Stopping a Tourbillon - Monochrome Watches
The tourbillon is often regarded as one of the most prestigious complications and a demonstration of the skill and craftsmanship of the watchmakers capable of manufacturing this captivating mechanism. Invented by Breguet in 1801, its aim is to negate the influence of gravity on the regulating organ of watches. Changes in position have significant effects on the way watches keep time. In a tourbillon, a mobile carriage rotating at slow speed (most often once per minute) houses the balance, balance-spring and escapement to average out positional errors. Tourbillon watches are, therefore, built to keep time with superior precision, but, until very recently, they had one significant drawback. It was impossible to set the time with to-the-second accuracy with a classic stop-seconds function. Indeed, it would seem logical and obvious to be able to synchronize the movement to a time signal.The ability to stop the balance wheel and the seconds hand of a mechanical movement is critical. Traditi

Just Because - The Important Watch Anniversaries to Know in 2023
Welcome to a new year. Welcome to 2023. If there’s one thing that watch brands love, it’s celebrating their heritage. Vintage has been one of the main inspirations for the past 10 to 15 years, and we’ve seen plenty of commemorative models released in 2022 – think about the 50-year Royal Oak. Why should 2023 be any different? There are important anniversaries coming up this year, and we can bet that watch brands will be releasing a spate of commemorative pieces. In fact, some even started at the end of 2022 or earlier today. So here are the watch anniversaries you should know about in 2023.110 Years – The Seiko Laurel (1913)Seiko, even though it was not called Seiko in its earliest days, was created in 1881 as a watch atelier. A few years later (1895), the Time Keeper, a pocket watch made in the newly opened Seikosha factory, was released. However, Seiko's most significant watch might well be the 1913 Laurel, the brand's and Japan's first wristwatch. And it

Baselworld 2017 - Porsche Design Monobloc Actuator 24H-Chronotimer - Hands-on with Photos, Specs and Price - Monochrome Watches
The history of Porsche Design is intertwined with the legendary car brand that?sprouted from the same creative mind, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche. Since the very beginning the link between Porsche Design watches and motorsports was there, and not just as a marketing link. No, Porsche Design’s first wrist watch, the Porsche Design Chronograph 1, was a black PVD coated watch and that was rather disturbing back in the early seventies. And so was the chronograph that the brand introduced in 1980, which was the world’s first chronograph in titanium – a material widely used in the watch industry now-a-days, but a few decades ago it wasn’t. Today we’re showing you Porsche Design’s latest watch?that is again inspired by the world of motor sports, and in this case directly links to the brand new (mighty) Porsche 911 RSR. However it also strongly reminds us of that very first Titanium Chronograph from 1980. Let’s have a look at the new Porsche Design Mono

Jaeger LeCoultre wins Chronometrie 2009 - Monochrome Watches
Jaeger-LeCoultre wins the Chronometrie 2009 International timing competition for mechanical wristwatches with the Master Tourbillon.?In fact Jaeger-LeCoultre won not only the first price, also picked up second place for the Reverso Gyro Tourbillon 2.The two Jaeger-LeCoultre watches were adjusted by a team led by the firm's technical director, Mr Jean-Claude Meylan. The photo below shows the movement of the first winner of the Chronometrie competition in 37 years, Jaeger LeCoultre Calibre 978 of the Master Tourbillon.Jaeger LeCoultre Calibre 978This was the first time since 1972 that this official timing competion was held.?The Chronometrie International timing competition for mechanical wristwatches was last held in 1972 at the Neuchatel observatory. This years’ competition was held to mark the 50th anniversary of the watch museum in Le Locle. Ad - Scroll to continue with article

First Look: The new TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green
Racing green… Probably one of the most emblematic colours in motorsport. We have to remember that, in the early days of car racing, colours were not just decorative, but racing drivers competed with liveries representing their country – Italian red, German silver, French blue (featured in last year’s limited edition) and, of course, British racing green. This iconic colour now adorns one of the most emblematic watches associated with motorsport, the Monaco. Following its Racing Blue peer from 2023, TAG Heuer now introduces the Monaco Chronograph Racing Green Calibre 11 in Titanium.?Born in 1969, the oddly cool Monaco has always been associated with racing and motorsport. This square chronograph gained popularity when the King of Cool, Steve McQueen, wore it in the cult movie Le Mans in 1971. Since then, the Monaco has been one of the most emblematic watches of the brand, only rivalled by the enduring Carrera collection – which, in its own more classic style, als