Watches NEWS
Discovering the impressive Kallinich Claeys Einser Zentralsekunde
Part of the reason MONOCHROME Watches exists in the first place is a deep-rooted love for independent watchmaking and the wonderful things some of the best watchmakers in the world can come up with. To us, that’s the very fabric of our existence and we try to provide a platform for these true masters of the craft. Even if you think everything has been done by now, there’s always something new to come when you least expect it. In the past few years, we’ve seen a lot of young and extremely talented watchmakers come up who, with the help of social media, try to make it on their own. Although success is not guaranteed, nor is it instant, we can’t help but be amazed by some of the stuff that’s being done around the world. So when we learned of two former A. Lange & Sohne watchmakers working on something very special, we jumped at the chance to find out more. And even though the duo of Johannes Kallinich and Thibault Claeys are still working on their first p
First Look: The AP Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar John Mayer Limited Edition
It’s no secret that Audemars Piguet has long been involved with celebrities and influential people from the world of music. It usually goes well beyond ambassadors and AP has launched several watches in collaboration with musicians – the latest to surface was the chocolate ceramic Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar “Cactus Jack” made with Travis Scott. Now, it’s time for a collaboration with artist (and famous watch collector) John Mayer, who has decided to bring a fresh, modern take on the classic Tuscan dial perpetual calendar. Meet the new Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar “John Mayer” Limited Edition 26574BC, a watch that also has historical importance, as we’ll see when talking about its calibre 5134.What we’re looking at here is nothing groundbreaking at first sight. In most aspects, this John Mayer limited version of the RO QP is identical to the permanent collection models we’ve covered here. What matters has to do with the dial,
Bvlgari Octo Finissimo S Steel Silvered Dial - Hands-On, Price
We all remember the inaugural Octo Finissimo Automatic, a watch that made headlines in 2017 with the thinnest automatic movement on the market. First presented in a monochromatic edition in titanium, followed by sandblasted steel and gold models, it has become a signature watch in the brand’s collection. Last year, it received an update to become the S model – not just a different dial but also a different finishing and, best of all, a 100m water-resistant case. This year, the Octo Finissimo S Steel Silvered Dial returns to its much-loved monochromatic look.The Octo Finissimo Automatic as presented in 2017, with its monochromatic titanium design.The original Octo Finissimo – which is still available – was and still is a fascinating watch. Combining the beauty of high-end watchmaking – with its ultra-thin (2.23mm height) automatic movement, developed and manufactured in-house – with a bold, contemporary design was a refreshing move. Octo Finissimo was
The New Cartier Prive Tank Normale Honouring The 1917 Original
The Cartier Tank, without a doubt, is one of the most recognizable and iconic watch designs. A revolutionary concept in 1917, as elegant and sophisticated as ever more than a hundred years later, with many exquisite interpretations, it is the watch of great importance to watchmaking history, not just Cartier. Surprisingly enough, when Cartier launched the Cartier Prive series in 2017 to offer each year a collection of contemporary interpretations of some of the Maison’s most classic timepieces, the first watch to be presented was the Crash, followed by Tank Cintree, Tonneau, Tank Asymetrique, Cloche and Tank Chinoise. The original Tank, which started it all, was left unnoticed, as was the Collection Privee Cartier Paris case, which featured re-issues of all the essential Cartier models over the years but never a Tank. This year, the 7th edition of Cartier Prive highlights the Tank Normale, the “mother idea”, with a bundle of new limited editions. Good things come to t
Buying Guide - 5 New Watches with Red Hot Dials
Watch dials rarely venture to red. Less formal than dark colours, red grabs your attention. But red can be very attractive and elegant, as you’ll see. Especially if you are confident in your ability to carry off colours or like to stand out from the crowd. If this is the case, we have rounded up five great red dial watches presented recently.Note: this selection is based on a consensus among the MONOCHROME team. It reflects our preferences but if there are other watches you'd love to mention, feel free to share these in the comment section at the end of this article.Oris Big Crown Pointer date 40mm oxblood Red dialRed with brownish hues, the oxblood dial of this Pointer Date works extremely well with the context of this vintage-inspired Oris model. Its stylized typography is paired with cathedral hands treated with beige Super-LumiNova. The automatic calibre 754 inside is based on a Sellita SW200-1 modified internally for the date indication. It comes with an equally unique but s