Hands-On: The Maen Skymaster 38 MKIII, a Cool & Accessible Racing Chronograph
Racing chronographs… It might not be as packed as a category as dive watches, but in all fairness, finding the right one for you is not going to be a walk in the park. Hundreds of alternatives (and good ones, on top of that) exist, ranging from affordable quartz models to attainable Swiss mechanical options, followed by classic luxury icons or high-end watches with basically no limit of price. But let’s say you’re looking for a cool, compact, vintage-oriented racing chronograph with a timeless appeal, powered by a reliable mechanical movement… In that case, the Stockholm-based, Dutch-rooted microbrand Maen might have a very compelling solution for you: the third iteration of its chronograph collection, the Skymaster 38 MKIII.?By no means competitors, but you’ll get the racing chronograph vibe and inspiration…Even if we narrow down our search for a racing chronograph to accessible watches powered by mechanical movements, there are still dozens of watc

Celebrating 100 Years Of The Iconic Cartier Tank - Part 2, The Important Early Models - Monochrome Watches
Last week, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Cartier Tank, we brought you part.1 of our in-depth look at this modern-day icon. Our focus was on the Tank Normale, the very first Tank ever created, which made its debut in 1917 (or 1919, depending on who you ask). This early model would lay the foundation for what has gone on to become one of the most recognisable watch designs ever, leading to numerous variations and of course homages from other brands. It also serves as a testament to the idea that well-executed, simple designs can stand the test of time. A bit of luck and a few celebrity endorsements here and there certainly don't hurt either! What has perhaps been most fascinating about the Tank over the years, however, is its incredible versatility. This was particularly evident in the early Tank models, i.e. those made in the 1920's and 1930's, which we will be looking at today. Each is very different in its own way, and yet each is unmistakably a Cartier Tank.A few wor

A Day with Jaeger-LeCoultre - Masterclass in Amsterdam - Monochrome Watches
Last month I had the pleasure of attending a Masterclass organized by Jaeger-LeCoultre. Several years ago I attended a similar Masterclass and now I was curious to see how much of my knowledge and “skills” remained.?The entire day was a lovely escape from any daily routine and very well organized, great place, great program, great food. And it gave much insight, again. Want to know how I did? Well, let me put it this way, after the Masterclass I respected watchmakers like I respect a good surgeon.?By the end of the day, we got to see many pieces from the current Jaeger-LeCoultre collection, so prepare for many wrist shots! Ad - Scroll to continue with article The Masterclass is something Jaeger-LeCoultre organizes for member of Le Club and people selected by Jaeger-LeCoultre dealers and their own boutiques. If you’re not a member of Le Club, th

IWC Big Pilot Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition IWC Racing IW590501
At IWC, one of the most emblematic collections is, without doubt, the so-called Flieger or Pilot’s Watch. Inspired by the past of the brand, when IWC was delivering robust observation watches to military forces, they are some of the most revered watches for pilots of the industry. But when you think of pilots, even for IWC, you might have in mind a flight instrument. Yet, IWC also uses this name for another kind of pilots… Think Hamilton, think technical objects, think motorsport. This is what this new IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition “IWC Racing” IW590501 tends to demonstrate.?Motor racing, and Formula 1 in particular, is a world of cutting-edge technology and innovative materials, where precision and reliability are keys to success. It’s a world that always looks at the future, where the past is only synonymous with lower performance. For this reason, the Big Pilot Edition “IWC Racing” gets rid of all the elements

We found the original of Vacheron Constantin's new Historique American 1921 Boutique New York - Monochrome Watches
Vacheron Constantin releases three special edition to celebrate their first boutique in the US. One the three is a New York Limited Edition of the Historiques American 1921… and we found the original version of this gorgeous re-edition!Earlier Vacheron Constantin already launched the Overseas Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, exclusively for boutiques. Yesterday we received news they launch three limited editions, exclusively for the new Vacheron Constantin Boutique in New York, located on the corner of Madison and 64th Street.?The Historiques American 1921 Boutique New York model is limited to… you already guesed it, 64 pieces. Ad - Scroll to continue with article We already wrote extensively about the first re-issue of the Historique American 1921 that was released in 2008?and one of the original 12 pieces of the Historique American 1921? that one of