Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin 26586IP.OO.1240IP.01, based RD2 Concept (Specs & Price)
Last year, at the SIHH 2018, Audemars Piguet presented a case study, a concept watch made to show the brand’s savoir-faire in terms of watchmaking: the Royal Oak #RD2, also known as the world’s thinnest self-winding perpetual calendar. Impressively complex inside and very familiar outside (clearly it had all the traits of a Royal Oak watch), we knew this piece was not going to remain a concept for long… And here it is. Meet the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin.Based on the RD#2The race for ultra-thin is one hot topic these days, with a battle between newcomer Bvlgari and long-term expert Piaget. In just half a decade, the Italians managed to break five world records, the other recently presented the thinnest mechanical watch ever made… However, these two aren’t the only masters of thinness on the scene and Audemars Piguet has, for some decades now, savoir-faire in this field. The latest proof of this expertise came in the

Introducing The Robust Ollech & Wajs OW 8001
Partners Joseph Ollech and Albert Wajs started their adventure in watchmaking, distributing Omegas and Breitlings from their watch shop in Zurich. In 1956 they decided to create their own brand specialising in robust tool watches, much appreciated by soldiers, divers and pilots. One of the few companies to ride out the quartz storm by reducing production, after Ollech died in 1992, Wajs renamed the brand OW and eventually sold it in 2017. Faithful to the original portfolio of no-nonsense tool watches powered by reliable third-party Swiss movements, OW has streamlined production by creating a one-size-fits-all 300m water-resistant case. With its well-stocked archive of historical models, OW takes inspiration for its latest three-hand-and-date OW 8001 from a 1973 chronograph with a groovy brown fume dial.A vintage example of the 1973 TV-shaped chronograph that served as an inspiration (but certainly not for a 1-to-1 reissue)In the early 1970s, Ollech & Wajs produced a range of integr

Industry News: LVMH Acquires High-End Clockmaker L'Epee 1839
Known as the largest luxury group in the world, owned by the Arnault family, LVMH continues its development in all fields related to rare and artistic crafts. Already the owner, through its Watches Division, of TAG Heuer, Hublot and Zenith (as well as jewellery brands Bulgari and Tiffany, not included in this division), the group expands its portfolio by announcing the addition of a renowned yet niche company, L'Epee 1839, through the acquisition of its owner Swiza.?Founded 185 years ago and based in Delemont, in the Swiss Jura, L'Epee 1839 is one of the few surviving clockmakers on the scene. The brand and its owner, Swiza, have unique expertise in this field. The production of these unique timepieces brings together a wide range of craftsmen and savoir-faire, with more than 80 designers, engineers, watchmakers, mechanics and employees working alongside Arnaud Nicolas, CEO and Creative Director of L'Epee 1839.The T-Rex Table Clock of MB&F made together with L’Epee 1839When i

The Hands of Time - A Guide to Names of the most used Watch Hands - Monochrome Watches
There are many ways to tell the time: digital watches show us the time using numbers, whereas the first mechanical clocks did not even have faces, and indicated time by chiming it. Hourglasses, candle clocks or clepsydras are other examples. And there’s a segment that we here at Monochrome, refer to as ‘Other Display‘, which include the URWERK’s MB&F’s and Ressence’s of this world. Still, most watches use hands on a dial to show us the hours and minutes, and as is their wont, watchmakers have displayed great creativity in the way they shape hands (for practical or more fancy purposes). These come in a variety of styles and are an integral part of a watch design. It would be tough to come up with an exhaustive list, but we'll take a look at the most used hand designs from watches we have photographed over the past few months.Alpha handsAlpha type hands have a wide base and a narrow stem to connect them to the center of the dial. Example ¡ú Parmigia

Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos Classique Phases de Lune in Pink Gold - Monochrome Watches
For initiates the Atmos clock has no secrets, however for the rest of you the Atmos might seem like a perpetual motion machine. It seems to live on air and actually that’s exactly what is the case (no worries, we’ll explain it.) This year at the SIHH Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced a new pink gold version of the Atmos Classique Phases de Lune and it looks stunning. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos, the clock that lives on air, was invented in 1928. The most remarkable feature about the Atmos is that it does not?need a battery or to be wound;?it?literally lives on air. Its?secret lies in the hermetically sealed capsule that?transforms even the smallest variations in ambient temperature into mechanical energy. Each time the temperature rises or falls by a single degree centigrade, the mechanism stores enough energy?for 48 hours. The huge balance oscilates extremely slow (one oscillation every minute) and is suspended from an incredibly fine Elinvar wire. Ad - Scroll to conti