Buying Guide: Six Fascinating Tourbillon Watches
One of my most memorable experiences when tumbling down the mechanical watchmaking rabbit hole is handling my very first tourbillon watch. I had already been writing for MONOCHROME for a while when it happened, and I knew about the complication and its function, but I had never handled one in person. It was at the SIHH 2014 that I happened to spot a stainless steel prototype of the Audemars Piquet Royal Oak 40th Anniversary Skeleton Tourbillon (ultimately done in platinum only). The experience of seeing one in action was absolutely mesmerizing to me, and I thought it would be fun to revisit the complication ten years on from that very moment. So with that little trip down memory lane in mind, here’s my personal selection of six of the most fascinating tourbillon watches I’ve recently come across.Chopard L.U.C. 1860 Flying TourbillonThe Chopard L.U.C. 1860 line is home to some of the finest dress watches on the market, with micro-rotor movements derived from the iconic Calib

Hands-On Artisans de Geneve Honey Pearl Project Skeleton Nautilus 5711
The personalisation of timepieces can take many forms, from a classic black coating to the highly debatable integration of stones (the so-called ‘icing process’). But some workshops are on a mission to demonstrate that customisation can be made with taste and Haute Horlogerie in mind. Artisans de Geneve is certainly among the best in this field. Known for radically transforming the look of a watch and applying intricate skeletonisation techniques to movements, this team of specialised craftsmen only works upon request. Following the initial Pearl Project with carbon elements, the workshop presents a new and highly attractive gold version, the Artisans de Geneve “Honey Pearl” Project.?Disclaimer: Artisans de Geneve is an independent company specialising in the personalisation of timepieces. The present watch is a sample of its know-how and of the personalisation services made upon request. Artisans de Geneve is not affiliated with Patek Philippe SA nor authorised

Interview with Daniel Riedo - Jaeger-LeCoultre's CEO - Monochrome Watches
Jaeger-LeCoultre just opened their first boutique in Amsterdam, beautifully located at the “Golden Half Mile.” This is the new nickname for the Pieter Cornelisz. Hooftstraat (short: the PC), Amsterdam's luxury shopping street, which is just around the corner from Amsterdam's most important, and recently renovated and re-opened, musea. Daniel Riedo, Jaeger-LeCoultre's new CEO, was in Amsterdam for the occasion and we sat down with him to talk about the brand, the strategy and what we can expect from them in the coming years. Be prepared for an entirely new collection!Daniel Riedo, Carice van Houten and Benno Leeser – by Francois Durand (Getty Images)However before Daniel Riedo tells us about an entirely new collection and what kind of novelties we could expect from Jaeger-LeCoultre in the coming years, we asked him about his new role within the manufacture. And of course we had a look at the watch he was wearing that day. Until June 2013?Daniel?Riedo was more internall

Oris Big Crown ProPilot Calibre 114 GMT - Baselworld 2018 (Specs & Price)
True to its philosophy of producing real watches for real people', the new Oris Big Crown ProPilot Calibre 114 is a utilitarian travel companion with a second time-zone (aka GMT) and a host of practical functions. Propelled by the latest in-house movement with a beefy 10-day power reserve, the novelty of the 2018 Oris Big Crown ProPilot calibre 114 is the 24-hour second time-zone function with half-hour indications.Exceptions to the ruleThe local time in any of the world's 24 time zones is defined by its difference from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and is generally expressed in full hours. There are of course exceptions to the rule and the new Oris watch will prove an invaluable companion for those of you travelling to cities with half-hour derivations like New Delhi, Tehran, Pyongyang, Kabul or Adelaide. Ad - Scroll to continue with article From pilots to f

Hands-On With The New TAG Heuer Carrera x Porsche Orange Racing
The TAG Heuer and Porsche partnership is a match made in heaven. It officially started in 2021, with the introduction of this TAG x Porsche Carrera, however, it goes well beyond sponsorships of racing events for marketing purposes, and a special edition watch. In case you do not know yet, and to add legitimacy to the story, in the 1980s, when TAG (Techniques d’Avant Garde) Group bought Heuer, Porsche and TAG developed and built a 1.5L V6 TAG-Porsche Turbo engine with 1,060 hp and 12,600 rpm for the McLaren MP4/2B. It was one of the most successful engines of those years, securing McLaren a win in three consecutive F1 world titles with Niki Lauda in 1984 and Alain Prost in 1985 and 1986 at the wheel. Now both brands are winning watch fans with special editions. Including the latest TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche Orange Racing. The new TAG x Porsche collaboration is based on a Carrera Sport Chronograph presented in 2020, and it follows the TAG Heuer