Meet The Watch Library, Watchmaking Heritage in Free Access
If a lot of data is easily available online regarding modern watchmaking, finding resources about watchmaking history is far more difficult. Well, it was The Watch Library is a not-for-profit organization that is built around the desire to make watchmaking heritage accessible to the widest possible audience. Launched on the initiative of the Maillard family (from our colleagues of Europastar) and Martine Depresle, this free access online platform is backed by prominent horological institutions including the Musee International d'Horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds and the Horological Society of New York, or brands including Audemars-Piguet, Richard Mille and TAG Heuer.The Watch Library was conceived as a non-profit foundation to facilitate access to the documents and enable the implementation of open data policies wherever possible. The online platform covers a variety of watch-related content including magazines, almanacs, books, drawings and videos. If the number of digitized assets will

Introducing The Norqain Freedom 60 Chrono 40mm Ice Blue Limited Edition
We've looked at Norqain many times since its 2018 founding as the Swiss watches are both well thought and aesthetically pleasing, especially for such a young brand. It's no surprise as part of the team behind Norqain came from Breitling, including founder Ben Kuffer. The Freedom 60 Chrono was an early success with a bold 43mm case, but a more universal 40mm Chrono launched last year and has been a highlight of the brand. Norqain is now releasing a limited edition of the 40mm chronograph with an ice blue dial that should please fans of the prior models.?The stainless steel case hasn't changed, but there was no reason to modify this more compact Freedom 60 Chrono, a relatively new and best-selling design. As the name implies, it's 40mm in diameter with a height of 14.9mm (lug-to-lug is 49.2mm). A box-type AR sapphire crystal protects the dial and provides retro distortions at angles, while a sapphire exhibition case back displays the Sellita-based automatic. The case is polished with som

Buying Guide - 5 Complication Watches Offering Excellent Value For Money - Monochrome Watches
After going through some of the best dress watches of 2017 (part 1 and part 2), it is time for our year-end buying guides to pick 5 traditional complication watches from 2017, stressing value - because an expensive watch is not necessarily a better watch. All you need from a watch, without having to take out a new mortgage. This doesn't mean affordable watches, but rather impressive complications with a price that is far from being shocking.Complete Calendar + Dual-Time - Oris Artelier ComplicationOris launched the Artelier Complication in 1991. In 2017, this signature piece is updated?with?a sleeker, lighter feel in keeping with the classical design of the model. A great classic in style (and function), it displays the day, date, moon phases as well as a second time-zone. The watch features a 40.5 mm steel case and a guilloche dial. It comes in different versions among which the pink gold markers is our favourite. And all of that comes for just EUR 2,000 Now that's an impressive price

Hands-on - The Louis Moinet Time to Race Chronograph
The story behind these fun, bespoke chronographs packs a good chunk of history, dating back to 1816 when horologist extraordinaire Louis Moinet produced the first world’s first chronograph. Known as the ‘Compteur de Tierces’, this pocket watch was designed to time the passage of stars and could measure events to 1/60th of a second, complete with start, stop and reset functions beating at an impressive 216,000vph! Given this head start in the race to measure elapsed times, Louis Moinet proposes the new Time to Race chronographs that can be customised with a lucky number and a choice of three racing-themed colours. Borrowing the smaller case dimensions of the recent 40.7mm Memoris Spirit, the chronograph complication of the Time to Race is displayed on the dial with a clear, open view of the column wheel and levers.The Louis Moinet Compteur de Tierces from 1816.Pimp my RideBefore looking at the chronograph, a few words to explain the concept of these ‘one-of-a-kin

The Watchmakers who say MIH - Monochrome Watches
The MIH Watch was released in september 2005 and has become a famous watch among watch enthusiasts in those past 3.5 years. With clean looks that do not immediately give away the complexity of the watch, it flies nicely under the radar.?The concept was developed by Ludwig Oechslin who is well known for creating remarkable watches like the Freak?for Ulysse Nardin. Paul Gerber was responsable for the technical development of the MIH, but mr. Gerber also has a reputation for creating the world’s most complicated wristwatch. Christian Gafner, who was responsible for the design, proposed an easily readable watch with absolutely no inscription on the front, but only a small “MIH” at the 9 o’clock position.As you can see the result is a watch with a very clean dial, which is easy to read the time. But don’t be fooled, despite the clean and simple design, the MIH Watch has a single button chronograph and an annual calendar. Ad - Scroll to continue with