Watches NEWS
A Personal Story on the Ventura V-Tec Sigma
If you follow MONOCHROME, even occasionally, you know that we're all about mechanical watches. It takes something really special to get us excited about something battery-powered, but every now and then, that something comes along. The retro Hamilton PSR is a recent example, along with the quartz Citizen Calibre 0100 that's accurate to +/-1 second per year. Also, we sometimes dig into our own collections to highlight a special piece, like Frank's vintage Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Brice's Breguet Type XX. So, in this hands-on review, I'm going to talk about my own Ventura V-Tec Sigma, an unconventional luxury digital watch that once guest-starred in a Nicolas Cage movie.BACKGROUND VenturaVentura was founded by Pierre Nobs in 1987, who left the mainstream watch industry to find something more meaningful. Disheartened by the fake nostalgia coming from well-known brands, he wanted to create unique, avant-garde watches in collaboration with renowned industrial designers. It wasn't long
Introducing The Parmigiani Tonda PF Micro-Rotor Full Platinum
For its 25th anniversary in 2021, Parmigiani Fleurier presented the Tonda PF collection, its own take on the luxury sports watch with integrated bracelet overseen by the recently appointed CEO – Guido Terreni – who until then was one of the key people responsible for Bulgari’s success with the Octo Finissimo. The Tonda PF was a pleasant update to the long-standing Tonda collection, with several new references launched, one more beautiful than the other. This year, Parmigiani Fleurier chose to attire its fundamental Tonda PF Micro-Rotor in precious metal highlighting “the concept of purism that guides the creative approach of Parmigiani Fleurier.” Meet the all-platinum Tonda PF Micro-Rotor.The newly released watches did the seemingly impossible – Parmigiani, a niche brand, has again been talked about as one of the leading companies offering exceptional timepieces to the great delight of its loyal fans and a much wider public. Four new models, includin
Intoducing: Andersen Geneve Jumping Hours Black Jade Stone
Master watchmaker Svend Andersen has been a renowned figure on the independent watchmaking scene since 1980. The Danish watchmaker's ingenious and original approach to complications, including his sophisticated calendar watches and world timers, has captivated collectors and top-tier watch brands for years. To celebrate his 40th anniversary in watchmaking in 2020, Svend Andersen produced a stunning edition of his famous Jumping Hours complication in platinum with a blue guilloche dial. Four years later, the Jumping Hours returns with a hyper-sleek, black jade stone dial.In 1995, Svend Andersen was commissioned by a client to create a bespoke piece with jumping hours combined with a day/night display and minute repeater. After seeing the unique piece, Cartier requested the complication for its Pasha Jour et Nuit in 1988. Andersen Geneve's 40th Anniversary Jumping Hours eliminated the day/night function and, inspired by the layout of jumping hour pocket watches, placed the hour window at
Kelvin Sa and his De Bethune DBS - Monochrome Watches
In this week’s installment of The Collector’s Series, we’re talking with Kelvin Sa about his amazing De Bethune DBS. Kelvin, one of the founding members of the Shanghai Watch Gang (@shanghaiwatchgang), knows a lot about the watch that we discuss today and meeting fellow watch enthusiasts certainly contributes to this. Kelvin Sa, or Mr_Kelvinator on Instagram, is a watch collector from Shanghai, China, who is self-employed in Tech & Finance, and he tells us everything about his stunning De Bethune DBS!?On a side note, clubs for watch collectors, like the Shanghai Watch Gang, are instrumental in learning about watches, brands, history, technology and of course for sharing the passion! Until?a decade or two ago, all information about watches came to us though print magazines. Slowly the digital age commenced… Some two decades ago, forums were founded and blogs started. This offered new opportunities! Because like-minded watch enthusiasts met one another digital
Horage Tourbillon 1 Sub-10k Swiss In-House Tourbillon Explained
The tourbillon… You've no doubt heard of it (you are a MONOCHROME reader after all), and perhaps you own a few, but why is it such an expensive feature? French for whirlwind, it's actually among the oldest of technical innovations, patented by Breguet in 1801 – although developed several years earlier, around 1795. It's simple in concept, with the balance wheel and escapement mounted inside a rotating cage to counter the forces of gravity. If you're in the market for a Swiss tourbillon (or any outside of the Asian market), you're well into five figures until now. We introduced the accessible Horage Tourbillon 1 last year during development and now have one on the wrist for a proper review. And to understand how the brand managed to make this watch at that price.BackgroundHorage is a relative newcomer to Swiss watchmaking, originating in 2007 when husband and wife founders Andreas Felsl and Tzuyu Huang began discussing their future in Biel/Bienne. Horage (the H is silent) is
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