Discovering The Work Of Rune Bakkendorff, A Young And Upcoming Danish Watchmaker
In our exploratory trip around the world to uncover some of the most interesting independent watchmaking stories, we make a stop in Denmark this time around. The work of Rune Bakkendorff, a young and upcoming watchmaker from Denmark has recently been brought to our attention through our friends of The Limited Edition. Curious to learn what Rune has been doing so far, and is going to do into the future, we reached out to him and asked him a series of questions. As it turns out, we get some insight into Danish watchmaking history, as well as the very interesting ideas Rune has when it comes to the craft.Danish independent watchmaker Rune Bakkendorff.Robin, MONOCHROME Watches - Rune, you're a new name to our readers, can you briefly introduce yourself?My name is Rune Hjorth Bakkendorff, and I am a watch- and clockmaker from Denmark. I do a lot of conservation and restoration of historical and important timepieces, for both private and public collections, and for a while now I have been ma

Breguet Classique Complications 3797 Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon (Specs & Price)
A compendium of Abraham-Louis Breguet's ingenious inventions and style, the Classique Complications 3797 is a magnificent perpetual calendar tourbillon laden with nostalgia for the undisputed horological star of the 18th century. Released in 2014, the 3797 is Breguet in his purest, unadulterated form with all the unmistakable signs' of the creator and a couple of 21st-century tweaks that the maestro would surely relish. Although almost all the heavyweights of the watch scene have produced a perpetual calendar tourbillon combination - ALS Lange 1, IWC Portugieser,?Patek, Chopard et al. - none of them can match the historical clout and legitimacy of Breguet in this department. The 41mm case of the 3797, in?rose gold or platinum, is a time capsule transporting the wearer (or in this case, the admirer) on a historical journey back in time.The extraordinary talents of Abraham-Louis BreguetEvery detail of the 3797 shouts Breguet: from the engine-turned dial to the Breguet overcoil below deck

IWC grants us a new "Mark" watch with the Mark XX
Seemingly from out of nowhere, or at least with very little communication, IWC has launched a new Mark model. The new IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX, skipping the Mark XIX in the process, by the way, is the brand’s latest edition in the iconic range of aviation-themed watches. It’s not the first time such a quiet release is done (remember a certain Omega?) so imagine our surprise this morning when we first spotted it. Naturally, being MONOCHROME Watches, we’ve done some digging and give the most important details at this latest rendition of the classic pilot’s watch design by IWC. And as ever, there’s a bit more than first meets the eye with the new IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX.Going through the spec-sheet of the new IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX reveals touch-ups in areas beyond just the design. We see new proportions, an updated dial, new colours, new mechanics and more. This sets it apart from the still available Mark XVIII, which was introduced s

First Look: The new Doxa SUB 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler
Nothing does more for a brand's image than having a famous name spontaneously endorse your product. Although Doxa was not the first Swiss brand to produce a professional dive watch, it was the first to introduce a dive watch with a unidirectional rotating bezel to ensure safe no-decompression ascents in 1967. Doxa's SUB 300, with its massive tonneau-shaped case, rotating unidirectional bezel and bright orange dial, won the patronage of diving legend Jacques Cousteau and his team of Calypso divers. Another fan of the SUB 300 was American novelist Clive Cussler, whose character Dirk Pitt wore an orange dial SUB 300 on his adventures. Cussler, a passionate shipwreck hunter, would have celebrated his 93rd birthday today, and Doxa celebrates with a new special edition, the SUB 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler.?Acclaimed American adventure novelist Clive Cussler (1931-2020)Clive Cussler's (1931-2020) most famous character is Dirk Pitt, a marine engineer, government agent and intrepid adventure

Vacheron Constantin "Mecaniques Sauvages" - A Collection of Grand Complications and Artistic Crafts - Monochrome Watches
Defying the restraint and moderation that has settled over the watchmaking scene of late, it is refreshing to see such a magnificent display of mechanical luxury and grandiose craftsmanship. Unleashing a menagerie of majestic wild animals, Vacheron Constantin gives a riveting display of its inexhaustible creativity and mechanical expertise. Mecaniques Sauvages is a bespoke collection of unique pieces made in Vacheron Constantin's very own customisation department - Les Cabinotiers – where horological fantasies spring to life. To give you an idea of what the watchmakers at Les Cabinotiers are capable of producing, think back to Reference 57260, a private commission delivered in 2015 with no fewer than 57 complications under its belt, making it the most complicated timepiece on our planet.There are reportedly 20 Les Cabinotiers animal-themed watches in the Mecaniques Sauvages collection. For the moment, the brand has shared five models demonstrating a powerful combination of grand