The Collector's Series - Kristian Haagen about the Patek Philippe Nautilus (including a ultra-rare Chronograph ref. 5980/1A Tiffany Dial) - Monochrome-Watches
Many would describe it as the ultimate sports watch. The Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph ref. 5980/1A, affectionately known by some as the Jumbo Chronograph, has it all. Heritage, elegance and complication. Today, we'll be able to discover the pleasure of owning such a masterpiece (an not the classical edition, but probably the rarest one). This is not Kristian Haagen's first time on the Collector's Series, as we previously discovered the story behind his Datograph Perpetual Grey Dial. We are delighted to welcome him back to discuss a watch he described to me as his coolest! We find out how he came to own several Patek Philippe Nautilus watches, including his Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph ref. 5980/1A with a white Tiffany dial (yes, that's what makes the difference between a cool and an ultra-cool watch) as well as what he anticipates from Patek in the future.When the Nautilus was first launched in 1976, it featured an ultra thin mechanical automatic winding movement, calibre

The History of the Pilot Watch Part III: Mark IV.A and Mark V - Monochrome Watches
The two most import catalysts for the development of aviation watches were early aviation record attempts and war. World War I finds watch development between the pocket watch and the new wristlets with the British issuing pilots pocket watches. British Mark IV.A and Mark V pocket watches are an example of WW1 military aviation.World War I conjures childhood images of bi-planes fitted with a machine gun to fire through the propeller, the Red Baron's plane emerging triumphant from a dogfight, and the endless lines of trenches on the ground below. Add the romanticism of aviation to the romanticism of war, and you have an iconic, if mistakenly idealized, pairing. War's demand for precise navigation or coordinated attack meant that the world grasped the importance of horology. When “balloon busting” or taking out observation balloons, British pilots flew with the pocket watch Mark IV.A (1914) and Mark V (1916).Doxa Mark V (source: Military Watch Forum)Case back markings, unique

Ulysse Nardin Skeleton X Magma (Specs & Price)
A fully openworked movement, shaped like an X, housed in a sporty, coloured and textured carbon fibre case nicknamed “magma”… Yes, Ulysse Nardin is not walking down the classic side of the street here. Let’s be honest, the brand’s latest creation is bold and extreme,? but it’s also pretty cool. Let’s look at the new Ulysse Nardin Skeleton X Magma.At the SIHH 2019, Ulysse Nardin launched a collection based on the X-factor, with the new (and more accessible version) of its signature watch, the Freak X. Alongside this watch was another bold piece, a new take on the brand’s classic openworked piece, with a newly decorated movement shaped like an X and a redesigned case. This watch was named the Skeleton X. Ad - Scroll to continue with article Based on this watch, Ulysse Nardin introduces a new, very hot version sizzlin

First Look: The new Ferdinand Berthoud Chronometre FB 3SPC
The project of Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, co-president of Chopard, Ferdinand Berthoud has established a very strong presence in the minds of independent and high-end watchmaking enthusiasts. The FB3, a complex time-only watch, is the third pillar of the brand. Sophisticate yet understated, this elegant chronometer is a superb display of fine workmanship, meticulous attention to detail and mastery of traditional horology. The model was originally proposed in white gold with a 2N-gilded calibre or in pink gold with a black rhodium-finished movement. It now comes in an attractive combination of a white gold case and black-finished movement, unveiled on the occasion of Dubai Watch Week 2023.As its name suggests, the FB3 is the third contemporary creation of Ferdinand Berthoud. It was envisioned as an answer to the desire from the brand's enthusiasts to be able to wear a slightly smaller timepiece and to have a (relatively speaking) more accessible piece. It nonetheless retains the no-compro

The Petrolhead Corner - The Tolman Peugeot 205 GTI
The 1980s are not exactly known as a decade of refinement. After all, it’s the period where shoulder pads, spandex and leg warmers were all the rage. It was a decade with plenty of conflict and controversy the world over, but also tremendous progress. The rise of the computer and the birth of the internet are perhaps the foremost technological advancements. From a cultural perspective, it brought forth superstars like Madonna and Michael Jackson, movies like Rain Man, several Star Wars episodes and Top Gun. When looking back on the automotive side of things in the 1980s, the styling was at times rather questionable. Coming out of the oil crisis of the 1970s, design took a turn towards compact and more fuel-efficient cars on one end and sharp-edged futuristic cars on the other. Two prime examples are the DMC Delorean made famous in the Back To The Future Franchise, and the Peugeot 205 GTI, an icon in Group B rallying. And that latter is today’s topic of choice, more specific