Weekly Watch Photo - Voutilainen Observatoire - Monochrome Watches
When it comes to classic and extremely desirable timepieces, Kari Voutilainen’s Observatoire is on the short list of many collectors. In today’s Weekly Watch Photo we show you an Observatoire and tell more about its (base) movement, the competition chronometer Peseux 260. The stunning photos are from Gary, the proud owner of this magnificent beauty.?Before we turn to the chronometry competitions and the Peseux caliber 260, let’s have a closer look at the dial. It’s a perfect example of a hand guilloche (engine turned) dial as can be found on all Voutilainen timepieces.?Some of the few remaining Rose engine turning machines (click here for Wikipedia)?that can be used for dials, can be found in Voutilainen’s atelier. Dials adorned by engine turning (or hand guilloche) are a rare commodity now-a-days, as the Rose engine turning machines and the skills required to use these machines properly are both becoming extremely rare. Lucky for those in the position to

Record half-year sales for Swatch Group - Monochrome Watches
Echoing the positive industry trend and in line with expectations, Swatch group, the largest watchmaking consortium just announced record half-year sales for 2018.?The group’s net sales increased by 14.7% to CHF 4,266 million at current exchange rates, respectively by 12.6% at constant rates reflecting the improvement of the business environment after a prolonged downturn (Swatch group sales were up 5.8% in 2017 and down 10.6% in 2016). Growth is reported for all regions and is led by Asia and America.As a comparison, Swiss watch exports have increased by 9.9% over the first five months of 2018. LVMH and Kering will communicate their first semester results next week. Richemont will announce interim results in November. Ad - Scroll to continue with article As a result, the group's operating result has soared by 69.5% to CHF 629 million with an operating mar

Hands-on - Pellikaan Timing reveals the Lorentz Speed of Sound
It has been quite a while since we’ve seen something really new coming from the niche watchmaking company Pellikaan Timing. Run by Hubert Pellikaan, a very passionate Dutchman with a background in pharmacy and science, the brand has a small but devoted following. The designs are all about legibility because Hubert wants his watches to be read from across the room. And admittedly, each one is extremely clear and intuitive! The story of Pellikaan Timing starts with the Flying Dutchman, born out of sheer stubbornness and frustration, and has now culminated with the brand’s first-ever chronograph. This is the Pellikaan Timing Lorentz ‘Speed of Sound’.The background of Pellikaan Timing starts with an Omega Speedmaster and the hunt for a new watch to join it on Hubert Pellikaan’s wrist. But the search for a new companion wasn’t easy, as Hubert always found some flaws in the designs he initially liked. So what do you do? Simple, you take a pen and paper (or

Montblanc 1858 Collection now with Bronze Cases (Review & Price)
The?Montblanc 1858 Collection certainly is one of our favorites here, at Monochrome. It indeed pays tribute to the military roots of the Villeret manufacture and the 1930s pilot watches produced at that time by Minerva (now part of Montblanc). Large diameters, highly contrasted dials, cathedral hands… all sounds perfectly vintage and faithful to the Minerva heritage. To even reinforce that vintage feel, the brand is about to introduce some new models in the collection, which for the first time will use bronze elements for the case, and this includes the stunning?Montblanc 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter, that we already showed you several times.The Montblanc 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter Limited Edition Bronze next to a vintage 1930s Minerva military chronograph (which was the inspiration for the 1858 collection) Ad - Scroll to continue with article The?Montblan

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reversoa Eclipse Van Gogh Sunflowers - Monochrome Watches
This year, 2015, is the year that the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam pays tribute to the 125th anniversary of the famous Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. And Jaeger-LeCoultre joins them for this memorable event by releasing?a limited edition Reversoa Eclipse that features Van Gogh’s infamous Sunflowers painting. Since the Reversoa Eclipse has the unique feature to show or reveal a dial, the enamel dial with Van Gogh’s painting in enamel, can be discretely hidden, or shown, by choice of the wearer.Vincent Van Gogh (1853 – 1890) is?famous for his post-impressionist works and has had a?great influence on twentieth century art. During is short life?he painted nearly 2,200 paintings, of which?860 oil paintings and more than 1,300 watercolour paintings, drawings, sketches and prints. For more than a century, his work is a great source of inspiration for many painters. The painting that is featured in this Reversoa Eclipse is called Sunflowers, hence the name of the watch, Reve