The Collector's Series - Talking About The IWC Big Pilot Monopusher Petit Prince
If you're following our Collector's Series column, the name of the man who's about to share his story should be familiar. Tom, also known as Wtt1975 on Instagram, has many passions. On one side, he's a company owner involved in car-related things – something that deserves to be in our Petrolhead series. And on the other side, he’s also collecting watches. Last week, he talked about his powerful Chopard Alpine Eagle. Today, we'll be talking about another oversized chronograph, a watch that also happened to be the first-ever chronograph movement in a Big Pilot. Today, his IWC Big Pilot Monopusher Le Petit Prince is in the spotlights on MONOCHROME.When did you first come into contact with IWC? Ad - Scroll to continue with article I have known IWC for 25+ years. It's one of the best-known Swiss watch manufacturers. When I bought my first TAG Heuer as a 1

Hands-On - The Blue IWC Pilots Watch Automatic Laureus IWC328101
Last year IWC Schaffhausen unveiled its 15th special edition for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation with a watch taken from its popular Pilot's watch collection. The straightforward time-and-date pilot's model marked the occasion by flying the colours of the charitable organisation, which advocates sport as a means of transforming children and young people's lives. Following in the footsteps of watches like the Portugieser Monopusher Chronograph and the Portofino Automatic Moon Phase, the Pilot's Watch of 2021 is decked out in the trademark dark blue colour of the foundation. However, instead of just producing a blue dial, the brand went one step further and produced the first blue ceramic case for its Laureus special editions. With its relatively compact dimensions, resilient ceramic shell, instrumental and legible pilot’s dial coupled with a five-day power reserve, the IWC Pilot's Watch Automatic Laureus Sport for Good IW328101?is a perfect daily beater with IWC's bona fide

The Grand Seiko T0 Constant-force Tourbillon
Today, we’re not going to talk about watches. We’re going to talk about watchmaking, in the purest sense of the word. Today, it’s all about a movement, not yet a timepiece – this will certainly come in a few weeks/months. And what a movement it is. Today, Grand Seiko climbs up the complications ladder with a leap as it introduces the Grand Seiko T0 Constant-Force Tourbillon, which is the brand’s first-ever tourbillon movement equipped with a world-first constant force mechanism. Quite something, indeed.When you think Grand Seiko, you might think robust, finely executed automatic calibres or even hi-beat movements. Altogether, nothing to complain about – at all – as the idea was to provide solid specifications and reliability on a daily basis. Fine watchmaking, for sure, but not high horology. In a way, Grand Seiko is (was…) the Japanese equivalent of or Omega. However, recently, the brand demonstrated that it might have a couple of new

Oris Aquis Date 41.5mm Cherry Red Dial (Specs & Price)
The Aquis Date is a versatile 300m dive watch with a solid construction, excellent legibility and handsome styling. Perfect for rugged outdoor activities but still smart enough to wear as a daily beater, the Aquis Date offers excellent value for money and is one of Oris' best-selling models. The latest Aquis 41.5mm comes with a vibrant eye-catching cherry red dial and a stainless steel bezel.The Aquis surfaced in 2011 in a 43.5mm case size and in 2018 appeared in a more wearable unisex option in 39.5mm. In response to customer feedback, Oris released the Aquis Date 41.5mm version in 2020. Fully aware that dive watches are no longer used exclusively underwater and are more likely to spend their life on land, Oris submitted its Aquis Date to an extensive facelift in 2017 to refine its overt instrument/tool watch characteristics. The horns are bracelet were reduced in thickness, the screw-down crown and crown guards were also refined to give the watch a sleeker silhouette, the bezel was s

Julien Coudray 1518 - Part 1: Monochrome meets Fabien Lamarche - Monochrome Watches
Recently Monochrome had the opportunity to sit down with Fabien Lamarche, the founder of Julien Coudray 1518. The brand is relatively new in the business of ultra high-end watchmaking, as their story began in 2007. This manufacture of Haute Horlogerie can boast the incorporation of some very distinctive features, such as movements made entirely of the same metal as the case (yellow, pink or white gold or platinum). In a three-part story, we're going to introduce you to the way these people work and the timepieces they create. Good enough, you might say. Not for us. We had the chance to witness a rare and precious moment: the “birth” of a new watch.Before creating Julien Coudray 1518, Fabien Lamarche occupied virtually all jobs related to watch development and production, such as being a restorer of antique watches, Breguet's process manager, Roger Dubuis's product director and Zenith's head of the prototype department. Fabien is never in a rush. He is the reflection of his