Six High-End Manual Wound Chronographs - Monochrome Watches
The chronograph remains one of the most beloved complications in the watchmaking world, and it can be found in anything from relatively affordable to ultra-high-end. You can divide them into two groups basically, with automatic chronographs on one end and manual wound ones on the other end. Within either of the two sub-families, you can find a whole range of very desirable chronographs at various levels of complexity. In today’s Buying Guide we’re taking a closer look at chronographs that offer that delightfully immersive sensation of manual winding a watch, and do so at the highest levels of mechanical watchmaking.A. Lange & Sohne 1815 RattrapanteThe chronograph has always been a very important complication in A. Lange & Sohne’s portfolio and has broken new ground with watches like the incredibly complex Double Split and Triple Split. Another fine example of the brand’s chronograph watchmaking capabilities is the 1815 Rattrapante in platinum. Perhaps a

Hands-On - Moritz Grossmann Atum Hamatic with Pendulum Winding System (Specs & Price)
The vast majority of mechanical watches available nowadays rely on a central oscillating weight to provide power to their movements. Of course, we see lots of variations on this theme - for instance the winching system of the Jacob & Co. Twin Turbo Furious, off-centred micro-rotors, peripheral rotors or even linear rotors. However, the principle is the same and originates?from early pendulum clocks.? To celebrate and bring the pendulum-style movement of clocks into the 21st?century, Moritz Grossmann presents the Atum Hamatic.BackgroundThe often overlooked manufacture of Moritz Grossmann, mentioned in our Germans do it better? article, produces some stellar watches with surprising complications and features that stand out from the crowd. And crowd is a relative term here, considering the fact the brand produces very low numbers of watches per year. The trademark Saxon style is present in almost every watch, with clean and legible dials and superbly finished movements. Moritz Grossma

Introducing: The new Green Credor Locomotive GCCR997 Joins the Permanent Collection
Last year, to celebrate its 50th anniversary, Credor – the high-end, most classical brand owned by the Seiko Corporation – unveiled a very special watch based on the Locomotive concept and being a faithful recreation of Gerald Genta‘s original 1978 sketch. While Genta is best known for designing the iconic Royal Oak, Nautilus, and Ingenieur, his creative vision extended far beyond Europe. Frequent visits to Japan led to a friendship with Seiko’s Reijiro Hattori, who invited him to design a distinctive timepiece for Credor, part of Seiko’s portfolio. The result was the Locomotive, first introduced to the public in 1979.The 2024 Credor Locomotive limited-edition reissue got plenty of attention upon its release, though much of the discussion centred on its aesthetics rather than the exceptional detailing and finishing it offers. While we have yet to experience the new Credor Locomotive GCCR997 in person, everything we know suggests it is an impeccably crafted

The Battle of Elegant Time-Only Watches Part 3 - Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat vs. Grand Seiko SBWG231 - The Verdict - Monochrome Watches
There are moments in life that call for an elegant, time-only watch. Situations in which a strapping tool watch with protruding pushers and a glowing dial won't look quite right. If you are in the market for a handsome, straightforward time-only watch we have two very interesting candidates as different in looks as their cultural backgrounds. The Drive de Cartier is a tres French take on elegance and refinement; the Grand Seiko SBGW231 is also a very elegant and refined watch but interpreted from a Japanese aesthetic. Let's put them side by side and gauge the strengths and weaknesses of each watch before we formulate a verdict. Case size and presence on the wristThe Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat has a diameter of 39mm and a case height of 6.6mm, proportions that categorically affirm its status as a dress watch. The cushion-shaped case of the Drive spells Cartier over and over again and seems to have been a member of Cartier's renowned family of shaped watches forev

2020 Longines Heritage Classic Tuxedo Collection (Price)
Longines is on fire with its Heritage collection… No doubt about that. After the delightful Classic Sector Dial, the Military 1938, the Heritage Military and many, many more watches paying tribute to the brand’s past, today there is a new collection that will make quite an entrance. Inspired by the 1940s, with two-tone sector dials (hence the ‘Tuxedo’ name), great proportions, powerful movements and, let’s be honest, a very attractive look, here’s the new Longines Heritage Classic Tuxedo Collection, with small seconds and chronograph watches.The Tuxedo ConceptFounded in 1832, Longines is one of the oldest brands of the Swiss watch industry still in activity. As such, you can imagine that its heritage collection is wide and constitutes an immense source of inspiration for today’s designers – we can’t really blame them since the market wants vintage-inspired watches and Longines is certainly very good at it. Fol