Young Talent Antonin Falk Shows Us His Montre decole, With A Very Special Bumper Automatic Mechanism - Monochrome Watches
Here, at MONOCHROME, we are always pleased to present young watchmakers and their work, not only because they do represent the future of the independent watchmaking scene, but also because what these young talents can achieve is often highly surprising. Today we are taking a look at the Montre d'ecole of Antonin Falk. If you are a regular reader of our magazine, you might remember his jumping hour & retrograde minute watch. Now in his early twenties, Falk just completed a montre d'ecole, a watch he crafted to graduate from his watchmaking school, the Lycee Edgar Faure in Morteau, France. And this watch, in addition to featuring a tourbillon, comes equipped with a very special self-winding mechanism.The briefing for the watch Antonin Falk and his fellow students had to create and craft for their graduation work this year was pretty simple and straightforward. They had to develop and craft, entirely by themselves, an automatic watch using as a base a hand-wound movement, in this inst

Hands-On - The Garrick S1 Prototype With Skeletonized Dial (Specs & Price)
For the last few years, we've been hearing about the so-called “resurgence” of British watchmaking. Run by passionate Brits with a strong streak of defiance, these small independent brands are (very) slowly but surely gaining a foothold in the market and proving they have what it takes to stick around for a while. One such brand, which we've written about several times before on MONOCHROME, is Garrick (you can find all past coverage here.) Today, we're taking a closer look at the S1, the latest model from the brand, or rather a prototype of it.?SalonQP 2017If you attended SalonQP this year at the Saatchi Gallery, then you likely already know it was a lacklustre event in comparison to previous years. Not only was it smaller (an entire floor smaller) but it also failed to attract the major brand names like Vacheron Constantin and Jaeger-LeCoultre, which in previous years had interactive booths set up. This seems to be part of a larger trend of big brands not finding regional

2020 TAG Heuer Connected Watch and Interview with Frederic Arnault
Today, TAG Heuer launches a new Connected watch and we sat down with Frederic Arnault, TAG Heuer's Chief Strategy and Digital Officer, to talk about the new Connected Watch. How does it fit in the entire TAG Heuer line-up and what are the possibilities? One thing seems clear, TAG Heuer is able to use its 160 years of watchmaking experience to create a well-designed, ergonomic and good-looking wristwatch. This time without mechanical content but with state-of-art technical content and the latest software. Frederic is confident that both mechanical and connected can successfully coexist and thrive within one of the most recognized, historic Swiss watch brands. ?TAG Heuer introduces the third-generation of its Connected Watch, and since the brand pioneered the luxury connected watch segment back in 2015, it has now accumulated a significant background in this field. This third-generation mixes classic TAG Heuer watchmaking elements and an up-to-date digital experience with more functional

The 2020 Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Collection
Introduced in 1992, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Collection has always been the classic model of the brand, with a focus on technical rigour, certification and visual restraint. Its name comes from the fact that it was the first of Jaeger-LeCoultre's collections to benefit from its pioneering ‘1000 Hours Control’ certification. In constant evolution since its launch, today the Maison unveils its four proposals for 2020. So, let’s take a look at the 2020 Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Collection.This new Master Control Collection has to be seen as a subtle evolution, a modernisation of the range with a casual twist, rather than a complete overhaul. As many of you know, its name comes from JLC’s own ‘1000 Hours Control’ certification, a series of tests on the cased-up watch (not just its movement) to guarantee its perfect execution and its precision. It is one of the most stringent testing protocols in the industry today and every model in this

Introducing Vacheron Constantin Quai de lIle Steel with Blue Dial - Specs & Price
The?Vacheron Constantin Quai de l'Ile is a watch with surprising contrasts. Made by one of the most prestigious names in?the industry, but crafted in steel. Designed in a sporty, urban way but featuring a “Hallmark of Geneva” movement. Bearing a name synonymous with dream watches but rather accessible. This superb surprise is now available in a new style. Here is the?Vacheron Constantin “Entry-Level” Quai de l'Ile in Steel, now with Blue Dial.The?Vacheron Constantin Quai de l'Ile collection was quite difficult to position, at least for the first years of its existence. Rather sporty, except for the fact it was made from gold, complex in a way, but maybe not complex enough for some collectors… A difficult watch to categorise, until 2016 and the presentation of what would become the “entry-level” proposition of the brand, and a stunning offer to say the least. While previously quite unclear, the switch to a stainless steel case and the redesign o