The Evolution of the Escapement and recent innovations - Monochrome Watches
250 years after Thomas Mudge invented the first lever escapement, developing escapements has once again become the new frontier in technological breakthroughs of old-fashioned mechanical watches; a crowning glory for the most innovative, skilful and daring watchmakers. Here's a review of recent prospects and advances concerning what is certainly the most important part of a watch, the escapement.With this article dedicated to the escapement, we're introducing to you a new column, entirely dedicated to technics: A Technical Perspective. We learnt from recent talks with you, our readers, that you are interested in learning more about movement?parts, about innovation and about the way some complications work. Today, we'll clarify the evolution of a crucial part of a mechanical watch, the escapement.Invented by the English Horologist Thomas Mudge in the middle of the 18th century, the Swiss lever escapement is currently used in almost all of the mechanical watches we have today. Yet, after

Introducing: The Nomos Tangente Neomatik Update 41 For Wempe
With the much-awaited summer season right around the corner, many of us tend to lean towards a more refreshing colour palette in our watches. In the first half of this year, we have seen plenty of fun and exciting new tones of colour being used, with a few shades that really stood out to us. One such colour is ice blue, which always looks amazing when done right. This is exactly what renowned retailer Wempe must have thought for one of its latest collaborations; the sub-zero cool Nomos Tangente Neomatik Update 41 for Wempe Signature Collection.The Tangente Neomatik Update 41 stands out for its sleek and minimalistic style but with a little twista la Nomos. Set in a slim 41mm stainless steel case, which tops out at just 7.9mm in height, it features signature straight and angled lugs. The very narrow bezel results in a watch that looks larger than it actually is, a clever little visual trick. Naturally, a sapphire crystal covers it all, with a second sapphire crystal around the back putt

Arnold & Son Adds the Time Pyramid to Its Instrument Collection - Monochrome Watches
Arnold and Son flies the Union Jack with pride, continuing a British watch making tradition that goes back to John Arnold (1736-1799) and his son John Roger Arnold (1769-1843). The company supplied marine chronometers to the Royal Navy for navigating longitude. The Instrument Collection, which boasts the Time Pyramid among others, harkens to the past, but recasts this past in innovative interpretations. The Time Pyramid is the latest addition.A magician never reveals his secrets is the answer given at every elementary aged birthday party where the magician is the event's top billing. Disappearing coin – just a wave of the hand. Guess the card - a touch of the card to the forehead. Rabbit out of the hat - a tap of the wand and Presto. Children's Ah, Wow, Cool is followed by How did he do that? The first look at the Time Pyramid elicits this same question, but instead of the magician's code of silence, Arnold & Son lets us peek. We get to see inside this watch, but it still loo

Hands-on: The Bianchet Flying Tourbillon Grande Date B 1.618
After a career in financial technology, the Festa-Bianchet couple embarked on a new entrepreneurial project driven by their passion and desire to create their own watches. As evident from their inaugural timepiece, the B 1.618 Openwork, they have specialized in crafting ultra-modern tourbillons, with the number 1.618 serving as a reference to the golden ratio, a pivotal element influencing their designs. Their second creation, the Flying Tourbillon Grande Date B 1.618, adheres to the same design language but represents an evolutionary step. A visit to the brand's new premises and atelier in La Chaux-de-Fonds provided the opportunity to get our hands on this sports tourbillon, boasting an impressive 5000-G shock resistance.As mentioned, the Bianchet Flying Tourbillon Grande Date B 1.618 retains the design language of its predecessor, featuring a tonneau-shaped case and a modern, openworked tourbillon movement. However, it also introduces some noteworthy evolutions. Overall, it exudes a

The Two-Wheeled Madness Of Thornton Hundred Motorcycles
For the majority of the time we have been running the Petrolhead Corner, we have been predominantly focussing on four-wheeled fun. That changed a while back when our contributor Erik, a knowledgeable and experienced rider, and I, a novice rider who bought his first bike less than a year ago, started to write about motorcycles every now and then. Similar to what often goes down when sourcing inspiration for car stories for our weekly column, I have stumbled upon multiple very cool things to share, including today’s topic; the bespoke madness of Thornton Hundred Motorcycles. Enjoy!Thornton HundredThe company Thornton Hundred Motorcycles was founded by Jody Millhouse and is based in Castlethorpe, Milton Keynes, in the United Kingdom, close to the Silverstone race track and the Formula 1 teams of Red Bull Racing and Mercedes-AMG. Jody was just 20 years old when he started with Thornton Hundred, a name that refers to the village where he lived and grew up (Thornton) and to the 100mph