Watches NEWS
A Personal Story on the Ventura V-Tec Sigma
If you follow MONOCHROME, even occasionally, you know that we're all about mechanical watches. It takes something really special to get us excited about something battery-powered, but every now and then, that something comes along. The retro Hamilton PSR is a recent example, along with the quartz Citizen Calibre 0100 that's accurate to +/-1 second per year. Also, we sometimes dig into our own collections to highlight a special piece, like Frank's vintage Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Brice's Breguet Type XX. So, in this hands-on review, I'm going to talk about my own Ventura V-Tec Sigma, an unconventional luxury digital watch that once guest-starred in a Nicolas Cage movie.BACKGROUND VenturaVentura was founded by Pierre Nobs in 1987, who left the mainstream watch industry to find something more meaningful. Disheartened by the fake nostalgia coming from well-known brands, he wanted to create unique, avant-garde watches in collaboration with renowned industrial designers. It wasn't long
Hands-On - Chopard L.U.C Heritage Grand Cru (Specs & Price)
While it is commonly?accepted that watches are mainly round – a shape guided by the way time is indicated by hands – exceptions exist. Shaped-watches are not that usual and if some tried, only a few endured. Mastering shapes is something complex, which requires a bit of talent. This year, Chopard is enlarging its L.U.C Collection (the high-end range of the brand) with a montre de forme or form-watch, based on the barrel idea… And indeed, behind this new?Chopard L.U.C Heritage Grand Cru, there’s a certain wine inspiration – and overall?a handsome watch.BackgroundThere are a few things to know about Chopard. The brand was?founded in 1860, in Sonvilier, by Louis-Ulysse Chopard and was originally known for making ladies’ watches and pocket watches. In 1963, the brand became the property of the?Scheufele family (at that time managed by Karl?Scheufele, a watchmaker from Pforzheim, Germany). This family?have owned the company up to the present day, currentl
@winewhiskywatches and his MB&F Legacy Machine No.1 - Monochrome Watches
I can remember clearly when MB&F’s Max Busser showed me the Legacy Machine 1 for the first time. It is simply one of those watches that immediately makes an everlasting impression. Mind you, this was a few years ago when such technicalities were simply absent from other brands, small or big. It was revolutionary and groundbreaking and paved the way for others. One of the collectors who already appeared in our Collector’s Series goes under the IG handle @winewhiskywatches and today we’re talking about his magnificent MB&F Legacy Machine 1 in white gold.?@winewhiskeywatches already talked about his Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance and the IWC Big Pilot Tribute to 5002 and he talks about his watches with a lot of knowledge and passion. As a seasoned collector, he knows what he wants and, at least as important, why he wants it. This is the way that some of the most esteemed collectors operate and it doesn’t matter whether you can purchase an MB&F or
Introducing The Widly-Coloured Oris Holstein Edition 2023
Oris has a recent annual tradition where a special, limited edition piece debuts to celebrate its anniversary. Known as the Holstein Editions, named after the town in the Swiss Jura mountains where the brand was founded in 1904, the watches are generally modified variants of existing pieces. The previous three include a bronze Divers Sixty-Five, Big Crown Pointer Date with the new in-house Calibre 403 and a classic Full Steel Worldtimer revival from the 1990s. The Oris Holstein Edition 2023 adds a bold dial to the Aquis Caibre 400 41.5mm, which is already a best-seller powered by the in-house Calibre 400 automatic. ? If you're a fan of the Aquis Calibre 400 41.5mm, you'll be pleased with the familiar design and a unique dial that's sure to grab attention. Based on the evergreen Aquis diver, the stainless steel case comes in at 41.5mm in diameter, right between the 43.5mm Aquis Date and 39.5mm models. The unidirectional rotating bezel has a grey ceramic insert and
Horage Tourbillon 1 Sub-10k Swiss In-House Tourbillon Explained
The tourbillon… You've no doubt heard of it (you are a MONOCHROME reader after all), and perhaps you own a few, but why is it such an expensive feature? French for whirlwind, it's actually among the oldest of technical innovations, patented by Breguet in 1801 – although developed several years earlier, around 1795. It's simple in concept, with the balance wheel and escapement mounted inside a rotating cage to counter the forces of gravity. If you're in the market for a Swiss tourbillon (or any outside of the Asian market), you're well into five figures until now. We introduced the accessible Horage Tourbillon 1 last year during development and now have one on the wrist for a proper review. And to understand how the brand managed to make this watch at that price.BackgroundHorage is a relative newcomer to Swiss watchmaking, originating in 2007 when husband and wife founders Andreas Felsl and Tzuyu Huang began discussing their future in Biel/Bienne. Horage (the H is silent) is