbol of 20th-century luxe et chic. Before the war, Cartier’s fame had grown, thanks to its boldly modern jewellery designs and the marketing instincts of Louis-Joseph Cartier. In 1904, he designed a wrist-worn watch for his friend, Brazilian aviator, Alberto Santos-Dumont, to enable him to…
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Introducing: The HODINKEE Magazine, Volume 1
After nearly a decade online, we’re introducing a premium print magazine.
History of the Patek Philippe Calatrava Part 2 – Important Models Through Time
Yesterday, we brought you Part. 1 of our History of the Patek Philippe Calatrava, looking back at where it all began: the Reference 96. That original 1932 model has become a design icon, not to mention the basis on which every other Calatrava reference has been modelled. Emphasising the Bauhaus concept of form follows function, the original Ref. 96 provided the blueprint for the ultimate dress watch, a blueprint that been replicated many, many times by both Patek Philippe and other brands. Today, we’re taking a closer look at some of the notable Calatrava models that followed the Ref. 96, models that themselves have gone on to become extremely collectible. This is not an exhaustive list by any means, just the ones we thought to be the most emblematic, so please free to add any significant models you personally love in the comments below, and the reasons why they are important to you.
Hands-On: The Mido Multifort Escape
Big, clean, and affordable – with 80 hours of juice in the tank too.
Introducing – URWERK UR-105 CT Streamliner, The NYC-Inspired Targa Watch (Hands-On)
As some of you might know (and we told you here, on Mono’), independent brand URWERK is celebrating this year its 20th anniversary. Hard to believe, but the baby has grown up to become an adult… Will that means becoming serious and void of creativity? Certainly not. This year, the brand presents the URWERK UR-105 CT Streamliner, a modern watch inspired by the earliy years of the creators, Martin and Felix. A look back over the shoulder, but not with nostalgia or regret.
MY WATCH STORY: Sam’s Montblanc 1858 Automatic Dual Time
Editor’s Note: We don’t want to blow Sam’s cover, because My Watch Story subjects are guaranteed a high degree of anonymity. But let’s just say, Sam might not have ever seen you, but if you’re partial to a wide, wide range of clothing brands – most recently UNIQLO – you will probably have seen him. However, it’s not his photogenic features in the frame today, it’s his no less photo-friendly wrist – which at our recent whiskey and watches weekday lock-in, sported the Montblanc Felix and I got a little woozy about at SIHH 2017, the Montblanc 1858 Automatic Dual Time. How and why did you choose this piece? What do you like about it? I have been working with Montblanc lately and have been looking to enter the big boy watch arena for a while and it seemed like the perfect start! I was drawn to the dual tones, the bronze is a really unique selling point and will age gracefully once worn a bit more. The bezel is perfectly paired with a cognac-coloured calfskin strap, which adds to the vintage aesthetic. Since grabbing this watch, has anything surprised you about it? To be honest, I didn’t realise it…
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RECOMMENDED READING: Omega’s CEO on China and the incredible ‘Building O’
Earlier this week The New York Times published an interview with Omega CEO Raynald Aeschlimann, in which he gives an interesting overview as to how the Swatch Group’s crown jewel is faring, and what the plans are for the future. Aeschlimann points to China as a star performing market at the moment, saying that half of the brand’s business is coming from Asia, where the Constellation is the model of choice. He also speaks about the new factory, the impressive ‘Building O’: “At the center of Building O is a giant glass-enclosed atrium three floors deep, an inventory area called ‘the heart’, with 30,000 stacked boxes of watch parts that are retrieved as needed by a roving automated arm.” Omega projects that this massive 175,225-square-foot building will be big enough for another 30-50 years of growth. Read the full story here.
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A Week On The Wrist: The Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB 1
Seven days with a high-test “marine chronometer for the wrist.”