The History of the Ferrari V12 Engine, The Heat of Summer Classic Rallies and The Mid-Engine 'Vette - Monochrome Watches
Saturday means another kind of mechanics here, at MONOCHROME. As every week, we share with you our second passion: cars (like real cars, those that smell and make some noise). This week’s Petrolhead Corner is a “best of the web”, with some of the coolest stories we found. One of the most legendary engines explained, the fun of the summer rallies and the latest (and controversial) version of an iconic car. Fasten your seatbelts and start your engine (… coffee machine).The History of the Ferrari V12 EngineThere are legendary cars… Many of them! However, when it comes to the most important part of a car (real car), its engine, only two names come to my mind: Flat 6 and Colombo. The first is deeply linked to the iconic Porsche 911. The second created the legend surrounding Italian brand Ferrari. Without the intervention of engine designer Gioacchino Colombo, and the creation of the V12 engine that bears his name, Ferrari wouldn’t be Ferrari. It goes as f

Introducing The New Chronometre Ferdinand Berthoud FB 1R.6-1 (SIHH 2018)
For the SIHH 2018, Ferdinand Berthoud, the high-end brainchild of Karl Friedrich Scheufele (co-CEO of Chopard), enriches its growing collection with a surprising watch, a true connoisseur’s piece with a strong focus on chronometry. Its original regulator-type display and its ultra-resistant carburised stainless steel case are new, yet its tourbillon/fusee-chain movement is the same marvel we knew already.?Like the previous editions of the Chronometre FB 1, on which this new?Chronometre Ferdinand Berthoud FB 1R.6-1 is based, this watch is an ode to the past and to the glorious watchmaker Berthoud. This watch is equipped with several?complications inspired by scientific instruments and marine chronometers. All of them have the same goal: improving precision. And while this was already visible on the previous watches introduced by the brand, the new one makes a statement in terms of display too. Ad - Scroll to continue with article

Event Report - IWC and Mercedes AMG: a partnership getting ready for Goodwood #74MM (tons of photos & video) - Monochrome Watches
Just in case you don’t know what Goodwood #74MM stands for: no worries. I did not either. It stands for the 74th edition of the Goodwood Member Meeting, an event at Lord March’s Goodwood estate that is not only about racing, but also about heritage and responsibility. The event will be held from March 18th to March 20th. Stay tuned as we will report about the event, including some watch spotting. IWC is a main sponsor of the Goodwood foundation. Last year IWC launched a special Goodwood Ingenieur in a limited edition of 25 watches.?Will IWC launch another edition? We will know soon enough. Read further what our thoughts are.IWC and Mercedes AMG: a partnership that goes beyond marketingThe visits to the Mercedes museum and – even more – the Mercedes AMG facility in Affalterbach (Germany) made me aware of the similarities between the companies and how much more this partnership is than just market opportunities. IWC and AMG share many values: heritage, passion for

Introducing the Montblanc Metamorphosis II - 2 Watches in 1 - Monochrome Watches
Four years ago Montblanc brought automaton-like functions to the wrist with the Metamorphosis, which was the world’s first wrist watch that comprised two different dials, and corresponding functions, in one wrist watch. To be clear, we’re talking mechanical watches here, no smart watches, no LCD screens. Upon pushing a minute-repeater-like slide, a genuine metamorphosis takes place, and changes the dial with time and date indications, to a dial with time and chronograph counter, that rises from underneath the other dial. How brilliant is that!Originally launched in 2010 – as the first of the Timewriter program – the Metamorphosis was developed in the Montblanc manufacture in Villeret – the former Minerva manufacture. The Timewriter program gave young watchmakers the chance to develop their (spectacular) ideas with the help and full support of Demetrio Cabiddu (the master watchmaker) and his team. Now for the upcoming Watches & Wonders Montblanc launche

Armin Strom Tribute 1 California (Specs & Price)
The Armin Strom?Tribute 1 is the indie watchmaker’s contemporary interpretation of a dress watch and appeared in the System 78 collection earlier this year. The Tribute 1 is a refreshing approach to the dress watch with compact proportions, a new, thin in-house calibre, a modern, minimalist look and exceptional hand-finishings. First released in steel with a grey dial in June 2021, two months later, it reappeared with blue and black dials. Today, the brand?releases a series of five renditions, the Armin Strom Tribute 1 California, with alternating Roman and Arabic numerals, colourful fume dials and a black hand-guilloche plate made by Kari Voutilainen.Armin Strom, the watchmaker, was renowned for his impressive, highly intricate hand-skeletonised watches. When he retired in 2006, the brand came into the hands of a duo of childhood friends, master watchmaker Claude Greisler and businessman Serge Michel. By 2009, Armin Strom had a fully integrated manufacture in Biel/Bienne and rel