Recreating the ubiquitous association between Longines and aviation that existed at the close of the 1920s requires a dash of H.G. Wells' time travel and an active imagination, maybe even some psychotherapy.?When psychologists use a word association test, they ask you to name the first word that comes to mind. For example, when I hear the word ocea.................. 2013-01-04 More

In previous years I tried to nominate my personal choice of best watches in several price categories. Since Monochrome usually covers watches above 10k, it was an unfair competition in that highest segment of the market, so this year I’ll refrain from that approach.?What I’ll do is go through the best and/or most desirable watches and I.................. 2012-12-31 More

The AHCI candidate members and brothers, John and Stephen McGonigle have turned a central Irish town into a haven for high horology and a passion for the sea into a muse!All literature as we know it today boils down to traditional story telling; taking what is and distilling it into a form that makes it appealing so that the moral will last for gen.................. 2012-12-27 More

Audemars Piguet has quite an active video channel on Youtube and their latest video struck me like lighting. Just like when I saw the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 15202 at the SIHH earlier this year. That caused me to buy a vintage Royal Oak ref. 5402, nicknamed Jumbo.?This photo shows the sheer beauty of the Royal Oak’s dial and person.................. 2012-12-23 More

When Evan told me he wanted to write about a collector’s meeting in Manila, dedicated to the 50th birthday of the Heuer Autavia, I just had to say yes. A vintage Heuer Autavia was my first ‘expensive’ watch and I’m still the proud owner of a piece of history. Monochrome is usually dedicated to pure Haute Horlogerie, however .................. 2012-12-21 More

There are a few conventions in watchmaking that have existed for centuries. One is that all-mechanical watches need a crown for winding and setting. Marc Jenni didn't see it quite that way and found a lateral' solution to a circular problem.Sometimes in life it's easier to just go with the flow and accept things for what and how they are. To fall b.................. 2012-12-20 More

We are fast approaching the holiday season. ?With it comes the promise of seeing family and all your favorite foods and festive, joyous decorations. ?Oh, and then there is the unbearable agony of having to figure out what to get for your wife or girlfriend!If we revisit the past HIBAW articles I've introduced handbags, scarves and bracelets to the .................. 2012-12-18 More

When Habring2 introduced the Doppel 2.0 they could not have imagined the immense success they had with this model. It sold out in a blink of an eye and on top of that?they?won the Sports Watch Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Geneve 2012. 20 Years ago Richard Habring was responsible for developing the doppelchrono for IWC and now it is.................. 2012-12-18 More

Early 2013 Vacheron Constantin opens a new boutique in Paris at 2 Rue de la Paix.?To celebrate the opening of?the Paris boutique, five Vacheron Constantin watch owners draw on their personal history and lifestyle to illustrate the values they share with Vacheron Constantin.Photographer?Thierry des Ouches, they tell us about their watch, their Paris.................. 2012-12-16 More

Usually when talking about auctions, it is about some extremely rare Patek Philippe watch or a timepiece that was once owned by a famous person, like the auction of Steve McQueen’s Heuer Monaco?or Alain Delon’s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.??Tomorrow Antiquorum will auction 28 Panerai timepieces, almost all Special Editions and Limited Edi.................. 2012-12-12 More

Last week Lange & Sohne released a, for them, rather unusual timepiece. During a trip to the beautiful towns of Dresden and Glashutte, the new timepiece was revealed to the international press. Although differences with the regular Grand Lange 1 might seem minimal, the new Gand Lange 1 “Lumen” has a very different look.?The?hands, h.................. 2012-12-11 More

I am going to cover yet another one of those brands that few people are familiar with, but will most certainly appeal to the engineer in all of us. A contemporary brand launched just a couple of years ago but with true passion coursing through their veins. Besides the engineering part, one can also find a fair bit of humor in their latest iteration.................. 2012-12-06 More

Like I already announced last Saturday, when I wrote about the new Ingenieur Automatic, IWC is seriously redesigning their Ingenieur Collection. Today we can show you the Ingenieur Chronograph Racer, that, like the Ingenieur AMG Black Series, results from the cooperation with Mercedes AMG Petronas.The?Ingenieur Chronograph Racer ?is powered by the .................. 2012-12-04 More

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.................. 2012-12-03 More

In this week’s Weekly Watch Photo we show you a so-called mood-photo of the new IWC Ingenieur Automatic AMG Series. Like the Ingenieur Automatic 40mm that we showed you yesterday, this is another new version for the fully revamped Ingenieur collection and features a rounded ceramic bezel.Because IWC hasn’t officially released the news, .................. 2012-12-02 More

While it’s more then 1,5 month to go to the SIHH 2013, new models are being released almost daily. And so does IWC… however they don’t simply introduce a new model, no, they complete revamp an entire collection, like they did last year with the Pilot’s Collection.This year it’s the Ingenieur Collection and the best new.................. 2012-12-01 More

Another pre-SIHH release today and one that has long been expected. Just two months ago, in September, Panerai released the??Panerai Luminor 1950 Rattrapante 8 Days Special Edition PAM00427,?which is virtually the same watch, although the new doesn’t have?the engraved case back and is no Special Edition. I’m pleased that Panerai decided.................. 2012-11-29 More

Imagine a timepiece that indicates time at the speed of your desire. Just because. That timepiece is Hublot’s second Masterpiece MP-02, the Key of Time.?Of course the Key of Time also indicates time as we know it, but additionally it allows for speeding up the time by 4 times or to slow it down 4 times. The basic idea is that you can enjoy ce.................. 2012-11-27 More

Our guest contributor Angus Davies gets all poetic today. That’s what a mix of cold and rainy autumn weather and the sight of the beautiful and elegant Vacheron Constantin Historiques Aronde 1954 does…I am sitting at my desk looking through a rain soaked window. My heart is tinged with melancholy. The prospect of winter is somewhat fore.................. 2012-11-27 More

Today’s Weekly Watch Photo features photos of the Ma?tres du Temps Chapter Two TRC, again. Back in September I already showed you some photos of the new Chapter Two TRC, photographed by Ming Thein. A few weeks ago, at SalonQP in London, I ran into Steven Holzman, founder and CEO of Ma?tres du Temps, and he told me that he had more of these be.................. 2012-11-25 More

When pulling negative G-forces, inverted and with weapons systems hot, the last thing a fighter pilot needs is an unfriendly watch. The Omega Spacemaster Z-33 is heir to the throne of the original Flightmaster and provides an ease of use that adapts to the most challenging circumstances.? Unlike the interlude with the accomplished X-33 (you really .................. 2012-11-23 More

Do you need a watch winder? No, actually you don’t, but it makes life easier when you own several mechanical watches with an automatically wound movement. And the Dottling Gyrowinder is by far the coolest looking single-watch winder I have ever seen.?The design reminds me of (my favorite) Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos, the Reedition 1930. Besides so.................. 2012-11-22 More

Baume & Mercier have recently launched an entirely new collection, named Clifton, and yesterday they introduced the top line model of the collection, the new Clifton 1830.?This is a lovely?dress watch, with classic?looks, ?in red gold and with a proprietary manual wind movement. The Clifton 1830 comes in a red gold case, measuring 42 mm in diam.................. 2012-11-21 More

After introducing the renewed Excalibur collection earlier this year, Roger Dubuis?announces?two new models?for the Excalibur collection.?There will be?a diamond-set Excalibur 36 with?a new bracelet and a new chronograph, the Excalibur 42 Chronograph.Roger Dubuis makes it easy: the number in the watch’s name stands for the actual diameter,?so.................. 2012-11-20 More

In 2010 Cartier introduced the Calibre de Cartier featuring Cartier’s in-house movement?caliber 1904-PS, a solid base movement that found its way into the new Tank Anglaise as well. Last week Cartier introduced their new in-house chronograph movement, caliber 1904-CH, in a watch with the familiar Calibre de Cartier case and face.?This is of c.................. 2012-11-19 More

This year a watch has won two prizes and as far as I could go back in historic results, this is a first. The MB&F Legacy Machine 1 has won both the Best Men’s Watch Prize and the Public Prize! Congratulations from the entire Monochrome team to all winners and double congrats to MB&F!The “Aiguille d’Or” or “Gold.................. 2012-11-18 More

Patek Philippe has cooperated with Tiffany & Co on many ocassions throughout the past 160+ years, a cooperation that was celebrated in 2001 with the introduction of the ‘T 150’ Annual Calendar, that was limited to 450 pieces.Now they celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Patek Philippe boutique located in the Tiffany & Co flags.................. 2012-11-16 More

Last month I had the pleasure of attending a Masterclass organized by Jaeger-LeCoultre. Several years ago I attended a similar Masterclass and now I was curious to see how much of my knowledge and “skills” remained.?The entire day was a lovely escape from any daily routine and very well organized, great place, great program, great food................... 2012-11-15 More

The Wright Brothers and Alberto Santos ushered in the golden age of aviation as well as the Pilot Watch (as we told you in the History of Pilot Watches Part 1), and Louis Bleriot assumed their mantle.? Once it was possible to fly, newborn pilots raised the goals, and people attempted to do the impossible, like flying across the English Channel.? Th.................. 2012-11-14 More

The Protestant Reformation, inaugurated by Martin Luther's posting of his 95 theses in opposition to the Roman Catholic Church, began a wave of reform that swept across Europe and into the New World of the Americas. In Switzerland, John Calvin became a leader of the movement, reforming not only Church doctrine, but also the city of Geneva. Who knew.................. 2012-11-13 More

I’ve just returned from London where I visited SalonQP. For me it an absolute blast and I think it’s the best watch fair, that is?open for the public,?that I’ve visited so far. Being in London anyway I had to use the opportunity to check out the unique pieces that many brands made for Marcus Watches. Although I’ve seen quite.................. 2012-11-11 More

Today is the first day of SalonQP, a true horological fest, in the Saatchi Gallery in London. That makes a perfect good reason to publish Mario’s first (of a series) story about his visit to Top Marques Luxury Fair?in Shanghai where he met with eight watchmakers of the AHCI. We hope this inspires you to visit SalonQP today or tomorrow!?Academ.................. 2012-11-09 More

When Audemars Piguet showed me the new Royal Oak automatic (ref. 15202) during the SIHH in January of this year, it was love at first sight. It doesn’t happen often that in the first paragraph I write “I WANT ONE”, however I did and I meant it. The result has been on my wrist since February of this year when I bought the 15202R.................. 2012-11-08 More

Some weeks ago A. Lange & Sohne unveiled what in my eyes is the most beautiful timepiece in the current collection. It’s a special limited edition?of the Zeitwerk ‘Handwerkskunst’.In my opinion?the Lange Zeitwerk, that was released?late 2009,?is one of the most desirable timepieces available on the market today.? This new vers.................. 2012-11-05 More

Monochrome is into pilot’s watches and this week we share enthusiastic stories of our contributors, about their favorite aviation timepieces. Like the Omega Flightmaster that we told you everything about last Tuesday and the very cool Bremont Squadron Watch USNTPS?that we told you about yesterday. Today our guest contributor Angus Davies shar.................. 2012-11-01 More

No one would argue that the most popular timepiece that ever came out from the halls of Bienne, Switzerland, was the 1969 Speedmaster. But on that same year, another icon was born, one of which was living under the shadows of its brethren, a manual-wound chronograph with a GMT-function, the original aviator piece from Omega, the Flightmaster.The Fl.................. 2012-10-30 More

Generally, fluids and watches don't mix that well. Most watch manufacturers go to great lengths to keep out stuff like water, resulting in some pretty impressive diver watches over the years.The idea of using a liquid inside a watch isn't new. Diver watches often use silicon oil to cope with the pressures under extreme conditions. Besides that, we'.................. 2012-10-29 More

The last few weeks we’ve seen a lot of new releases! We’ve shown you Peter Speake-Marin’s new Piccadilly HMS and Resilience, the new Romain Jerome DeLorean DNA, a larger Girard-Perregaux 1966?and?a new collection for Hautlence called Avant-Garde, to name just a few.And there were the two new Panerai Radiomir Composite?models. Now .................. 2012-10-24 More

Today we’re going to look at the history of the pilot’s watch. It’s the first article in a series of five and we’re going to start with an unusual suspect… When it comes to the essential criteria for a pilot's watch, like functionality and readability, Cartier's Santos seems an odd fit except in one unassailable catego.................. 2012-10-23 More

I guess most of you know about what brand I’m talking when I mention the drop-dead-gorgeous movements with their incredible three-dimensional architectural designs. Indeed, an absolutely beautiful German watch brand. And now they have some serious competition!After I had to chance to wear the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Duometrea Quantieme Lunaire 4.................. 2012-10-21 More