Interview Wilhelm Schmid Lange Sohne on Managing Collectability and Demand
It is no secret that a large part of the watch industry is currently facing a rise in popularity, with a demand often surpassing the production capacity. While some have the ability to release more watches on the market, it's tempting for a few companies to benefit from this situation and to cap production and increase desirability. And for some, the situation is a bit more complex. Answering demand isn't always easy, specifically when talking about high-end, mostly hand-made watches. Production isn't a matter of machines, it's all about skilled people and their hands. With this situation in mind, we thought it was the perfect time for us to sit down with the CEO of A. Lange & Sohne, Mister Wilhelm Schmid, in order to understand what is the brand's strategy when it comes to managing demand, to find the right collectors, to avoid those who are in for the short run In short, to make sure that the few but handsome watches the Saxon brand is capable of manufacturing end up on the right

Pre SIHH 2012 - The new Lange und Sohne Datograph Auf/Ab - Monochrome Watches
Lange und Sohne call it the new benchmark in chronograph design and we think they are absolutely right. The new Datograph Auf/Ab sets the bar at a new level and the improvements go beyond adding a power reserve indicator.?According to many collectors the normal Datograph was already one of the most desirable chronographs ever made, only surpassed by it’s bigger brother the Lange und Sohne Double Split. Will the new Datograph Auf/Ab bring a change in that hierarchy? Ad - Scroll to continue with article Let’s look at what’s been changed/improved.First of all the case size has increased from 39 mm to ?41 mm. Something that might seem like ‘almost nothing’ is a big change for Lange und Sohne because they usually keep diameters at a moderate, almost old fashioned, size of less than 40 mm. While we at Monochrome prefer such ideas about th

Hautlence Vortex Bronze - Extreme High-End goes Bronze as well - Live Photos, Specs and Price - Monochrome Watches
Over the last five years the use of bronze as material for watches has become quite a popular thing, and although not necessarily a commonplace, we see more bronze watches today than ever before. Bronze has found its way into almost every price segment; however it’s mainly used for?sports watches. Hautlence thinks otherwise, and actually, we wouldn’t expect anything else from them! The brand that makes a point of ‘crossing the line’ now comes with their most complex timepiece in a bronze case, and it looks just brilliant! Here’s the Hautlence Vortex Bronze.?The use of bronze…Bronze has gained in popularity since the introduction of the Panerai Bronzo PAM382, back in 2011. This wasn’t the first watch in bronze; however it was the one that ignited the interest from collectors, and subsequently that from other?brands. Before Panerai came with the much-famed Bronzo, there was the Gerald Genta Gefica (Gefica Chronographe in 1995) and later, in 2008,

Interview - Luc Pettavino About Only Watch 2019
The eighth edition of the biennial fundraiser for research on Muscular Dystrophy will take place on Saturday 9 November 2019 in Geneva, where unique timepieces created by some of the world's best watchmakers will be auctioned. We took some time in Baselworld to meet its founder Luc Pettavino, President of the “Association Monegasque Contre les Myopathies”, to discuss the new edition and its programme.How did you start Only Watch?I was the organizer of the Monaco Yacht Show. In 1999, just before the Yacht Show, I saw a TV programme with Jean-Claude Biver. At the Yacht Show, Jean-Claude was visiting Wally Yachts, I went to introduce myself and Blancpain became a sponsor of the Yacht Show. This is how I got to know the Swatch Group. I had already created some themed charity auctions based on arts or unique creations from diverse brands (editor's note, Luc Pettavino's late son, Paul, suffered from muscular dystrophy). In 2004, I thought I was contributing to research but that w

Interview - The Online Watch Market - Wei Koh from Revolution/The Rake
As you’ve seen from our previous episodes, the online watch market isn’t just a trend anymore. It is now well established and multiple heavyweight companies are playing market-makers. When talking about these marketplace players, we are generally referring to specialised firms, with one and only activity. But there are other surprising players in the field with names such as Hodinkee, Worn & Wound or Revolution. All of them started their lives as watch magazines and have now added e-commerce to their portfolio of activities. To understand why and how watch media can legitimately create value from such a business, we will talk to our good friend?Wei Koh, founder of Revolution and The Rake.You probably know Wei Koh from his magazines or his Instagram account, or maybe as a fashion icon talking about style and watches. However,?Wei is first and foremost a wise businessman who has been active in the print and online worlds for over a decade. So it is safe to say that his vi