Hands-On: Roger Dubuis Orbis in Machina Central Monotourbillon
Modern watches made by Roger Dubuis are the antithesis of understatement and always manage to deliver a compelling mix of traditional horological content with a dash of extravagant, expressive design. This year’s releases focused on the flying tourbillon, culminating in the Orbis in Machina model with its rare, centrally mounted regulator (only a few can be named, from Omega – which first patented it in 1995 – Haldimann or Bulgari). The key word here is Orbis, referring to the revolutions of the tourbillon that are replicated at different speeds by the rotation of the minute and hour discs. Clad in hefty rose gold armour, the Orbis in Machina has two distinctive faces. The dial reveals a dynamic, multi-level, rotating construction, while the reverse presents a far more classical face of watchmaking.A fully integrated manufacturer based in Geneva, Roger Dubuis has produced over 40 calibres since its founding in 1995, all certified with the coveted Poin?on de Geneve qua

IWC Portugieser Automatic 42 Boutique Edition - Monochrome Watches
It's a big year for the Portugieser over at IWC, the iconic watch that was launched in 1939 and has become a perennial favourite among watch lovers. Along with the unprecedented?Portugieser Automatic 40, there were two new Portugieser Automatic 42 models; one in steel and one Boutique Edition in 5N gold with a blue dial. Recently, we were lucky enough to have the Boutique Edition IW500713 for our hands-on session and here's what we found.Not only in boutiquesI have to admit that when I saw the Boutique Edition' suffix I figured that this rose gold model was a boutique-exclusive-limited-production deal. Well, I was wrong. Boutique Editions refer to models that combine rose gold cases and blue dials and are not limited in production. However, this doesn't mean that you have to trek out to an IWC Boutique to buy this particular model. You can view it online and then order it over the phone. I tested the procedure online and in seconds an assistant popped up, answered my questions and then

The Type A11 DD-45, The Dirty Dozen Watch According To Praesidus
Watches have always been intertwined with big historical events all over the world. Many are connected to pivotal events or influential people, such as the Omega Speedmaster and the Apollo 11 mission that landed on the Moon or the watches worn by King Charles III of the British royal family. But some watches are not special because they are tied to a single person or event in time, but for having humbly served an entire nation or even the world. One type of watch that immediately springs to mind is the military issued “Dirty Dozen” watch. Even today, collectors are fanatically chasing these 12 different watches, issued by the British Ministry of Defense in 1943. This group is so popular today that other brands also take inspiration from the simple yet very effective design, which is exactly what Praesidus has done. Its all-new Type A11 DD-45 collection is a fitting salute to the original twelve that served so many during WWII.Let’s immediately make it clear that the n

Interview - Adrian Bosshard and Alfredo H?berli on the new Rado Diastar
Rado just celebrated the 60th anniversary of their Diastar collection with the presentation of 4 new watches crafted from Ceramos, their high-tech composite material. The new models included an anniversary edition created with Swiss-Argentinian designer Alfredo H?berli. During the launch in Zurich, we sat down with the brand's CEO, Adrian Bosshard and Alfredo H?berli to discuss the genesis of this new collection.Rado CEO Adrian BosshardXavier Markl - MONOCHROME - Why was the launch of the Diastar back in 1962 so important for the brand?Adrian Bosshard, Rado CEO - Back then, the management of Rado had the dream of creating something never seen before in terms of features and design. There was a demand for scratch-resistant waterproof watches. Our engineers were able to meet these expectations and the Diastar was launched at the Basel fair in 1962. Ad - Scroll to continue with article

TAG Heuer Carrera Indy 500 Special Edition (Specs & Price)
The link between TAG Heuer (and previously Heuer) and motor racing doesn’t need to be demonstrated anymore From the creation of dashboard instruments to the Carrera chronograph, followed by an array of F1 or sports car-inspired watches (most named after famous race tracks), to end up with the brand’s current sponsorship of the Red Bull F1 team, motor racing made the brand what it is today. And for the latest edition of the legendary Carrera, things are not about to change. Meet the new TAG Heuer Carrera Indy 500 Special Edition.The Indy 500 Ad - Scroll to continue with article TAG Heuer has been the Official Timekeeper of the Indianapolis 500 since 2004. The annual race is one of the oldest in the world with the inaugural event held in 1911. Approximately 300,000 spectators watch the race live, which is considered the largest gathering for a sporting