Technical Perspective - Going Beyond the Rattrapante Chronograph
If the chronograph is one of the most revered complications, the rattrapante (or split-seconds) function takes it to a whole new level. The word rattrapante translates from the French “to catch up”. Rattrapante chronographs feature two superimposed seconds hands that time two events of different lengths simultaneously. One hand (the rattrapante) can be stopped to read an intermediate time, while the other one (the trotteuse) keeps running. A second push on the rattrapante pusher allows the stopped hand to catch up with the moving hand. Joseph-Thaddeus Winnerl is considered to have developed the first split-seconds mechanism in the first half of the 19th century. The split-second chronograph however is not the only mechanism to time multiple events Here are a few original solutions.The Double-Split or Even Triple-Split ChronographIf rattrapante or split-second chronographs traditionally allow to measure split-times up to 1 minute, a major enhancement to this classic complica

Hamilton Pan Europ Automatic - Full Review (Live photos, specs and Price) - Monochrome-Watches
The Jackson 5, ABBA and Queen. The Godfather, Bruce Lee and Star Wars. Platform shoes, sideburns and bell-bottomed pants. The Royal Oak, Nautilus and Ingenieur. All of them first saw the day of light during the seventies, and in the watch?industry, this era seems to be making a comeback when it comes to design. The original Hamilton Pan Europ was introduced in 1971 and in recent years they've brought it back to life. The Chronograph version was redone and re-issued in 2011, and for 2014 there is a non-chronograph available. We go hands-on for a review with the seventies inspired looker.Hamilton, as a brand, dates back to 1892 (no connection to a bloke named Lewis Hamilton, as many people tend to ask me). Among the accolades of the brand are the pocket watch from 1912 ensuring railroad accuracy in the United States, and the 1957 Hamilton Ventura, the first electric watch available to the public. The latter is also famous for being Elvis Presley's watch of choice for the 1961 movie Blue

Counting Down To SalonQP 2016, the London Watch Exhibition, 3 - 5 November 2016 - Monochrome Watches
In just a few short days, SalonQP 2016 will get underway at the Saatchi Gallery, London. From its humble beginnings, SalonQP has grown to be a must-visit annual watch event for collectors and enthusiasts alike from around Europe and even the world. This year promises to be no different, featuring new product launches, special exhibitions and, of course, the opportunity to get hands on with some really exceptional watches.If you've never been to SalonQP before than it's hard to explain what really sets this show apart from other watch fairs. Unlike major events like Baselworld and SIHH which can be overwhelming for first-timers to say the least, SalonQP has more of an intimate feel to it. This is in large part due to the location. Ad - Scroll to continue with article The Saatchi Gallery, whilst quite large, is made up of a series of rooms set out over several flo

Hands-On - Czapek Quai des Bergues Order of Malta Special Edition (with Video)
If you are a regular reader of MONOCHROME, you will be familiar with the independent watchmaker Czapek. A name with a lot of history (Fran?ois Czapek was a Geneva-based Polish watchmaker whose 6-year partnership with Antoni Patek gave birth to remarkable watches before the latter founded Patek Philippe with Adrien Philippe), the brand was revived in 2015 with the launch of the Quai des Bergues. The first modern Czapek creation was awarded the Public Prize at the prestigious Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve in 2016. At Baselworld 2017, the brand introduced the Place Vend?me tourbillon featuring a GMT indication.Over the past months, Czapek has released variations, bespoke iterations and special editions of its Quai des Bergues model showcasing traditional crafts like Grand Feu enamel or hand-guilloche dials. The latest execution of this collection presented just ahead of Baselworld features a grene - iridescent silvered dial featuring a highly-detailed Order of Malta coat of arms paint

First Look: The Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Openface 270th-Anniversary Editions
Not all of Vacheron Constantin's 270th-anniversary pieces are steeped in classicism. The three Traditionnelle Openface models are refreshingly contemporary, offering a view of the modern architecture of their calibres. While the complications differ from model to model, the new trilogy shares openworked dials, a special guilloche pattern designed to mark the anniversary and luxurious platinum cases with stepped lugs, fluting and a slender bezel. The Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Retrograde Date, powered by a new in-house movement, the Tourbillon Retrograde Date and the Complete Calendar Openface references are each limited editions of 370 individually numbered pieces.Having mentioned the contemporary spirit of the Openface dials, it might come as a surprise to learn that Vacheron had an openworked model in its archives, in the form of a pocket watch with an astronomical calendar produced in 1918. Almost 100 years later, the concept was revisited with the Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpet