Results for Pilot Watch

The Tudor Northflag Returns Sharper and Stronger

A decade after it first debuted, Tudor has revived the Northflag. Originally a 1970s-inspired sports watch to showcase Tudor’s first-ever in-house movement, the Northflag has been upgraded inside and out. The rebooted Northflag gains a GMT function plus refinements all round, ranging from superior detailing on the case to lume blocks on the dial. And the movement is now a Master Chronometer, while the price stays true to Tudor’s value-oriented focus at just over US$5,500. Initial thoughts The original North Flag was a bit quirky with its power reserve indicator, and also probably ahead of its time; a Tudor with an in-house movement seemed like an odd concept back then. I liked it then, but the North Flag wasn’t a commercial success, so it is surprising that Tudor has revived the model. But the new Northflag is an immediately appealing watch, reflecting Tudor’s advancements in design, manufacturing, and branding. In fact, the Northflag is one of the most interesting watches in the current Tudor catalogue, alongside the equally recent Monarch. Although practically everything Tudor makes is well priced and an easy recommendation, almost all of Tudor’s best watches are variations of the Oyster case and Black Bay diver. The Northflag, on the other hand, is something else entirely. The angular, 1970s-style case is different, as is the dial. But all the elements are harmonious, and the design works. This is one of my strongest recommendations in the Tudor line-up today,...

Introducing - The Tudor Northflag is Back, now with GMT Movement

First presented in 2015, the Tudor Northflag (back then named the North Flag) was an important model for the brand. Not only did it bring back a 1970s style – that of the slightly controversial Ranger II, a bold exploration-inspired take on the integrated sports watch – but it mostly was Tudor’s first watch with […]

Live from GWD26: Czapek Returns to Historical Roots and Hands-on with 2 New Watches

Czapek returns to its historical roots in Quai des Bergues with a new boutique. Releases 2 new models in the Quai des Bergues and Place Vendome collections.

The TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Gets the Design Right, But $13,400 Is a Big Ask

TAG Heuer revisits the Monza Flyback Chronograph with a black-and-red design, forged carbon case, TH20-12 movement, and a $13,400 price.

Mad About M.A.D 3

MB&F;’s M.A.D.3 Honours Vincent Calabrese

For it’s third M.A.D. Edition, MB&F; has reimagined Vincent Calabrese’s signature jumping hours complication. While still allocated via raffle, the M.A.D.3 Vincent Calabrese represents a significant departure for MB&F;’s entry level sub-brand, being the first to fully conceal the winding rotor and the first to be based on a historical design from a notable watchmaker. Initial thoughts Vincent Calabrese is a pioneering independent watchmaker who co-founded the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI) alongside Svend Andersen in 1985. Mr Calabrese is perhaps most well known for developing highly original movements for other brands including the Corum Golden Bridge and the first-ever flying tourbillon wristwatch movement for Blancpain in 1989. But Mr Calabrese also produced watches under his own name, including the Baladin that served as the inspiration for M.A.D.3. Maximilian Büsser and Mr Calabrese have been friends for years and discussed collaborating on a watch project many times, but the M.A.D.3 is their first joint effort. The M.A.D.3 is affordable as such things go, at CHF2,900. That’s roughly equivalent to where original Baladins trade on the secondary market, depending on the specifics. But the M.A.D.3 is a worthy remake in a more contemporary size and should prove more reliable and easier to service when the time comes. For better or worse, the solid value proposition almost dictates a mechanism to manage demand, so buying a M.A.D.3 isn’t a...

Hands-On: The M.A.D.Editions M.A.D.3 Vincent Calabrese

Today marks the introduction of the M.A.D.3, the third entry in the MB&F; spinoff, M.A.D.Editions brand. If you've spent the past few years entering raffle after raffle in hopes of securing a watch from the brand, this new design may offer another opportunity in this game of chance. The groundbreaking first entry in the series came from the mind of none other than Max Büsser, and the very different follow-up was spearheaded by prominent watch designer and frequent MB&F; collaborator Eric Giroud. This third edition taps into a watchmaker who, while quite a bit further out from the direct radius of MB&F;, has always maintained a philosophy on the expression of time in a very similar vein. An example of a Corum Golden Bridge. Photo courtesy of Das Kunst- und Auktionshaus Kastern GmbH & Co.KG. Calabrese's Baladin. Photo courtesy Christie's. Vincent Calabrese, though not necessarily a household name like many of his contemporaries, is certainly a legend. He's the man responsible for the iconic floating-movement architecture of the Corum Golden Bridge and the co-founder of the independent watchmaking consortium Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI, as you might more commonly know it). And among the dozens of patents behind his name, and many inventive executions of complications, he's always played with the concept of displaying the time. So I suppose Calabrese and Büsser are a match made in heaven, and here, we have the M.A.D.3 edition in all of its bright, sa...

Berneron Introduces the Mirage 38 Miroir

Alto Returns with the Art 02

Design-forward independent watchmaker Alto has kicked off Geneva Watch Days with its second model, the Art 02. While the most obvious difference is the addition of a matching bracelet, the entire watch has been refined and updated with a smaller case and an upgraded movement. Initial thoughts A dominant trend in independent watchmaking for the past several years has been the veneration of finishing. This focus has given rise to a growing number of overtly traditional time-only watches built and finished to a high standard. Alto belongs a class of design-led independents that promotes a different approach, one focused on how shapes and textures contribute to the wearing experience. This philosophy comes into sharper focus with the brand’s sophomore effort, the Art 02. While visually similar to its predecessor — enough that they would be hard to tell apart by an untrained eye — the Art 02 has been significantly refined and upgraded in several respects. First is the case, which is slightly thicker but much smaller in length and width, and a new proprietary calibre designed specifically for the Art 02. Then there’s the matching titanium bracelet, which is brushed and faceted to create a dazzling display of light and shadow. Surprisingly, the Art 02 is significantly less expensive than its predecessor. In fact, the retail price of €13,100 is just over half that of the Art 01 in “Monochrome Grey.” Considering the new calibre, proprietary bracelet, and similar bill ...

Miroir Image: Berneron Inverts the Mirage

Berneron is following the release of its most complicated model with its simplest: the Mirage Miroir. An inverted variant of the popular Mirage 38, the Miroir flips the script to put the golden calibre on display in lieu of a traditional dial. Initial thoughts I’ve been looking forward to the launch of the Miroir since seeing the 3D-printed plastic prototype earlier this year. The inverted format is not especially new, but the Miroir is probably hitting the trend in stride. Beyond the popularity of the mirrored concept itself, Berneron’s house style for movement finishing suits being put on display. Unfortunately, the inverted format precludes a dial. This isn’t a critique of the Miroir as much as it is a weakness shared across the category. Of course, watches like this exist because for many collectors, the opportunity to see the movement — which in this case offers a rich palette of materials and textures — is preferable to looking at a dial. Rather than expose the relatively uninteresting dial side of the main plate, Berneron has opted for a closed case back, similar to the Montblanc “Unveiled Secret”. This choice gives the compact watch surprising heft and a low-profile feel on the wrist. The Miroir also introduces the brand’s first bracelet, which embodies the same detail-oriented approach to construction that Berneron puts into its watches. I tried on an early example of the bracelet back in April, and even then the quality was obvious — the alterna...

First Look - The New TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronograph Carbon (Incl. Video)

Few brands are as intertwined with motorsports as TAG Heuer. Since the early days of the brand, then only known as Heuer, it has always had close ties with racing, predominantly thanks to its excellent mechanical stopwatches. The racing DNA resonates well within multiple collections, such as the iconic Carrera and Monaco. The Monza, however, […]

Introducing: TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronograph Carbon Limited Edition

What We Know This weekend, Formula 1 returns to Ferrari's home track (for the series, at least) of Monza, and with that return, TAG Heuer is releasing a new version of the eponymous Monza Flyback Chronograph. The watch was originally released in 1976 to celebrate Ferrari's return to the top with the constructors' and drivers' Formula 1 championships, with its black-coated case setting the stage not only for the model's future but also for similar releases from Heuer (and later TAG Heuer). A Monza isn't a Monza unless it's black, so this new release fits the remit perfectly: a 42mm by 15.22mm case in forged carbon, with red accents on the dial. Often known as the Niki Lauda (after the driver who won the title in 1976), the original watch featured a lot of red (and was reissued over a decade ago), though the dial layout has changed significantly from the original. This time, that red has been swapped around, with accents on the minute-counting and chronograph hands, the combination pulsometer and tachymeter flange scale, and the flyback mark at 6 o'clock. The date is still included, moved to 9 o'clock (which in turn puts running seconds at 6 o'clock), but with an angled window. The indices are all printed, and the hands and hour markers use white Super-LumiNova. The watch is powered by the COSC-certified Caliber TH20-12 automatic movement, running at 4Hz. TAG Heuer didn't provide specifications here, but past versions of the Monza with this movement had an 80-hour power rese...

First Look - The Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB 3SPC.4-1 in Black Ceramised Titanium

Chopard co-president Karl Friedrich Scheufele resurrected the name Ferdinand Berthoud in 2015. An eminent Swiss horologist who emigrated to Paris in 1745 and gained fame for his precision marine chronometers, Ferdinand Berthoud was given a second lease of life in Scheufele’s hands as an elite haute horlogerie brand that perpetuates the founder’s legacy of chronometric […]

Murphy Cooper’s Choice: The Hamilton Khaki Field Murph 38mm With A New Blue Dial

I bet that, if given a choice, Murphy Cooper would wear a different watch. In Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar (2014), “Murph” wears a black-dial watch with vintage elements, like cathedral hands, and probably a 42mm case. This gift from her father is pretty similar to the 2019 commercial release. A 38mm watch would fit her wrist […] Visit Murphy Cooper’s Choice: The Hamilton Khaki Field Murph 38mm With A New Blue Dial to read the full article.

Fratello On Air: The Modern Watches Destined To Become Classics

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we’re both back in our respective homes before traveling again. Our show is about modern watches destined to become classics. Now, before you accuse us of focusing on money, erase those thoughts! We don’t care about value. No, we are talking about watches that […] Visit Fratello On Air: The Modern Watches Destined To Become Classics to read the full article.

The New Hamilton Murph 38mm With "Stardust" Blue Dial (Hands-On)

The fan-favorite timepiece channels its "Interstellar" origins in two new references. More

Hamilton's Murph 38 Gets a Blue Dial Inspired by Interstellar

As one of the most popular collector’s watches around the $1,000 price tier, Hamilton’s Khaki Field Murph 38mm is a known quantity at this point. With its great, wearable dimensions, versatile style, refined field watch attitude, and a spec list that ticks a lot of boxes, it’s been an enthusiast favorite that continues

First Look - Seiko Adds 4 new References to its Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Collection

A name with historical importance at Seiko, the Speedtimer refers to early wrist chronographs created by the brand back in 1969. Alongside Zenith and the Heuer/Hamilton/Breiling venture, Seiko was among the first three brands to launch an automatic chronograph movement with its calibre 6139 inside a watch named the Speedtimer. In recent years, this name […]

Dispatch: Climbing High With The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time Cardinal Points

Somewhere high over the cinematically unforgiving terrain of southern Utah, I cling awkwardly to a metal rung neatly stapled into a slab of near-vertical Navajo sandstone. Using a free hand, I adjust a pair of sliding metal tethers to enable my climb. These are the lifelines that will hopefully keep me alive should my grip or footing fail. Being no fan of heights, I wonder how much longer this will last as I notice the route of rungs extending straight up and out of sight along the cutting topography of the ridgeline. Instinctively, I glance at my wrist to mark the time. I'm met with yet another novel, but very real, concern – I'm wearing someone else's $40,000 watch. I'm in Canyon Point, Utah, not far from the northern border of Arizona, for an event held at Amangiri, one of the finest hotels in the world. The exclusive event celebrates Vacheron Constantin's latest entry into its sportiest category: the Overseas Dual Time Cardinal Points. But I am an interloper among the assembled guests, many of whom are among the brand's most notable North American collectors. While I'm no stranger to the glitz, glamour, and all-you-can-eat shrimp of watch industry press events, this is something altogether different; this is a client event. While your average press trip is often quite nice, our usual hands-on time with a given new model is often limited to an hour or so in a boardroom in some Geneva-based HQ or in a meeting space at a brand's manufacture in Le Locle or elsewhere in S...

First Look - Indie Watchmaker Alexandre Martin Launches his Debut Watch, the Superb 1965

There is currently a real wave of new, young independent watchmakers launching their own brand, and we are always delighted to showcase their work at MONOCHROME. One of the latest among them is Alexandre Martin, a 28-year-old Belgian who has just opened his workshop in Morges, Switzerland, near Lausanne. Named “1965” after the birth year […]

First Look - O&HoraPictor; Atelier Launches the New Duet Collection, an Attainable Take on Grand Feu Enamel

Enamel watches are nothing new, of course, but it is always interesting to discover a young independent brand approaching this centuries-old craft with a new take. O&HoraPictor; was founded only recently, in 2024; the brand grew out of founder Eriks’s long-standing exploration of enamel, including the establishment of his own enamel atelier in 2017. Today, […]

Introducing - The Stowa Chrono WRC Stage 1, an Automatic Chronograph for the World Rally Championship

Following the recent introduction of the Flieger Verus Black Forest WRC, presented during the WRC Delfi Rally Estonia 2026, Stowa, the Official WRC Timekeeper & Watch Partner, moves from the compact pilot’s watch format to a considerably larger, purpose-built automatic chronograph, available in steel or a black-coated version. The new Stowa Chrono WRC Stage 1 […]

Studio Underd0g’s First Limited Edition 02SERIES Gen2 Goes on Sale for Just Nine Hours Tomorrow, and It Has a Full-Lume Dial

The field watch has long provided a blank canvas for creative – or in many cases not so creative – designs. Leave it to a brand like Studio Underd0g to take a timeless classic and give it a fresh and decidedly fun spin. That’s exactly what the brand did in 2023 with the launch of its 02SERIES. The line recently got a glow up with Gen2, which notably introduced a more streamlined case – down to a 37mm diameter from the original 37.5mm and down to 11.5mm thickness from the original 12mm. In addition, the new Gen2 collection got an upgraded movement from the Sellita SW210-1 to the Sellita SW200-2 M, which in turn upped the power reserve from 42 hours to 63 hours. Still, the biggest departure we see from the run of the mill field watch is the use of color – a trait Studio Underd0g has become known for – with four shades: Red L0lly, Pink Lem0nade, Steffany Blue, and Nightshade. Now, for the first time, a limited color run comes to the Gen2 series – this is the Special Edition 02SERIES Mantis. For this limited edition, we don’t just get a bright new green colorway by day – we get one that glows bright green by night. Yup, that’s right – it’s a full-lume dial. Thanks to a generous application of X1 GL C3 Super-LumiNova (a whopping seven layers to be exact), the daytime green ombre transforms into a single, uniform glow once the light fades. Here, at the base, you have that well-refined case design of the new Gen2 makeup. The dial gets a pleasing green colo...

Benrus DTU-2A/P Review: Why 34mm Still Makes Sense for a Military Watch

The Benrus DTU-2A/P brings historically accurate proportions together with modern upgrades and an ETA automatic movement.

Get It On And Bang A Gong With The New Piaget Polo Minute Repeater

Let’s put the volume that the new Piaget Polo Minute Repeater produces into perspective. Most traditional repeater watches don’t exceed 60 decibels (dB). They make a sound you can compare to a whispered conversation. Now, normal conversation averages around 60–65 dB, so when a minute repeater chimes at 64, you will hear it without holding […] Visit Get It On And Bang A Gong With The New Piaget Polo Minute Repeater to read the full article.

Living La Dolce Vita: New Colors For The HTD Aquatìc Bicchierini And SpaceBoy Dive Watches

With the Italian summer coming to an end, HTD is just in time to grace us with new colors for its Aquatìc divers for one last jump into the warm Mediterranean waters. But before jumping in, you first have to choose from the seven new variations joining the lineup. Don’t worry, though; it’s not as […] Visit Living La Dolce Vita: New Colors For The HTD Aquatìc Bicchierini And SpaceBoy Dive Watches to read the full article.

Buying Guide - Extending Summer With Six Light-Blue Beauties

I don’t know about you, but I am not built for +40°C heatwaves. With an endless string of blazing hot days over summer, I struggled to keep myself cool, calm and collected. So as things are finally a bit back to normal for the time of year, I am very much looking forward to extending […]

The Other Seiko 6105 “Willard” Story

Most people who know the Seiko 6105 know it as the “Captain Willard,” nicknamed for the character Martin Sheen played in Apocalypse Now. That well-told story is worth telling indeed. But there is a second story featuring the same watch, and it has nothing to do with Hollywood. It belongs to a Hawaiian lifeguard and […] Visit The Other Seiko 6105 “Willard” Story to read the full article.

Live from Geneva Watch Days: Your hub for the latest happenings in GWD26 | Daily updates

Here is your hub for all the latest happenings in Geneva Watch Days 26, as it happens! We are covering the show and will bring you our usual live coverage.

Watches, Stories, & Gear: The Pitt Season 3, Mr Jones Watch Contest, and Remembering Dolly Parton & Tim Curry

“Watches, Stories, and Gear” is a roundup of our favorite content, watch or otherwise, from around the internet. Here, we support other creators, explore interesting content that inspires us, and put a spotlight on causes we believe in. Oh, and any gear we happen to be digging on this week. We love gear. The Pitt Season 3 Trailer As many of you may know, I live in the Pittsburgh area, and while I wouldn’t say I have any hometown pride –  I’ve been trying to leave this place for the better part of a decade – it’s always funny to see the Steel City onscreen. Sure, we have Flashdance, The Deer Hunter, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but Pittsburgh also remains a reliable stand-in for Middle America and salt-of-the-earth people. And no show on TV right now exemplifies that more than The Pitt which has become, somewhat inexplicably to me, one of HBO’s breakout dramas. While I don’t really like medical shows (I’m squeamish) it is fun to hear the local references scattered throughout the series, with even more likely now that the season 3 trailer has just dropped. The new season picks up a few months later, with Noah Wyle’s Dr. Robby returning to the emergency department after some time away. We’re also likely to see more of the hospital’s ongoing fallout from the previous season, including the staff’s changing dynamics, emergency psychiatry, and the policy changes affecting day-to-day care.  The new season of The Pitt is set to premiere on HBO ...