Announcing “The Monochrome Video Week”
Starting today is the “Monochrome Video Week“, meaning that for the coming five days we will be showing recent, unpublished videos that we shot at location in Villeret, Neuchâtel and Geneva. On Friday we’ll show you some of our best-viewed videos, also filmed on location in Glashütte (Germany), and in Switzerland in Biel, Geneva and Villeret. Let’s make clear that we’re not showing you corporate videos of some of our favourite watches brands, nope, these are movies filmed in our own style, by our own crew, and of subject of our own choice. So, instead of showing you photos of watches or a visual description of a manufacture visit, we’re showing you everything in the best possible way; there’s no better ‘tool’ than movies to explore the fascinating world of fine watchmaking. Please sit down, get a big bag of popcorn… here’s what we have lined up for you for the “Monochrome Video Week“
Baume & Mercier are known for their value-focused take on traditional watchmaking. Their Clifton and Capeland collections epitomise this approach, offering versatile style at a price that won’t break the bank. Of course, this means some concessions must be made: Cases are usually steel, and complications are of the more down-to-earth variety. But just because this sort of everyday mechanical is Baume & Mercier’s bread and butter doesn’t mean that they don’t have the capacity to hit the horological high gear on occasion. In fact, over the past few years Baume & Mercier has released a series of fairly stunning special edition takes on the Clifton, including a tourbillon, this handsome 8-day power reserve model and the unusual five-minute repeater pocket watch. The latest addition to this series is a full blown perpetual calendar, housed in a slender, solid 18K red gold case. It’s an extremely elegant piece, thanks to the traditional dial layout and the faceted, vintage-inspired lugs, slightly recessed crown and glassbox sapphire crystal. At 42mm across it’s well sized for a complicated watch, ensuring that there’s enough room on the dial for everything to be legible, but not so big as to lose the old-world charm. Looking through the sapphire…
Much like Elf, the unofficial best Christmas movie of all time, the Octo has a cult following – though to be honest, that’s where the similarities begin and end. Still, we reckon this status is only going to grow stronger with the release of the blacked-out Ultra Nero. This striking piece commands attention from the wrist, with its matt black finishing and subtle rose gold highlights on the indices, numerals, hands and crown. Who should you buy this for? That confident person in your life who’s most comfortable standing out from the pack. What’s the damage? Under 10k Bulgari Octo Ultra Nero Australian Pricing Bulgari Octo Ultra Nero, $9950
As the days tick by and SIHH 2017 looms, the pre-releases are coming thick and fast. One of the brands that never fails to surprise (hey Carbotech) and delight (hey Firenze) us is Panerai, and this year it looks like they’re keeping to form with two new takes on the classic Radiomir case. Inspired by historic models from the ’30s, the most distinctive feature of these 47mm steel models is the twelve-sided bezel holding the plexiglass crystal (a nice vintage feature in and of itself) in place. This bezel, which bears more than a passing resemblance to Panerai’s typical casebacks, is engraved with ‘Officine Panerai – Brevettato’, which refers to the patented luminous material used by the brand back in the day. The first of these two models, PAM00685, comes with a standard black sandwich-style dial. The second is a little more special, its gradated brown dial mimicking the tropical, radium-faded look of highly-prized vintage models. It looks great in the photography we’ve seen and we can’t wait to witness it IRL in January. Both watches are powered by Panerai’s P.3000 calibre, with three days’ power reserve, and come on an untreated brown leather strap with contrasting stitching. Panerai Radiomir 3 Days Acciaio (PAM…