Collector's Series - @chronoapothecarist's Gronefeld One Hertz Techniek
The man who operates under the alias @chronoapothecarist must have the weirdest combination of interests ever. This 40-year-old pharmacist from San Diego, California, who strives for innovations and developments in the pharmaceutical field, is equally interested in the intricate workings of a fine watch movement. Hence his love for the Gr?nefeld One Hertz Techniek Titanium, made by the horological brothers from Oldenzaal in The Netherlands.Frank Geelen, MONOCHROME – Gronefeld is not one of the big brand names. How did you come to know them?@chronoapothecarist – My first memory of the Gr?nefeld brand was around the time when they released their One Hertz and reading about the brothers on various prominent watch forums/blogs, such as Monochrome. At this time, I had always been intrigued by independent watchmakers for their design and craftsmanship and dreamed about owning an independently made watch in the future. It is amazing, though, how over time, on one's collecting jour

This week we take a look at some of the most insane vans ever created
If you're anything like me, and on the road in a bit of traffic quite regularly, some cars stick out more than others, and not always in a good way. One eyesore we've surely all encountered before, and perhaps had the pleasure' of driving ourselves for whatever reason, is the van. They're big, loud and often are right on your bumper trying to pass you by almost pushing you out the way. Generally, they're a pain and a nuisance more often than not. But how can you spruce up a van to become, well. cool? Simple, add a big engine and make it go fast. Like, REALLY fast!Basically, everything with the word Super in it is instantly better, right? Superman, Superspeed, Supersonic, Supercharger, Supercompressor, Supersonnerie, Supercar and so on. But how about a Supervan? Is calling a simple van a Supervan the way to go to shed the horrid reputations most people associate it with? Well no, it's not just about naming something super it's more about making it super in the process as well, something

Omega Speedmaster History Part 2 - the 1970s editions - Monochrome-Watches
In a previously featured article, we presented you with the premises of the Omega Speedmaster and how it became the ‘Moonwatch’. In addition to bringing us these very famous editions of the classical Speedy, the 1970s were also highly?productive in terms of research and development, with several technical improvements and distinctive?designs added to the collection throughout that decade. You may find these 1970s Omega Speedmasters ‘funky’ and ‘bulky’ (and, indeed, they are bulky) but this is the reason why!The Alaska ProjectThe Omega Speedmaster and NASA have a longstanding and deeply-rooted link. As we explained in the first part of this retrospective, the Speedmaster became the Moonwatch' because of a selection process and not from a joint development between the space agency and the Bienne-based brand. However, these two teamed up a few years afterward to improve the Speedy in a program called the Alaska Project'. And just to clarify, it had noth

COLUMN - An Apple by any other name is a Moser? A look at the H. Moser & Cie Swiss Alp Watch - Monochrome Watches
The definition of Irish Alzheimer's is when all you can remember are your grudges. Some people just won't let things go; they develop a grudge and carry it around morning, noon and night. It seems that in their own tongue-in-cheek way, H. Moser & Cie (the present-day David of the watch industry) is about to cast a few stones jewels at Goliath! And here,?the stones?jewels that David hide in his pockets are named the?H. Moser & Cie Swiss Alp Watch.An Idyllic LandscapeEverything in the watch industry was going so well. There was a chronometer on every wrist and a tourbillon on every wish list. Then along comes Apple. First they introduced an iPod so small that it was virtually useless as a device to play music on and only found its true calling in life when someone put it on a NATO strap and displayed the time on it. Several years (and billions of dollars in R&D) later we have the Apple Watch. You can't actually do' anything with it - but it will tell the time and let you know

Introducing: Panerai Luminor GMT Power Reserve Ceramica PAM01574
Panerai is the official timekeeper of the Salone del Mobile, the largest and most prestigious annual international design fair held in Milan since 1961. Panerai's involvement with Milan Design Week is celebrated with the release of the new Lumimor GMT Power Reserve Ceramica PAM01574. As a product launched in 1949 that retains many original design traits, the Luminor is rightfully acknowledged as an enduring Italian design icon.Luminescence was Panerai's trump card, and the high-precision instruments the Italian brand supplied to the Royal Italian Navy outshone all others thanks to the application of a radium-based powder patented as Radiomir. In 1949, toxic radium was replaced with tritium (Luminor), and the famous Luminor dive watch materialised with its distinctive crown-protection bridge, now the identity card of the Luminor collection. Ad - Scroll to continue with article