The Best of Independent Watchmaking 2018 - Part 2 - Monochrome Watches
Yesterday, we started to look at the best watches created by independent watchmakers in 2018, with more “classical” watches (if ever the indie scene could be labelled classical). Today, in the second part of this guide, we move to the most creative, daring, highly technical of them all. Sci-fi designs, unusual displays of the time, ultra-complex movements. The boldest and the craziest models in the watch industry are right here.?The ingenuity, vision, diversity – or simply the smaller size – of indie watchmakers give watchmaking fans a wealth of unique creations in 2018.Andreas Strehler Transaxle TourbillonThis highly-engineered creation by Andreas Strehler combines a tourbillon with a 1-second remontoir d'egalite constructed around the same axle. The remontoir allows the transfer of constant energy to the regulator and to drive a dead-beat second. The twin-barrel movement also displays the remaining power reserve using a small differential gear. Overall, the sk

Hands-On: Some Thoughts About the IWC Big Pilot QP Top Gun Lake Tahoe
Approaching a hands-on article about a watch can take various angles, and one exciting perspective is to envision how a newcomer to the watch scene might react to a timepiece and what questions might arise during their exploration of the product. Let’s explore this approach as we delve into the mighty IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Lake Tahoe (what a name…), presented by the Schaffhausen-based brand in 2023.Imagine being entirely unfamiliar with IWC and its collections as you encounter a 46.5mm diameter, 15.5mm height watch encased in white ceramic featuring a substantial steel diamond-shaped ribbed crown. Despite its size, you’re surprised by its lightweight feel. On the matte black dial, you notice perpetual calendar indications inspired by flight instruments, complete with aeroplane images. You flip the watch over, and the sapphire crystal reveals the mechanism; you move the watch to playfully interact with the cut-out rotor adorned with the

SIHH 2019 - IWC Pilots Watch Automatic Spitfire IW326801 and IW326802 (Hands-On, Specs & Price)
With its focus on military/pilot watches for the SIHH 2019, IWC has launched two 3-hand pilot's watches under the Spitfire sub-range. These could have been simple evolutions of the standard Pilot's Watch Mark XVIII, but there are multiple updates on the model and all models will coexist alongside the Mark XVIII. In the same vein as the?Bronze Chronograph unveiled a few weeks ago, meet the smaller and vintage-inspired IWC Pilot's Watch Automatic Spitfire Bronze or Steel for SIHH 2019.A vintage (and probably field-tested) IWC Mark XI, the inspiration for most IWC pilot’s watches.Inspired by the original and legendary IWC Mark XI (a blueprint for IWC pilot's watches), which was introduced in 1948 for the British RAF (Royal Air Force) and the FAA (Fleet Air Arm), the new Pilot's Watch Automatic Spitfire models are smaller than the Mark XVIII and simplified three-hand versions of the Pilot's Watch Chronograph Spitfire Bronze.The new IWC Pilot's Watch Automatic Spitfire will be availab

Moon Landing 50 - Throwback to the History of the Omega Speedmaster (Pre-Moon, Alaska, Moonwatch and More) - Monochrome Watches
July 1969 – July 2019. In?a week, the world will celebrate one of mankind’s greatest achievements: walking on the Moon. On July 20th 1969 (or July 21st depending on where you are on Earth), 3 men, onboard a not-so-safe rocket named Saturn V, travelled to our nearest satellite and?2 of them (Aldrin and Armstrong) step foot on the Moon. Strapped on their wrist was a legendary chronograph watch, the Speedmaster, soon to be named the “Moonwatch”. In order to be fully prepared for the Moon Landing 50th Anniversary celebrations, and to understand how this humble sports chronograph became the official astronaut’s watch, here is a throwback to our 3-part in-depth history of the Omega Speedmaster.The origins – the Pre-Moon modelsIn this first part of the Omega Speedmaster history, we look at two major topics. First is an overview of the Pre-Moon watches (pre-1969 and Moon Landing), with the iconic references CK 2915, CK 2998, 105.002, 105.003 and ST105.012. T

Bubba Watson wins Golf Tournament wearing a Richard Mille RM038 - Monochrome Watches
Now usually you won’t see these kind of titles on Monochrome, however in this case I wanted to make an exception. The reason for this, is that withstanding the shocks and G-forces that a wrist watch endures during a game of golf, are ‘pretty extreme’.Of course we’re happy for 33 year old Bubba Watson. However Monochrome is not about sharing sports results. Richard Mille’s technical achievement is something Monochrome should report about and we will. The recently released RM055 Bubba Watson can withstand forces of no less than 500G; that’s ‘pretty extreme’. Ad - Scroll to continue with article During the tournament, Bubba Watson was wearing his RM038. The RM038 tourbillon is able to work in golf's extreme conditions and was designed with 3 major specifications in mind: lightness, extreme shock resis-tance and comfor