Just Because: It's February 29th... What Exactly is a Leap Year? And What Does it Means For Watches?
If you’re one of the lucky few to own a perpetual calendar watch (or even rarer, a secular calendar watch), this is the day you have to wear this watch. It’s not even an option, it’s an order. Why? Because your movement is going to perform a mechanical ballet that only occurs every four years – well, almost… more on that in a few – and your dial will be showing a day and date combination that only occurs every 1,460 days. Indeed, today is February 29th, and 2024 is a leap year. But what exactly is a leap year? Why does it even exist? Why make things so complicated? And how does this translate in terms of watchmaking and calendar watches? We tell you all.?Horology and mechanical watchmaking are children of astronomy. The entire system of measuring time, days or seasons is based on the observation of our planet and its position in the Solar system. Time and calendars are, however, conventions created by men. They are systems, a standardisation that all

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

Skeletonized to the MAX: Kees Engelbarts Bronze Organic Skeleton Tourbillon - Monochrome Watches
A few years ago Kees Engelbarts showed me photos of his latest creation that we covered here. I was baffled to see by what degree one could skeletonize a mechanical movement. In all honesty, I wasn’t sure whether I really liked it or was “just” very impressed by the incredible craftsmanship this takes. Last month I visited?Kees Engelbarts in Geneva, his home town, and got to see his latest creations. Now I knew I do like what I saw, and today we’re going to show you his highly skeletonized tourbillon watch, which also happens to be his first watch in bronze.?Skeleton vs. Open-WorkedI’m guessing that you have seen a few skeleton watches before. However the moniker “skeleton watches” is often used for so-called open-worked watches, as well as for true skeleton watches.?Before we go any further, let me briefly explain the difference. In short,?open-worked watches feature an entire movement, or at least some movement parts, that are partially open.

We have a winner for the Montblanc Sweepstake - Monochrome Watches
Montblanc gave us the opportunity to visit the Montblanc watch manufacture in Le Locle together with one of Monochrome’s readers. So early February we posted the sweepstake and ended it, as announced, a month later on Friday the 8th of March.?An overwhelming number of 883 of our readers have registered for this sweepstake and I’m totally overwhelmed by this. Thank you all for registering for the sweepstake and Monochrome newsletter! But there is only one person who can join me for visiting the Montblanc watch manufacture in Le Locle. Ad - Scroll to continue with article Our winner, Andrew, takes absolutely gorgeous photos during the dives he made on all exotic dive spots around the world, like this photo of “Nemo”. And he’s an avid watch collector and actively shares his passion for watches online on Facebook and on watch forums. I

Clerc Hydroscaph GMT Power Reserve Chronometer, the heavy diver - Monochrome Watches
The choice for dive watches is quite literally endless. There are thousands of good, very good, or extremely good dive watches out there. There are also plenty of so-so dive watches, so it is very possible to lose track of what's what in this popular category. Thus, we feel it is our duty to share some options outside the beaten path of Submariners, Seamasters or Panerais. One of these options is Clerc, a brand dedicated to dive watches with a bold design. Today, we bring you the Clerc Hydroscaph GMT Power Reserve Chronometer, first introduced last year, in one of our extensive reviews, including specs, lots of pictures and of course, our personal thoughts!A dive watch is not only popular amongst actual divers. Most are very rugged, usable tool-watches but a lot of them never go near their depth ratings. Nevertheless, most of them see water in one way or another (shower, swimming pool, heavy rain) so it is a comforting thought that your precious watch is able to take a bit of a beating