Hands-On - The Vacheron Constantin Fiftysix Sepia Brown Collection
The launch of Vacheron's Fiftysix collection in 2018 was a surprise for many of us, marking a clear separation from the brand’s classic collections. Originally positioned as an entry-level collection to attract a younger generation of clients, the Fiftysix touted an automatic three-hand model in steel with an accessible' price tag of EUR 11,000. Although the notion of Vacheron Constantin producing an affordable' watch is at odds with the brand's venerable reputation for Haute Horlogerie, the idea was to seduce a younger, trendier customer. How? By jumping on the ever-so-trendy retro bandwagon and revisiting a 1956 model in a contemporary key. Distilling a fashionable retro-contemporary vibe, the Fiftysix has appeared as a complete calendar, a tourbillon, and a day/date.Having experimented with silver and blue dials, Vacheron decided to produce a rich, warm brown colour to offset the luxurious appeal of 18k pink gold. Last April, two 40mm pink gold boutique-exclusive models with s

The History Of The IWC Da Vinci - From 1969 to 2017
Over several decades?of existence, the IWC Da Vinci has drastically evolved and has seen dozens of versions and style. Yet, even if this watch is certainly not as popular as the Portugeiser or the Big Pilot’s Watch, it has been a playing?field for multiple innovations and milestones for the brand. Before we go hands-on with the latest version of the Da Vinci, in what we think is the key model of the 2017 collection, the Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, as a tribute to the famous 1985 watch created by legend Kurt Klaus, a short history of the IWC Da Vinci could be more than useful, a story that has been eventful, innovative, sometimes unloved, sometimes iconic.The early Days of the IWC Da VinciEverything started in 1969, with the very first IWC Da Vinci, equipped with the infamous Beta 21 quartz movement. Indeed,?IWC was?involved in the development of the Beta 21, a wristwatch calibre with quartz control (frequency 8192 hertz). This first edition, the Da Vinci Quartz Electronic (re

Farer Stanhope - A Classic Design and a Fun, Sophisticated Dial Give Farers 37mm Hand-Wound a Ton of Character - Monochrome Watches
The United Kingdom seems to be a hotbed for independent watch brands these days with names like Vertex, Garrick, Bremont?and Pinion, among many others. Farer Universal is a relative newcomer and takes inspiration from 1960s and 1970s watchmaking, adding colourful and sophisticated dials to a variety of styles. We reviewed its Aqua Compressor Endeavour last year and walked away impressed, and its most recent chronographs are right up there with established brands like Hamilton and Tissot (see our editorial on Microbrands vs. Accessible Established Brands). The Stanhope was introduced in 2018 with the brand's smallest case to date and a hand-wound ETA movement, joining two others in the collection, the Lansdell and Hudson. Most of Farer's portfolio contains automatic watches with a couple of quartz options, so the 37mm hand-wound collection stands out in both size and movement. The Stanhope proved to be the most popular of the trio with the first batch selling out quickly. Let's take a c

Sarpaneva Korona K1 - Monochrome Watches
It’s been roughly 9 months since I bought my ‘grail-watch’, the Korona K1 from the Finnish watchmaker Stepan Sarpaneva. So enough experience to sit down and write about this watch that’s been on my wrist almost permanently for almost 9 months. My Sarpaneva Korona K1 was my first watch from an independent watchmaker and also my most luxurious/expensive watch ever. When Stepan Sarpaneva told me the watch that I ordered was ready, I booked a ticket to Helsinki to pick it up myself. Here you can read the report of my trip to Helsinki. Now it’s time for a review to share my experiences of owning and wearing a Sarpaneva Korona K1. In May of last year it was finally time. The months before had been an intense period. Of course a decision like this was not made overnight, so long lists of potential watches had to be narrowed down. Or maybe the decision was not so difficult, it was just me having difficulty with spending so much money on a watch.?When my decision w

Value Proposition: The new, Unbeatably Priced Orient Bambino 38 Small Seconds
There is a vast swathe of the watch market awash with affordable watches, models that really deliver a lot of bang for the buck. But how many well-built, well-designed mechanical watches out there can you get for under 300 euros? Not many (the sporty Citizen Tsuyosa Automatic is a serious contender too). Producing watches that are even more affordable than Swiss counterparts like Tissot, Japanese watchmaking company Orient is a force to contend with when it comes to value for money. One of its best-selling dress watch models, the three-hand-and-date Bambino was recently presented in compact, unisex 38mm cases. Following the trend for smaller diameters, Orient launches the Bambino 38 Small Seconds, also with compact cases and a choice of four dial colours. A member of Orient's Classic Collection, the Bambino Small Seconds is classical through and through. A cross between an earlier Classic Bambino 40.5mm model without the small seconds sub-dial and a 40.5mm Bambin