Watches NEWS
Bovet Wins the "Aiguille dOr" at GPHG 2018 (and all the other prize-winners) - Monochrome Watches
This is it, the 2018 edition of the GPHG, known as the “Oscars of the watchmaking industry”, has come to a close and the prize for the best watch of the year, also known as the?“Aiguille d'Or”, has been awarded. Once again this year, complications, creativity and Haute Horlogerie have been rewarded. Meet the best watch of 2018, the Bovet?Recital 22 Grand Recital – reviewed here – an impressively complex astronomical watch, as well as all the other prize winners of the GPHG 2018.Quick analysis: this year, independent watchmakers are at centre stage. No fewer than 9 prizes (total of 17 prizes) have rewarded the creativity of smaller brands, which are not under the control of mainstream luxury groups. Bovet (with the best of show “Aiguille d’Or”), Krayon, Akrivia, Laurent?Ferrier, Singer, De Bethune, Greubel Forsey, Habring2 and Konstantin Chaykin will all return home with one of the Golden Hand prizes. This is a clear sign of the impo
First Look: Bulgari Drops a new Octo Finissimo Automatic Sketch Dial for its 140th Anniversary
Introduced over 10 years ago (time flies…), Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo collection has become one of the most successful sagas in recent watchmaking history. Not only did these watches break one record for thinness after another, but they also redefined the concept of the ultra-thin watch with a contemporary design and a casual attire. For the 10th anniversary of this collection, Bulgari released an ultra-cool pair of models fitted with a sketch dial. One of the most acclaimed styles in this collection, the Octo Finissimo Automatic Sketch Dial is coming back this time to celebrate the brand’s 140th anniversary.?Bulgari was founded in 1884 by Greek silversmith Sotirio Bulgari, in the city of Rome – where the brand still has its headquarters. One of the most prolific watchmakers/jewellers on the scene, the brand made a name for itself with its daring designs, such as the all-time emblematic Serpenti – both watches and jewellery. A mix between the Italian flair
Girard-Perregaux 1966 blue dial and pink gold - Monochrome-Watches
The Girard-Perregaux 1966 blue dial is clearly the quintessential dress watch - so of course, we loved it. This was the case when we saw the?first?preview?before Baselworld?and?the same goes after a few weeks on the wrist. Now that you know our feelings on this blue dial and pink gold edition of the 1966, you have to know?the?reasons that led us to this conclusion, as well as the?strengths and also weaknesses of Girard-Perregaux last release (because, yes, it also has a scant few imperfections).What is a dress watch?Or at least, what are we expecting from a dress watch? The usual consensus, when asking several people, will lead you to any simple, discreet and elegant watch that would fit a?suit-and-tie dress code. First of all, it has to be simple and classical. Not that we don’t like people who?wear a Hautlence HL Ti 2 or an MB&F Moonmachine with a tuxedo, but in the collective psyche, a dress watch has to be discreet and elegant – meaning a rather small and conservati
Oris Altimeter Rega Limited Edition Live Photos, Availability, Price
Basically, what you see here is one of the most innovative – and coolest – pilot watches on the market. No, it is not fitted with a super-high-end movement nor does it feature?the most spectacular design ever, but that’s not the point. You’ve already heard about the?Oris Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter, a watch we‘ve reviewed previously. It’s?the world’s first automatic mechanical timepiece?with a built-in mechanical altimeter. Now?for a pilot watch, that’s quite an interesting feature. A few days ago, the brand introduced a new version, the?Oris Altimeter Rega Limited Edition (resulting from a partnership with?Rega, Switzerland’s air rescue service) and what’s better than a proper field-test, in the Swiss Alps, to experience the altimeter function.Quick facts about the?Oris Altimeter Rega Limited EditionA few days ago, Oris launched a new version of its?Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter, more simply named the?Oris Altimeter Rega Limi
TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer-01 43 mm Skeleton - Pre-Baselworld 2017
Since its inception in 2015, the?TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer-01 has quickly become the emblematic model of the brand, being also one of its best-sellers – which is surprising, first because of the look, rather in opposition with the previous creations, and because of its price positioning, as being one of the upper-range watches. While in 2016 it has seen an evolution with a 43mm case, the skeletonized dial was still the privilege of the larger 45mm edition… until Baselworld 2017, as we’ll now have the?TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer-01 43 mm, in Skeleton Version, with 3 different colors (intense black, navy blue and and cognac brown).The?Carrera Heuer-01 has been a success for TAG Heuer, as being the redefining watch: bolder, larger, more contemporary designed, more horological too (with an open-worked in-house chronograph) and exploring new territories in terms of look and personalization, thus targeting new groups of collectors. Still, the basics of the brand were there; the C