Hands-On Patek Philippe Calatrava Weekly Calendar 5212A (Specs & Price)
Like a good thriller, the Calatrava Weekly Calendar 5212A is packed with subtle clues that offer us a glimpse into the strategies of its maker. More complex than the elite and minimalist line-up of Calatrava watches, the Weekly Calendar also departs from its family heritage of precious metal cases and flaunts a stainless steel case. Currently the only Calatrava watch in steel, the 5212A gets some of its design elements from a 1955 ancestor, it comes with a sector dial, a winning touch of “handwritten” font on the dial, and a new movement. Although it is the first model to offer this unusual combination of calendar functions, the Weekly Calendar transmits the reassuring feeling that it has always been a member of the Patek dynasty.Useful complicationsPatek's expertise in calendar watches – and combinations of sophisticated calendars with other complications – is legendary. Taking a different tack from the classic aperture/sub-dial layout of its classic calendar w

Fabienne Lupo, Chairwoman & Managing Director of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, about SIHH - Monochrome Watches
The 29th edition of the SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie) will soon be throwing its doors open with some 35 brands gearing up to unveil their latest models. The Geneva-based event, which runs between January 14 to 17, is one of the two major watch shows of the year - together with Baselworld. Just as the synchronization of the calendar of both events has been announced, MONOCHROME talks with Fabienne Lupo, Chairwoman & Managing Director of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH) about what's new for SIHH and FHH.The rumour had been around for some time now, and many were hoping for this, it is now official, the SIHH and Baselworld will coordinate their dates as of 2020.It is a major announcement and excellent news for the industry. This is a sensible and rational decision that emerged of discussions with Baselworld. Our two events are complementary, this move is in the interest of all. Ad - Scroll to continue with article

The Cloche de Cartier 2021, in the Prive Collection
Cartier's famed Collection Privee Cartier Paris (CPCP) was the jeweller's answer to the growing demand for men's timepieces with high-quality mechanical calibres. Launched at SIHH in 1998, the CPCP was intended to showcase Cartier's most iconic designs, including the Santos Dumont, Tortue, Tonneau, Tank Basculante, Tank Asymetrique and Cloche, among others. Due to lukewarm sales, the collection was phased out after a decade. Harking back to the CPCP, Cartier's Collection Prive was quietly launched in 2017 and has, over the last four years, been used as a platform to release numbered and limited edition runs of Cartier's iconic case shapes, starting with the Crash in the line's inaugural year. The Crash was followed by the Tank Cintree, the Tonneau, and the Asymetrique in the succeeding years. 2021 marks the Cloche's turn in the spotlight.An early version of the Cloche de CartierThe cloche shape (French for bell) made its first appearance in the house of Cartier as a diamond and onyx wa

Hands-on - Chopard L.U.C Time Traveler One Black (Specs & Price)
Chopard introduced the L.U.C Time Traveler One in 2016. Marking the first world timer to join the L.U.C collection, the Time Traveler One shows the time in all 24 time zones simultaneously and is operated by an internal 24-hour ring. The standout feature of Chopard's globetrotter's watch is the Super Compressor-style case with two crowns and an internal rotating bezel, a case largely associated with instrument dive watches. For 2021, Chopard revisits its popular Time Traveler One in monochrome with a matte ceramised titanium case in a limited run of 250 pieces.World Time at a glanceWith current travel restrictions in place, global travel might be a distant dream for most of us. However, world time watches are also useful for conducting business around the world and making sure you don't wake up your business partner in Taipei in the wee hours of the morning. Ad - Scroll to continue with article

Behind-The-Scenes: Inside Sellita, The Giant Supplier of Mechanical Movements
The words in-house and manufacture have been used and abused by the watchmaking industry for many years. Yet, the reality is somewhat different. This isn’t a bad thing, actually, because vertical integration is not an end in itself. And it has never been; watchmaking was born as a cottage industry. When it comes to movements, many brands source their engines (and many parts, for that matter) from third parties. Producing a movement is a complex endeavour; it requires thorough expertise and a critical size to manufacture reliable calibres while controlling costs. In this respect, you have probably heard about Sellita movements. These are some of the most commonly used calibres in luxury timepieces. Created in 1950, the company has become one of the industry’s best-known and most prolific mechanical movement suppliers, with its products beating in the cases of millions of watches.The story of Sellita goes as far back as 1950 when Sellita Watch Co. SA was founded in La Chaux-d