Weekly Watch Photo - Lange und Sohne Double Split on IWC-Santoni strap - Monochrome Watches
When IWC launched the new Portofino Hand-Wound 8-days, they did something ingenious. This model comes on a hand-made strap by the famous shoe manufactorer Santoni and these straps became a much discussed topic on the internet.Luckily the owner of the Double Split also has very good photographic skills and that’s why this wonderful combination, resulting in a beautiful photo, made it to be Monochrome’s Weekly Watch Photo. Below you’ll find more of his photos showing this drop dead gorgeous combination. Changing straps is one of the things we from Monochrome love. It’s a way to enjoy your watch in a new way, match it with specific shoes or simply to get another look. Earlier we wrote about changing straps on our?IWC 3717 Pilot Chronograph and TAG Heuer Monaco. Ad - Scroll to continue with article The photos we show you are made by Edwin, co

Peter Chong's book about the Lange and Sohne Pour le Merite Collection - Monochrome Watches
For fans of A. Lange & Sohne watches and the Pour le Merite Collection in particular, there is a new bible. Peter Chong made a book about the Pour le Merite Collection, filled with the most gorgeous photos and explaining much about the brand’s history and technical highlights.?Peter Chong’s photos have already been selected for the Monochrome Weekly Watch Photo and other posts and that’s for a good reason. Peter is a specialist in high resolution photography and is a absolute expert on watches from independent watchmakers and of course A. Lange & Sohne. He frequently posts the most gorgeous watch photos on his blog.He is the founding moderator for the Lange forum at Timezone.com, an Internet community forum which is not only the first watch discussion forum in the world but also the largest today. Ad - Scroll to continue with article Pe

Introducing the IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Sharks
Today, increasing numbers of shark species are facing extinction. More than 100 million sharks are caught every year whilst continued over-fishing depletes their nutritional resources. To help awareness about this issue, IWC is about to launch a specific limited edition of its Aquatimer Chronograph, the?Edition “Sharks”, with specific dial and engraving.?Brief History of the IWC AquatimerIn the early 1940s, Emile Gagnan and Jacques-Yves Cousteau developed the Aqualung, the first Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (a.k.a. SCUBA), to reach worldwide commercial success. However, in the 1960s diving was still seen as an adventurous affair and several brands, among which IWC, worked on developing tool watches to make diving safer and easier.This was the time when the Schaffhausen-based brand unveiled the first Aquatimer (1967) known as reference 812AD. Its compressor-style case featured an internal rotating ring that could be set thanks to a second crown to monitor di

Olympic Glory - Omega Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial London 2012 Limited Edition - Monochrome Watches
On your mark, get set, go. The gun fires, propelling the runners toward Olympic Gold, and the 2012 summer Olympics are underway. Omega has already found the podium with their Olympic Collection London 2012.What better way to make a splash at the London opening ceremonies than with a commemorative Seamaster. 64 Years after Omega launched the very first Seamaster during the London Olympics of 1948, they release a new Seamaster?at the London Olympics of 2012. Showing quite some visual resemblance with the vintage version! Ad - Scroll to continue with article Omega actually released three new Seamaster models. One?of these?three limited editions for the 2012 Olympics is the limited edition Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial Chronometer. Omega interprets the traditional Marine Chronometer with silver. From the rhodium-plated case to the opaline silver dial to the applied 18 Ct

In-Depth - The Future Of Silicon Hairspring & The Expired Patent
Barely one centimetre in diameter, the hairspring is the beating heart of a watch movement. It is a strategic component in several respects. Manufacturing hairsprings is a complex process mastered only by a few companies. Conventional hairsprings are made of iron-nickel alloys, such as Nivarox. For several years now, silicon has been revolutionizing traditional watchmaking. Borrowed from the semiconductor industry, silicon presents remarkable properties to manufacture hairsprings outperforming those made from conventional metal alloys. But until very recently, silicon hairsprings have been used by a limited number of companies, which patented the technology Things might change as their patent has now expired. We could well enter the silicon age.?The silicon-based Spiromax hairspring of Patek PhilippeThe benefits of the silicon hairspringNot everyone is a fan of the modern silicon hairspring. Some wonder whether silicon has its place in a traditional mechanical watch. Others question th