When Fabien Lamarche introduced his first timepieces to the industry in 2012 under the marque Julien Coudray 1518, his small portfolio presented a synopsis of the skills he had gained in an impressive resumé for one so young.  Having worked for Breguet, Roger Dubuis and Zenith among others, his next step was to devote [...]

From IWC comes a superb trio of boutique only TOP GUN Pilot’s watches, each featuring cockpit-styled indications which are vivid  by day, and lumed to glow in their individual colourways after dark.   If you are hooked on the big black face + white numerals aesthetics of IWC’s Pilot collection then this cosmetic overhaul may [...]

  The fifth edition of the Only Watch charity auction takes place this year on September 28th in the prestigious Hôtel Hermitage in Monaco.  Perfectly timed to coincide with the Monaco Yacht Show this is an extraordinary event at which unique timepieces especially created and donated by the various watchmakers for the occasion go under [...]

Back in 2010 Johnny’s feature “F1 Drivers and Their Watches” called to mind one of the most enduring images for F1 fans – the combination of the red and white colours of the Marlboro McLaren team and the vivid yellow crash helmet  of Ayrton Senna.     The commercial relationship between McLaren and TAG Heuer [...]

Recently unveiled at Baselworld, the RALF TECH WRV “V” 1977 Limited Edition Automatic captures the charm of vintage diving watches with a similar retrospective character to that of the Vulcain Nautical Seventies watch and with a hint of  lume patina as seen on the Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Vintage Chronograph.     If you are not [...]

Only last night, in an ucharacteristcally clear and cloudless Irish night sky, I saw an unflickering bright light moving west to east across the sky. My first instinct was that it had to be the International Space Station, which a glance at a tracking app I have quickly confirmed it to be.   However, today [...]

  Here’s the antithesis to all that “Monaco” stuff we featured last week – two new editions of the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Quantième.   I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, each Jaquet Droz watch is an artform and each Jaquet Droz watch is exquisite – no exceptions.   The Grande Seconde [...]

(Understated) Hoopla! Laurent Ferrier has a new timepiece, the Laurent Ferrier Galet Traveller.   In 2010, after a career rich with achievements including forty years with Patek Philippe, Laurent Ferrier presented to the industry the first watch to bear his name, the Galet Classic.  The same year he was awarded the prize for Men’s Watch [...]

Rolex may have the whole F1 package tied up and IWC may have made a reassuringly big hoopla about their Mercedes GP partnership with a new series of  covetable watches and with their latest new recruits or “Friends of the Brand”  on display at  Monaco last week, brandishing  Big Pilots on their wrists and what [...]

Ever driven around the streets of Monaco?  It looks very different from the Grand Prix circuit.  The famous landmark buildings, the tunnel and the harbour are obvious of course and so is that affluent skyline, but otherwise you’d never think you were driving on the same tarmac used by F1 drivers each May.   Drive [...]

The Eberhard & Co Tazio Nuvolari Vanderbilt Cup “Naked” …  yes, this new watch does celebrate a very special state-side victory – but, given the weekend that it is, I’m claiming this one as a “Monaco Special” – here’s why …   Tazio Nuvolari – “Il Mantuani Volante”, is perhaps best described using the words [...]

Ateliers Louis Moinet CEO Jean-Marie Schaller is having a good year – understatement.   Earlier this year a timepiece bearing the name Louis Moinet was revealed to be the first chronograph ever – fact.     It has a movement which beats at an astounding 216,000 vibrations per hour and is capable of splitting seconds [...]

This is the new Oris ProDiver Pointer Moon.  Looks different.  Is different.   Perhaps such on the dial busyness on a dive watch is not to your taste, but this is the first mechanical watch to feature both a lunar cycle and a tidal range indicatior and naturally Oris are rather chuffed with it.   [...]

30 years have passed since the founding of Chronoswiss.  25 years have passed since the first Chronoswiss Régulateur was unveiled and 16 months have passed since   Chronoswiss was sold, leaving its creator in the role of “Consultant”.  For 2013 a new celebratory piece, the Régulateur 30 was presented to the industry, but first allow me [...]

The merging of watch companies with motor sport teams and events often prove to be flighty dalliances – witness the comings and goings of F1 partnerships etc. etc. But there are exceptions.  Chopard have been sponsor of the Mille Miglia since 1988.   Theirs is a most authentic partnership, and part of its charm and [...]