Watches NEWS
The Vintage Corner - The Underrated Hamilton Chrono-Matic Calibre 11
The Calibre 11, or Chrono-Matic (depending on the brand using it) needs no introduction anymore. It is, with its two competitors, the Seiko 6139 and Zenith El Primero, amongst the most important movements ever created. Why? Because it was part of the earliest automatic chronograph movements launched in 1969 and celebrating its 50th-anniversary last year. Surprisingly, people often think about Heuer when talking about the Calibre 11, and sometimes Breitling. Less regularly though, the name Hamilton is mentioned. And today, we'll look at how the Calibre 11/Chrono-Matic influenced a series of cool chronograph watches at Hamilton.For more details about the Calibre 11, you can read this in-depth story here, retracing the origins of the consortium and the technical details.The Hamilton Watch Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania was America's largest pocket watch producer at the turn of the 20th century. Indeed, close to half of America's train engine drivers and railway workers – who dep
The 2020 Santos de Cartier ADLC Black (Specs & Price)
Cartier enlarges its successful Santos collection with two time-and-date models clad in steel and black ADLC. The most contemporary proposal in this family of watches of late, the use of black ADLC and sleek matte finishes conspire to give the watch an emphatically masculine presence. Let’s have a closer look at these stealth Santos watches.Santos de CartierNot to be confused with the Santos-Dumont line-up of slimmer, flatter and more elegant models inspired by the historic 1904 original, the Santos de Cartier novelties belong to the refreshed 2018 family. You can read all about the new design tenets on the Santos introduced in 2018 in Brice's coverage here. Burlier, sportier and more contemporary, a watch that could almost be a member of the luxury sports watch category, the Santos de Cartier is composed of three-hand (Medium), time-and-date (Large) and chronograph models (XL) along with some skeletonised versions. The latest arrivals are available exclusively in the large case
First Look: the Chopard L.U.C XPS Forest Green in Lucent Steel
The Chopard L.U.C XPS series, renowned for its grace and technical beauty, is a top choice for dress watches. Among the latest additions to this collection, the L.U.C XPS Forest Green stands out with its captivating dark green sector-style dial and lustrous Lucent Steel case. Another demonstration of what quiet luxury means!The new Chopard L.U.C XPS Forest Green has a 30m water-resistant case in Lucent Steel, a proprietary alloy known for its lustrous finish and eco-friendly production process (recycling rate of at least 80%), that mirrors the design and dimensions of the existing white and rose gold XPS references, with a diameter of 40mm and a thickness of 7.20mm. The case is topped with a glare-proof sapphire crystal and features a polished bezel, middle, and caseback, complemented by satin-brushed flanks. The 5mm crown positioned at 3 o’clock is thoughtfully designed for comfortable handling, featuring fluting and adorned with the distinctive L.U.C logo. Ad - Scrol
An Unusual yet Fascinating Pilot's Watch, the 1950s Jardur Chronograph - Monochrome Watches
The Jardur Company of 874 Broadway, New York was a manufacture of “Navigation Instruments” as well as an importer of the Jardur Bezelmeter and Super FlightMaster aviation wristwatches and chronographs. In the early days of commercial flight, someone had to provide the navigational instruments, logbooks, charts, navigational aids and elapsed time recorders to make long-distance flight possible and Jardur was one of those companies. I contacted AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) to find out about Jardur as I had seen it referenced by pilots as their flight watch of choice' including B-29 Pilots during WWII as well as amateur pilots of the period.Below, a?Jardur Flight Calculator and Plotter Below, a?small 24-hour dial manual-wind Jardur pilots watch Ad - Scroll to continue with article I first came across chronographs
Introducing: The Montblanc Iced Sea Automatic 0 Oxygen 38mm
As a brand that has always fostered its connection to Europe's highest mountain, Montblanc’s Iced Sea collection of dive watches in 2022 was a surprise. With dials inspired by the Mer de Glace, the largest glacier in the Mont Blanc massif, the ISO certified dive watches can fathom depths of 300 metres. For 2025, Montblanc expands its Iced Sea Automatic Date collection with two new models in smaller 38mm case sizes, now with Zero Oxygen cases. In tune with the trend for smaller unisex diameters, the more compact dimensions are complemented with new glacier dial colours in frosty white and arctic light blue.The new 38mm models come in stainless steel cases with a thickness of 12.3mm, decorated with predominantly brushed finishes and polished bevels. Equipped with the brand's novel Zero Oxygen cases, seen with the Iced Sea 4810, a blue seal between the sapphire crystal and the case prevents fogging and ensures the components will not oxidise. The unidirectional dive bezel matches th