Chopard presents the superbly elegant L.U.C. Strike One - Hands-On
The Chopard L.U.C. saga goes back to 1996 when CEO Karl-Friedrich Scheuffele decided it was time to return to the realms of Haute Horlogerie. Named after the firm's founder, Louis Ulysse Chopard, it was to be the start of a continuous devotion to the finest watchmaking imaginable, marked by the inaugural L.U.C. XPS 1860 in 1997. After a decade of high-end watchmaking, the celebratory L.U.C. Strike One was presented, the brand’s first-ever venture into the world of repeater mechanisms. Fast forward to today, the new Chopard L.U.C. Strike One combines several of the best elements developed under the L.U.C. label, including the patented monobloc sapphire crystal/gong chiming technology.As said, Chopard celebrated the 10th anniversary of its manufacture with the L.U.C. Strike One, the brand's first-ever striking watch. This featured the in-house manufactured Calibre 96.14-L with a striking mechanism visible from the front and on/off pusher at 10 o'clock. This very watch serves as the

Hands-On: The Nicolas Delaloye Renaissance Tantalum 39mm
Despite being an experienced watchmaker in his 50s, Nicolas Delaloye remains one of the discreet names in the independent watchmaking scene. But there are good reasons for that. This AHCI member just regained his independence and re-started making watches a few months ago, after a long period serving as a watchmaker-restorer at the Patek Philippe Museum – objectively, not the worst of experiences. Before that, in his long career, Delaloye had already produced a few watches as an independent watchmaker. Today, after years of working for others, the passion to create under his own name has been reignited, marking both a return to this previous activity and a personal rebirth, inspiring the name Renaissance or, to be precise, the Nicolas Delaloye Renaissance Tantalum 39mm.? Nicolas Delaloye is an experienced watchmaker who has been working independently since 2024. After graduating from the Geneva Watchmaking School in 1991, he worked for Patek Philippe and ot

First Look: The Artya Son of Earth Dome Collection
The world of Yvan Arpa is one of boundless imagination. Flamboyant and unpredictable, he breathes life into timepieces, which under the brand Artya, defy convention and embrace a daring uniqueness. True to its name, the Dome collection captivates with its sculptural domed sapphire crystal, protecting distinctive dials, some crafted from natural materials, ensuring that no two dials are identical. And, as is often the case with Artya, these are released as unique pieces or exclusive limited editions. In the diverse array of Artya Dome releases, the two watches we were able to photograph showcase captivating dials made of semi-precious stones. The first one is a unique piece with a DLC-coated steel case and a Labradorite dial standing out with eye-catching iridescent colour effects. The second one is a limited edition in stainless steel, graced with a white fluorite dial with intriguing patterns and texture.? Ad - Scroll to continue with article

First Look: The New Models In The Tissot Le Locle Collection
In 2023, the Tissot Le Locle collection marked its 20th anniversary, and with the addition of the two new models, it now comprises 30 references. Renowned for its classic yet engaging design, the collection offers elegant, timeless elements and practical features, appealing to those seeking a refined, understated timepiece with an exceptional price-quality ratio. Let’s explore the latest additions: the Le Locle Powermatic 80 Green and the Le Locle COSC 39mm 18K Gold Bezel. While each model embodies the collection’s core values, they bring a unique allure to the lineup.Le Locle Powermatic 80 GreenWhile this model isn’t new to the series, its presentation certainly is. The latest Le Locle Powermatic 80 retains the classic elements of the collection, housed in a nicely finished 39.3mm stainless steel case, just 9.75mm thick and water-resistant to 30 meters. The case is topped with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and features a see-through caseback with engravings th

Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity - Full Review with live photos, specs and price - Monochrome-Watches
It's not often we cover Maurice Lacroix on Monochrome, but over the past few years we've seen a number of interesting watches being introduced by this manufacture. We showed you the Masterpiece Gravity as a Baselworld 2014 introduction, but now we bring share our extensive review just prior to Baselworld 2015, in anticipation of the novelties to come.Founded in 1976, the Swiss brand of Maurice Lacroix is upping their game since 2006 by bringing in-house developed components and movements to their line-up. The introduction of a square and clover-leaf wheel, intriguingly placed on the dial-side of the watch and doubling as an indicator for the seconds or a seemingly floating seconds hand are two of the noteworthy visible characteristics of their work. For the Gravity, an in-house silicon escapement receives a prominent place on the front of the watch. I'd say on the dial but there really isn't one except for the small, off-center one. Ad - Scroll to continue with article