Hands-On: The A. Lange & Sohne Odysseus Chronograph
A. Lange & Sohne was never a company to overwhelm visitors to the SIHH (now Watches & Wonders) with countless new models and variations of the past references. The Saxon brand always sends a clear message about what the launch of the year is with a huge replica of the essential new product welcoming you right there at the entrance to the ALS booth. The giant replica displays the correct time and date but also makes a statement: here at Lange, we are all about making watches, and not marketing stunts, with supercars and aeroplanes and fancy displays – an obvious hint to neighbouring exposants. This year the Saxon watchmakers went minimal and decided to introduce just one new reference – a costly limited-edition Odysseus Chronograph in stainless steel.?The original A. Lange & Sohne Odysseus, as presented in 2019, with weekday and date – note that the new chronograph feels very similar in style and display…We mention stainless steel right here first, be

Understanding Bezels and all the Different Scales - Monochrome Watches
A bezel is a simple but extremely effective tool letting you perform all sorts of tasks: from timing a dive to calculating the average speed of a motorbike, from gauging your fuel supply or the distance of incoming fire to consulting the time in Japan, a bezel gets the job done and jacks up the functionality of your watch. The trick is deciphering what all the markings on the bezel or on the dial (in that case, we talk scales) represent and how to use them.The dial of the Patek Philippe 5975, combining 3 of the most prominent scales used in the watch industry: Telemeter, Pulsometer, TachymeterDiving Bezels (or count-up)The purpose of a dive bezel is to track elapsed time underwater. One of the ISO 6425 standards for a divers' watch is that it must be fitted with a unidirectional bezel with a scale showing 60 minutes and markings at least every 5 minutes, well as a pre-select marker (usually in the form of a luminous triangle or diamond) to mark a specific minute reading. Since chronogr

Introducing Franck Muller 30th Anniversary Tribute Chronographs by Grail Watch
When considering Franck Muller’s watches, images of tonneau-shaped cases and flashy colours come to mind. But, looking back at the brand’s earliest days, there are some fascinating watches to explore. Just like early Daniel Roth models or early Roger Dubuis timepieces, some of the oldest Franck Muller watches are getting hotter and hotter and will probably be the next “big thing” in youngtimer watch collecting. Classic designs with an undeniable Patek vibe, handsome chronograph movements and refined details abound. And our friend Wei Koh of Revolution and Grail Watch seems to have an eye for this collection, which is about to be brought back to the market with a trio of stunning vintage-inspired and very legitimate models known as the Franck Muller 30th Anniversary Tribute Chronographs.Muller’s Early daysFranck Muller has not always been characterised by bold and audacious designs. While the formidable watchmaking skills of the company aren’t open to

Review IWC Big Pilot's Watch TOP GUN Mojave Desert IW506003
During the digital edition of Watches & Wonders 2021, IWC presented two Big Pilot's models in sand-coloured ceramic cases: the Big Pilot's Watch TOP GUN Mojave Desert as well as a more complicated Perpetual Calendar model, which we covered in April. The Mojave Desert sand-coloured ceramic case theme took off in 2019 with a Pilot's Watch Chronograph TOP GUN. Although the TOP GUN family has always favoured black ceramic cases, these two new references mark the first time IWC uses sand-coloured ceramic on a Big Pilot's watch. We spent some hands-on time with the automatic model (Ref. IW506003), and this is what we found.Take my breath awayThe United States Navy Fighter Tactics Instructor program, popularly known as TOP GUN, is where fighter and strike techniques are taught to the Tom Cruises of the real world. As a brand with a genuine link to pilot's watches since 1936 with the release of the “Special Pilot's Watch,” followed in 1940 by the iconic Big Pilot's Watch 52 T.S

Introducing the Omega DeVille Hour Vision BLUE for Orbis - Monochrome Watches
Blue is the new black. That was something we heard a lot this year at the SIHH and Baselworld. Many watch brands introduce watches with a blue dial and we at Monochrome do fancy some of them. IWC on the other hand, introduces an annual limited edition with a BLUE?dial that is dedicated to a good cause, like this one. Now Omega also introduces a watch with a striking blue dial, and dedicated to a good cause. The Omega DeVille Hour Vision Blue is dedicated to the world's only Flying Eye Hospital, named Orbis.Omega chose two to launch two blue dial version of the Constellation and the DeVille Hour Vision on which we’ll focus here today. When the DeVille Hour Vision was introduced in 2007, it was THE watch?that introduced Omega’s Co-Axial calibre 8500/8501. It was the first calibre with the new co-axial escapement and these?movements were entirely created in-house. The Omega DeVille Hour Vision features a unique case with a?360¡ã see-through case-body which is set in a robust 41