Pre SIHH 2015: Introducing the Rotonde De Cartier Astrotourbillon Skeleton Watch Calibre 9461 MC - Monochrome Watches
Next month the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (short: SIHH) starts again and that marks one of the most important weeks in a year, for the horological industry. Today we’re already showing you?the?Rotonde de Cartier Astrotourbillon Skeleton Watch Calibre 9461MC, Cartier’s latest horological masterpiece, which will officially be introduced during the SIHH. This is one of Cartier most spectacular timepieces, and now they have skeletonized it to the max. A?feast for the eye and a magnificent accomplishment from Cartier’s watchmakers.?Not too long ago, in 2008 to be precise, Cartier became quite serious about watchmaking. In fact they became really serious about watchmaking; something that we covered here. The very elegant?Collection Privee Cartier Paris (CPCP) – a collection that we here at Monochrome just love – was phased out and in came the big?guns, horological big guns that is. In that year Cartier introduced the Fine Watchmaking collection a

The Omega 125th Anniversary Pocket Watch - Review, Price
If the project had been announced a couple of years ago, we had not got the chance to go hands-on with the commemorative pocket watch released to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Omega name. On the occasion of the visit to the Omega headquarters in Biel, we were finally able to take to a look at this fascinating timepiece. And this was well worth the wait, in particular in view of the work performed in the reconstruction of the famous 19-ligne calibre powering the watch, partially using original partsFrom the Omega Museum – An Omega/Louis Brandt et Frere Pocket Watch fitted with 19-ligne calibre – here in DDR execution, one of the highest and most coveted grades produced for this legendary movement (together with VeryBest)BackgroundIf the roots of Omega go as far back as 1848, when Louis Brandt set up an etablissage assembling watches in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the Omega name goes back to 1894 and the presentation of the Omega 19-ligne calibre (a ligne is an ancient French

IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide IW344001 (Price)
The IWC Portugieser was born in 1939 following a request from two Portuguese navigators and businessmen – Rodrigues and Teixeira – who wanted the precision of a marine chronometer in a wristwatch format. No need to say that this iconic IWC collection has strong ties to the nautical world. And to celebrate these roots, IWC is unveiling a new model today with an unprecedented complication that couldn’t be more appropriate: a tide indication. Encased in a sporty and large case, meet the new IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide.?Introduced in 2010, the IWC Portugieser Yacht Club is a sports model in this rather elegant collection, with its nautical, yachting, regatta-ready note. More robust, larger, a bit more rugged and bulky, it has mostly favoured one complication until now, the chronograph – a world timer has also been available in the past. A versatile watch, capable of timing a sailing race but also at ease with a drink at the marina. In addition to the

In-Depth: A Closer Look at Laurent Ferrier's Natural Escapement
Today, for our latest in-depth video, we’re going technical. This is what MONOCHROME is all about, after all. Sharing the knowledge behind fine horology and understanding how our beloved mechanical watches actually work. Today’s topic is one dear to our hearts, as it combines everything we love in fine watchmaking: high-end finishing, mechanical ingenuity, profound historical references and a complex mechanical device that aims to enhance precision. It is time for us to dive into one of the most spectacular movements currently in production, Laurent Ferrier‘s micro-rotor calibre, and to understand how its natural escapement works.?Horology 101 – What is an escapement?Before we even approach the concept of the natural escapement, we need a concise reminder about the escapement itself. What is the role of the escapement in a watch? The escapement is one of the most critical parts of a watch, the brain of the movement, or its heart, as some might say. It is the dev

Introducing Tudor Pelagos FXD Marine Nationale M25707B
In May this year, Tudor announced a (not so) new partnership with a lot of historical resonance Indeed, we're talking about a long-standing collaboration that dates back to the 1950s, when dive watches were instruments for combat divers. Yes, Tudor has renewed its partnership with the Marine National (of the French Navy), bringing back a military connection that gave birth to some of the most collectable vintage watches of the brand. And now, it's time for the dedicated watch to surface, based on the Pelagos, and updated with multiple tweaks. And yes, the M.N. engraving on the back is present! Here's the new Tudor Pelagos FXD Marine Nationale. Just like mothership , Tudor has long been involved with military forces. Following the creation of the Submariner in 1953, started to develop more accessible models under Tudor branding (in 1954 to be precise), which quickly caught the attention of the Marine Nationale. The French Navy started early to collaborate with