Watches NEWS
Dead Second a.k.a. Seconde Morte for Deadly Precision - Monochrome Watches
Watch collectors and aficionados are used to looking at the nearly continuous sweep of a second hand around the dial to distinguish a mechanical timepiece from quartz watches. In a mechanical watch the second hands moves forward in increments of a fraction of a second depending on the frequency of its balance. Yet, dead second watches (also called dead beat second or seconde morte in French) mark the second with discreet jumps between them, just like quartz watches. A Technical Perspective?looks into this rare, smart and mechanically sophisticated functionality.Upclose with the Jaeger-Lecoultre Geophysic with dead second (true second), a reedition in tribute to a rare chronometer manufactured in 1958, the first international geophysical year. Ad - Scroll to continue with article Alice: How long is forever?' White Rabbit: Sometimes, just one second.'How long does
Just Because - Some of the Most Used Nicknames in Watchmaking
Like them or not, appropriate or not, nicknames have to be earned. Watches are very personal objects and they reflect an enduring connection with fans. Often, these nicknames are directly inspired by the characteristics of the watch, its shape or colours. In other cases, celebrities or a special event made a watch famous and their name has remained linked to the model forever. One thing is certain, iconic watches from cult brands earn nicknames among collectors and aficionados. Not surprisingly, these are widespread across the more popular brands ( , Seiko, Omega) while the watches from niche or high-end brands get less of these familiar monikers. Even cult Patek watches are referred to by connoisseurs with their 4-digit reference numbers, rather than their names. Here are some of the brands with the most nicknames?Note: If you can think of any other nicknames, please share them in our comment section below. We’d be delighted to expand the list. As you would expect, no other bran
Tissot Heritage 1973 Chronograph Limited Edition - Introducing (Specs & Price)
Tissot has solid ties with racing. Swiss driver Loris Kessel wore a Navigator chronograph in the 1970s and was officially sponsored by Tissot in the 1976 Formula 1 Grand Prix. The brand is once again working with Kessel Racing, this time with Ronnie Kessel (son of Loris) to launch the limited edition Heritage 1973. The watch has been updated a bit with contemporary touches but maintains many retro elements that made the original Navigator such a compelling piece. A larger case, updated dial and sapphire crystal mark the major differences, and while not technically a reissue, it's a nice throwback to the 1973 classic. Let's take a closer look.The 316L stainless steel case has a satin-brushed finish with polished bevels – typical of the era – with a diameter of 43mm and height of 14.8mm. The cushion case is nearly identical in shape to the smaller 39mm Navigator with a slightly larger crown and pushers. A domed sapphire crystal replaces the Navigator's acrylic and a mineral g
Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921 Mid-Size 36.5mm - Review (Specs & Price)
Recently, Vacheron Constantin unveiled a mid-size version of one of its most appealing watches, the desirable and highly original?Historiques American 1921. Yet, there’s something tricky with this watch, and it’s all about its name, and the size that is implied by this “mid-size” appellation. Such watches have always been complex in terms of market segmentation… Large feminine watch, smaller masculine timepiece? It often falls between two stools, but in the case of the?American 1921 Mid-Size, my decision is now clear… I needed to wear it and here’s what we (a unanimous decision from the Monochrome editorial team) think.Quick thoughts about “mid-size” watchesMid-size? What does this name imply? And why has this name been created? We have to go back to the mid-1970s when some of the high-end brands created their now iconic luxury sports watches – and that does also include Vacheron Constantin, with the ref. 222 (the predecessor
Introducing The Nivada F77 Automatic Steel Sports Watch With Integrated Bracelet
There is nothing as hype these days as the 1970s steel sports watch with an integrated bracelet. To make it short, they are everywhere and at every imaginable price point. The style is so popular that even high-end indie watchmakers and micro-brands are jumping on the bandwagon. Can we blame them? Surely not, as it’s just a response to what the market wants. Looking at the accessible segment, the strongest contender with a Swiss movement and one of the few go-to options is the Tissot PRX collection. Except that there is a new competitor on the block: welcome the F77 Automatic from Nivada Grenchen.As with most of the previous releases of Nivada, this new watch doesn’t come out of the blue. It is actually a revival of a vintage watch that was produced in 1977, with all the codes you would expect from a watch designed after the shockwave produced by the Royal Oak. The original model, which you can see below, certainly displayed references to existing watches – an octagon
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