Ulysse Nardin Freak X Bucherer BLUE (Specs & Price)
With its numerous joint creations, Bucherer BLUE has given birth to a series of truly unique and disruptive timepieces. Think about the IWC Portugieser, the Panerai Luminor Marina or the Oris Sixty-Five Chronograph. The most recent member in this BLUE collection was created with Ulysse Nardin and is a true horological UFO. Meet the new Freak X Bucherer BLUE.In the early 1980s, the encounter between Rolf W. Schnyder, a businessman and visionary, and Ludwig Oechslin, a brilliant horologist, turned Ulysse Nardin into one of the most innovative watch brands in town. This partnership would yield several milestones in mechanical watchmaking history. Among these, the legendary Freak housing the innovative dual direct escapement with silicon escapement wheels. With it, Ulysse Nardin not only became the pioneer of silicon in mechanical watchmaking but developed a new escapement (which remains a crowning glory for the most skilful and creative watchmakers) beating at the heart of a complex and a

Just Because - Why Toothbrushes Are So Important in Russian Watchmaking?
Anyone who visits the Raketa watch factory in Saint Petersburg will be surprised by the appearance of the machines in the main production hall. They seem to come from a different age. These days most watch factories use modern machinery with computerised numerical controls, but most of Raketa's machines still date back to Soviet times. As we've already seen when I wrote about my visit to the factory, they look distinctly old-fashioned and out of place in the 21st century! And if the fact that Raketa's manufacture has its own in-house choir might surprise you, there is something else that is just as surprising, and it has to do with toothbrushes Why? Keep reading!Olga, Raketa's Production Manager, explains: “Our machines are rather simple to use, but they allow us to achieve very high precision. They are easy to maintain as they don't have any complex hydraulic systems, electronic circuits or computer software. As long as they are properly maintained, they will still be working in

Montblanc TimeWalker Manufacture Chronograph Pre-SIHH 2018 - Hands-On (Specs & Price)
Last year, at the SIHH 2017, Montblanc introduced their own vision of the sports watch, with a completely redesigned TimeWalker collection – guided by Mister Davide Cerrato, known for being quite good in designing such watches. Presented in several editions, from 3-hand to UTC chronograph, the collection is again evolving, not with new complications, but with an interesting movement and design upgrade. Here is the?Montblanc TimeWalker Manufacture Chronograph, which introduces a new movement and a cool Panda-Style.The goal of the new?Montblanc TimeWalker collection was simple: to give the brand a powerful and consistent offer in the important field of sports watches, a market segment that for MB has never been very successful. The base used was the previous?TimeWalker line, an urbane and modern watch characterized by its originally shaped case (see an example here, showing the signature hollowed lugs), this watch never really was considered as a true sports watch. When arriving at

Stephane Bianchi, TAG Heuer's CEO, on the 50th Anniversary of the Monaco - Monochrome Watches
During the F1 Grand Prix in Monaco, last weekend, we sat down with TAG Heuer's CEO, Stephane Bianchi, to talk about the 50th anniversary of an icon, the TAG Heuer Monaco. I think we’d all agree that the word iconic' is often misused in the world of horology, however, in this case, I think it's appropriate to designate the Monaco as ‘iconic’. Stephane Bianchi tells us more about the Monaco and how TAG Heuer is celebrating the 50th anniversary of this legendary and highly recognizable timepiece.In 1969 the Heuer Monaco saw the light of day. Underneath its unusual case was the first automatic chronograph movement (although Zenith and Seiko also have a claim to producing the first automatic chronograph). The Heuer Monaco has rubbed shoulders wrists with some of the most legendary race drivers and movie stars and can be recognized form miles away thanks to its unique square shape. Both factors have contributed to its lasting popularity and especially the fact that the King

First look: Vacheron Constantin Tourbillon Chronograph Collection Excellence Platine
Unveiled in 2020, the Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph was a spectacular showcase of Vacheron Constantin’s dexterity in combining a monopusher chronograph and tourbillon complication with a twist, thanks to its unconventional layout. Now considered a classic, Vacheron has inducted the Traditionnelle into its hall of fame to become a member of the Excellence Platine club. Crafted in precious 950 platinum, the 50-piece limited edition is destined to become a sought-after collector’s piece.The Excellence Platine is Vacheron Constantin’s creme de la creme collection, originally created as a platform to release new benchmark models from the Maison. Broadening its horizons, the collection also welcomed emblematic timepieces. The common denominator for all the limited-edition members of this exclusive club is platinum. From the cases to the crown and from the sandblasted dial to the Maltese cross-shaped clasp, platinum is king. Even the stitching on the strap is made of