Hands-On - A. Lange & Sohne Datograph Lumen Up/Down (Live Pics, Specs & Price)
The A. Lange & Sohne Datograph needs little introduction. Presented in 1999 and updated in 2012, it is one of the most iconic chronographs on the market. The Dato features a flyback chronograph with a precisely jumping minutes counter, two sub-dials recognizable because of their unusual positioning, a quick-set oversized date and a power reserve indicator. Overall, the architecture and the finishing of its movement are a feast for the eyes. Any new model in the series always brings curiosity and excitement among A. Lange & Sohne fans (including team MONOCHROME) So, when we learnt that the Datograph Up/Down was getting the Lumen treatment, it naturally caught our attention.The “Lumen” touchA. Lange & Sohne watches are distinctively German, instantly recognizable for their functional and minimal design. Everything looks balanced, structured and crafted in the respect of a long-lasting watchmaking tradition. The Lumen series reinterprets this classic style with a t

Frank Geelens Top 10 of the SIHH 2017
The SIHH 2017 ended?already a few weeks ago, and our own Xavier an Brice already shared their favorites of this year’s Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie. In the mean time I’ve been busy, among others with a trip to the far north of Finland with Porsche and Porsche Design. While drifting on ice with a host?of 911’s, I got?to experience how perfectly both brands match, and I got?a lot of hands-on time with the 1919 Chronograph that Porsche Design introduced at Baselworld last year. Later more about that, but now it’s time to list my top 10 watches from the SIHH.It was a rather interesting year with many new models being offered at more competitive pricing; the financial crisis, new anti-corruption?laws?in China and the Swiss Franc and Euro exchange rate being disconnected, certainly inspired brands to act on pricing. Another interesting topic, is that the sports watch segment just became more interesting with a lot of new models from Montblanc, Girard-Per

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph 26622TI Review
Love it or hate it, call it a hype-collection, but the fact is that the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak (and all its offspring) remains one of the most desirable collections on the market. It is also by far the most important collection in Audemars Piguet's catalogue but the brand isn't simply resting on its laurels. Considering how much it has evolved from the original ref. 5402 presented in 1972, the signature DNA is still very much present. Two decades after first released, the Royal Oak received an update into the far more masculine Royal Oak Offshore, which caused a sensation yet again. Now, in 2021, we've had the fortune to spend some time with one of the latest and most complex models in the line-up, the (take a deep breath) Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Flyback Chronograph 26622TI.It takes a bit of time to wrap one's head around all the details of this very technical and complex iteration of the Royal Oak Offshore. It also marks a step into a new di

Patek Philippe Advanced Research 5750 Minute Repeater
Founded in 2005,?Patek Philippe‘s Advanced Research department aims at improving mechanical movements and bringing innovative solutions in the fields of materials (silicon, for instance) and technologies for watchmaking. This goes for the introduction of Silinvar (2005), the Spiromax balance spring (2006), the Pulsomax escapement (2008), the Oscillomax ensemble (2011), and a further optimized version of the Spiromax balance spring (2017). In 2017, the brand will look at something different, and that is a compliant mechanism for the dual-time function, in an Aquanaut. Today, following a year with already a grande sonnerie watch, the brand continues its researches in the field of chiming watch, with major improvements on the minute repeating watch, with the new Patek Philippe Advanced Research 5750 Minute Repeater.?The technical solutionsThe goal of the Advanced Research department is to bring new solutions in order to innovate, or in the present case to improve existing mechanisms

Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Contemporaine small model - for women and men? - Monochrome Watches
Vacheron Constantin just released the Patrimony Contemporaine small model. It’s an incredibly elegant dress watch with a diameter of 36 mm. Do you think it’s a mens or ladies watch? We think it’s superb for both? The press release starts with these words: “Classic yet contemporary. Understated and refined. Moderate and yet sensual”. We can only agree. This is the ‘iced’ dress watch that even men who think that diamonds are for girls, can wear without feeling girlish. Classic, contemporary, understated, refined, moderate and sensual… Ad - Scroll to continue with article The new Patrimony Contemporaine small model comes in pink?and white gold and the side of the case is set with 62 brilliant-cut diamonds, with a total weight of approx. 0.39 carat. Traditional dress watches used to be roughly between 33 mm and 36 mm,?