Understanding Bezels and all the Different Scales - Monochrome Watches
A bezel is a simple but extremely effective tool letting you perform all sorts of tasks: from timing a dive to calculating the average speed of a motorbike, from gauging your fuel supply or the distance of incoming fire to consulting the time in Japan, a bezel gets the job done and jacks up the functionality of your watch. The trick is deciphering what all the markings on the bezel or on the dial (in that case, we talk scales) represent and how to use them.The dial of the Patek Philippe 5975, combining 3 of the most prominent scales used in the watch industry: Telemeter, Pulsometer, TachymeterDiving Bezels (or count-up)The purpose of a dive bezel is to track elapsed time underwater. One of the ISO 6425 standards for a divers' watch is that it must be fitted with a unidirectional bezel with a scale showing 60 minutes and markings at least every 5 minutes, well as a pre-select marker (usually in the form of a luminous triangle or diamond) to mark a specific minute reading. Since chronogr

The Best of Indie Watchmaking Seen Through the Casebacks Part 1
Turning a watch over can be a moment of pure enjoyment. Beyond the intricacies of the mechanics of time, the meticulous search for perfection in their manufacturing, the time spent to decorate parts, the path for beauty and balance, is the hallmark of what we call Haute Horlogerie. We have put together some superb watches produced by Indie watchmakers, and we're only going to look at them through the caseback, movement side. For viewing pleasure exclusivelyThe list below gathers only ‘small’ independent watchmakers without mentioning larger brands such as Patek Philippe, A. Lange & Sohne or Audemars Piguet. Naturally, this isn’t an exhaustive list, so do not hesitate to mention your favourite craftsmen or watches in the comment section below!Akrivia Chronometre ContemporainRexhep Rexhepi ascent to become one of the rising stars of independent watchmaking is due largely to the splendour of his movements. With the Chronometre Contemporain, AkriviA focuses on the ess

Parmigiani Tonda 1950 Tourbillon - Worlds Thinnest Automatic Flying Tourbillon with Micro-Rotor (Specs & Price) - Monochrome Watches
Just the other week we broke the news of the (new) world’s thinnest mechanical watch, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra-Thin Squelette, which measures only 3.60 mm in height. With such thickness (thin-ness) it broke the old record of Piaget by just 0,05 mm. However it also brings skeletonisation to the table. Today we’re introducing the new Parmigiani Tonda 1950 Tourbillon, which features the world’s thinnest automatic micro-rotor movement with a flying tourbillon.In the last few years a select number?of high-end watch brands seem to be in a prestigious battle to create the thinnest watch. Besides the thinnest watch – that honour goes to the aforementioned JLC with a skeletonized manually wound movement – there’s also?the?thinnest automatic movement with full rotor (I believe that this honour still goes to cal. 2121 that is used in the AP Royal Oak Ultra-Thin), the thinnest automatic with micro-rotor, thinnest minute repeater, thinnest hand wound wit

Introducing The Poetic Chopard Imperiale Day-Night
Many of our readers associate the brand Chopard with watch collections like the Mille Miglia, the Alpine Eagle and L.U.C overseen by co-president Karl Friedrich-Scheufele. But there is also a feminine face to the brand directed by Caroline Scheufele, co-president and the creative spirit behind Chopard's red carpet jewellery and women's watch collections. The latest model to join the luxurious Imperial collection is this opulent high jewellery watch depicting a mobile sky to indicate night and daytime hours under sculpted lotus motifs.Launched in 1994, the Imperiale collection is closely associated with the lotus flower, including the 2017 GPHG award-winning Lotus Blanc secret watch. Using a variety of techniques, Chopard's artisans have crafted the lotus flower on the dial of the Imperiale in ethical rose gold; the lower half of the dial features solid engraved lotus flowers, while the top part features the silhouette of the flower. Gilded openworked swords-shaped hands indicate the ti

Review New Panerai Luminor Perpetual Calendar Platinumtech PAM00715
When you think Panerai, you’ll probably have in mind a cushion-shaped watch with diving capacities, an oversized case, a sandwich dial and a relatively simple yet powerful movement, with barely any complications to display. And rightfully so, as this is the basic concept of the brand, found under the classic Luminor or Radiomir collections. Yet, the Florentine brand has demonstrated in past years that it could also go into complications, such as chronographs, the always-questionable equation of time or even tourbillons. One complication that the brand has barely even touched through its history (I say barely because there’s one example to be found) is the perpetual calendar, otherwise a classic for the industry. Surprisingly, it’s only in 2021 that this will come in the collection, with the new Panerai Luminor Perpetual Calendar Platinumtech PAM00715 we have here, and its new in-house movement.?You can search deep into the brand’s history and you’ll only f