Hands-On: The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Flying Tourbillon Platinum Milano Blue
In a very short period, the Tonda PF collection has stolen the limelight and positioned itself as the star product of Parmigiani Fleurier. Released with Guido Terreni at the helm in 2021, the Tonda PF reinterprets the luxury sports watch genre with refreshing minimalism and understated elegance that place it in a class all its own. During Watches & Wonders 2023, Parmigiani Fleurier introduced a second platinum version of its Flying Tourbillon, this time with a dapper Milano blue dial. In contrast to the sober monochromatic look of its predecessor, this platinum combo with a dark blue dial is a sharp dresser.When Terreni was appointed CEO in 2021, one of his opening moves was to get Parmigiani Fleurier a seat in the luxury sports watch arena with a collection based on the elegant Tonda family. Rooted in Michel Parmigiani's ultra-slim Tonda dress watch collection, the mandates for the Tonda PF collection were refinement without ostentation. According to Terreni, the sartorial style o

Collection Privee Cartier Paris - Monochrome Watches
Last week I had a drink with a friend of mine who is also highly interested in watches. He is actually an avid Cartier collector and knows a lot about this brand. On his own website he gives an extensive overview of the watches of the Cartier Paris Collection Privee (CPCP).If you need details about caliber, size or variations of a specific modell, i’m sure you can find it on troisanneaux.com. Ad - Scroll to continue with article Here you see the movement of a Cartier Tank.Actually before we met, I never really thought Cartier would be interesting for me as a watch brand. I must admit that i actually knew nothing about the brands history in making watches. After learning more I started appreciating this brands heritage and I think their role in fine watch making was highly underestimated by me.I’m glad to know more about Cartier watch and there are so

All you need to know about Dive Watches - Monochrome Watches
Paris, 1867 – The Rouquayrol-Denayrouze diving apparatus wins a gold medal at the Universal exhibition. Among the visitors of the international exhibition was Jules Verne. A few months later, he incorporated this diving apparatus in his novel 20000 Leagues Under The Sea, as part of the equipment of the Nautilus divers. At that time, watches were protected against shocks, dust or moisture by being placed in the breast pocket of jackets. However, in the late 19th?century, watches started to be worn on the wrist, principally for military use (before the fashion spread). Strapped to the arm, watches became exposed to all manner of hazards. The need for hermetically sealed watches, resistant to the ingress of dust and water, became a necessity, thus speeding the evolution of the waterproof watch. Later, in 1942/1943, Emile Gagnan and Jacques-Yves Cousteau worked on the Aqualung, the first Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (a.k.a. SCUBA), to reach worldwide commercial succe

Interview: An Encounter with Wizard Watchmaker Ludwig Oechslin, The Creator of the Ulysse Nardin Freak
Historian, archaeologist, mathematician, philosopher and watchmaker, Ludwig Oechslin is the perfect example of a polymath whose knowledge across different disciplines fuels his innovation and creativity. In the 1980s, his encounter with Rolf W. Schnyder turned Ulysse Nardin into one of the most innovative watch brands around. The presentation of a new Freak at Dubai Watch Week 2023 gave us the perfect opportunity to sit down with this wizard watchmaker.?Xavier Markl, MONOCHROME – What is your first horological memory, and how did you get hooked on watchmaking?Ludwig?Oechslin – When I was a kid at boarding school, the school bell used to ring every hour of the day. When I went to university, there were no more bells to let you know that a class was starting, and I figured I needed a watch to tell the time. But I was not a wristwatch fan. So, I started looking for a pocket watch. The first watch that I saw and wanted was a repeater. But it was out of my reach. I bought a less

Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon in 18k Rose Gold
Back in 2019, Vacheron Constantin introduced a tourbillon to the Overseas collection. Its stainless steel case and vivid blue dial held the self-winding ultra-thin Calibre 2160 inside. Now the manufacturer unveils an 18k rose gold version and since going through a major uplift back in 2016, the Overseas now offers some really nice features like its interchangeable strap system and a slim 10.39mm-thick case.The new 18K rose gold Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon watch is a 42.5mm model with a translucent blue lacquered dial executed with a sunburst satin-finished surface, surrounded by a velvet-finished flange. This particular shade of blue was chosen as a flagship colour that recalled watch dials of the 1950s and 60s. The model, still dedicated to travellers, maintains its distinct aesthetic with an instantly recognisable six-sided bezel evoking the company's Maltese Cross symbol. The bevelled edges on the case and integrated bracelet remain faithful to the Overseas' sporty tempe