Gronefeld Parallax Tourbillon with new Steel Hammered (Tremblage) Dials - Monochrome Watches
What a difference a dial?makes! When Gronefeld unveiled the Parallax Tourbillon in 2014, it was the third watch produced by the Horological Brothers, Bart and Tim Gronefeld. After the GTM-06 (Gronefeld Tourbillon Minute Repeater) and the One Hertz, they wanted to showcase a large tourbillon. One that would hover over the dial, or at least on the same level as the dial, so it would have all spotlights on the perpetual dance of a tourbillon. With the new tremblage dials, the emphasis is still on the large tourbillon, while the dial showcases the masterful art of hand-made tremblage.?Let’s say the large tourbillon has gotten an even better backdrop. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that the other dial options aren’t very nice. They are! Especially the salmon colour dial looks incredibly good, and like everything coming from Gronefeld, the quality is absolutely sublime. The new tremblage dial is again another showcase of what the two brothers can do, and how incre

Independent Watchmaking - Artime and their ART01 Tourbillon
At MONOCHROME, we are always delighted to discover and present new watchmaking projects. So, when we learnt about the crew getting involved in the creation of a fresh high-end independent brand, it naturally caught our attention. Artime is the brainchild of a team of watchmaking experts in design, management, engineering, manufacturing and sales, bringing together a rather impressive wealth of expertise and experience. Meet their first opus, Artime ART01, with its transparent case and architectural calibre regulated by a twin-hairspring tourbillon.Artime was founded in 2021 in Les Brenets in the Swiss Jura mountains by six personalities not necessarily widely known by the public but bringing together a rather impressive wealth of expertise and experience. Didier Bretin, the ART01's movement designer, exerted his talents at Breguet, Audemars Piguet and Greubel Forsey. Fabrice Deschanel managed complication specialist and high-end movement manufacturer Renaud & Papi (now integrated i

Hands-On - The Chopard Mille Miglia 2021 Race Edition (Specs & Price)
A co-president of Chopard, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele's passion for mechanical watches is only matched by his passion for collecting and racing vintage automobiles. What better setting could there be to indulge his two passions than Italy's famous 1000 Miglia car race? Since 1988 Chopard has been the official timekeeper and partner of the classic 1000 Miglia car race and releases new models to celebrate its partnership every year. For the 2021 edition of the 1000 Miglia, which will take place from 16 – 19 June, Scheufele will be behind the wheel of his Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR accompanied by racing legend and close friend Jacky Ickx. To mark the brand's 34th consecutive year of commitment, Chopard releases two versions of the chronometer-certified Mille Miglia 2021 Race Edition chronograph: a limited edition of 1,000 pieces in stainless steel and 250 pieces in two-tone steel and ethical pink gold.Classic beautiesItaly's 1000 Miglia race is a dream come true for lovers of classic cars.

The Sustainable Cedric Bellon CB01 GMT x Ace
Sustainability is a big thing in today’s society, and rightfully so as we’re heading in the wrong direction very fast when it comes to our beloved Planet Earth. The shift towards more environmentally friendly and sustainable ways of living also found its way into the watchmaking industry, with various brands doing their best to push back waste and pollution in whichever way they can. Through a wide range of programs or new production initiatives, carbon footprints are cut down and waste is transformed into resources. This strategic push has motivated watch designer Cedric Bellon to create the most sustainable watch available to date. Ace Jewelers, a Dutch watch and jewellery retailer led by Alon Ben Joseph and his family, has embraced this concept to create a special edition watch, the Cedric Bellon CB01 GMT x Ace Jewelers.Cedric Bellon, Watch Angles & Ace JewelersDesigner Cedric Bellon is quite a well-established name within the watchmaking industry, even though people

The Return of ochs und junior anno Annual Calendar
As any watchmaker or designer knows, simplicity is devilishly complex. And when it comes to simplifying a complication like an annual calendar, this exercise requires great ingenuity. If there is one figure on the current watchmaking scene capable of pulling off an annual calendar of such radical minimalism, inventiveness and intuitiveness, it is Dr Ludwig Oechslin. The annual calendar complication, known as the ochs line anno, is not a novelty, but it now moves from the limited, customisable department to a serial production piece, like the settimana raw and the mese. Translated, that means that there will be more anno-annual calendars on the market, and even better, the price drops from around CHF 8,000 to just above CHF 5,000 for a serially produced model. Available in two coloured options and an almost all-black model, the new ochs und junior anno comes in 42mm titanium cases.Elementary, my dear LudwigLudwig Oechslin (1952), former curator of the Musee international d'horlogerie (M