673 articles · 2 videos found · page 1 of 23
Quill & Pad
A foudroyante hand is visually spectacular as it is running faster than the eye can follow – foudroyante is French for lightning fast! But the complication uses a lot of energy, or did until the Greubel Forsey Nano Foudroyante EWT.
SJX Watches
Twenty-twenty-four marked Greubel Forsey’s 20th anniversary, an occasion celebrated with their first chronograph, the Nano Foudroyante EWT. The brand’s tenth “Fundamental Innovation” since its founding back in 2004, the Nano Foudroyante EWT is a flyback chronograph with a flying tourbillon and an independent micro-scale lightning seconds, or foudroyante. The watch marked many firsts for the brand. Aside from being Greubel Forsey’s first chronograph, it is also the brand’s first flying tourbillon – noteworthy given its longtime focus on the tourbillon. Despite its extensive history with innovative tourbillon constructions, Greubel Forsey (GF) has never before created one with a flying architecture. Initial thoughts GF is often regarded as among the best in terms of innovative watchmaking and artisanal chronometry. Although the brand’s styling can arguably be too much at times, its core signature of high-end horology is unmistakable and defined by exemplary finishing and exceptional engineering in equal measure. The Nano Foudroyante EWT is interesting in many respects. The combination of complications is unusual, even for GF, and feels like more of a conceptual platform to present the “nano” sized lightning seconds (that runs independently of the chronograph). That said, execution is typical of GF in being high quality all around. It is a perfect example of the brand’s approach to watchmaking, both decoration- and engineering-wise. Similarly, the ae...
Quill & Pad
Foudroyante, which is French for lightning bolt), chronographs have always been very rare because in measuring fractions of a second by driving a hand that rotates every second uses a lot of energy. With the Nano Foudroyante: Greubel Forsey has solved the inherent drawbacks in foudroyante chronographs by using nanotechnology to reduce power consumption by an incredible 1,800 times!
WatchAdvice
Why wear black when you can stand out in red? It’s a good question, and why we went hands-on with the Red Grape Raymond Weil Millesime Small Seconds Tuxedo dial. What We Love The Red grape colour is different and gives the watch a talking point The vintage style isn’t too overt, and keeps the blend of modern and old The textures and contrasts used on the case and dial create a watch that has depth aesthetically What We Don’t The 39mm size wears nicely, but could get lost on larger wrists The grey can wash out the watch, especially on lighter skin tones The 41-hour power reserve could be improved for those who may not see this as an everyday watch Overall Rating: 8.7 / 10 Value For Money: 8.7/10 Design: 9/10 Wearability: 8.5/10 Build Quality: 8.5/10 Ever since Raymond Weil’s Millesime collection debuted in 2023, it has reshaped perceptions of Raymond Weil. Winning the GPHG Challenge Prize that year, it soon caught the attention of collectors and the general watch-buying public. The vintage style and value-driven proposition helped solidify this, not to mention the subsequent models in different colours and the addition of a chronograph. The Raymond Weil Millesime Small Seconds Mario reviewed shortly after its debut The Millesime marked the beginning of a new direction for the independent, family-owned Swiss brand and gave it another feather in its cap, so to speak, and the latest additions to the collection launched earlier this year continue that momentum. Now,...
Hodinkee
Just last week, we published a Reference Points video on the Patek Philippe split-seconds wristwatch. The complication itself—a.k.a. the rattrapante—is incredibly important in the brand's history, forming the backbone for some of its greatest and most coveted watches of all time. However, you can't talk about the history of the split without understanding Patek's pocket watches. It's a story that eventually led to one of the brand's most meaningful relationships with a supplier that helped it grow into a powerhouse, a relationship that would last over a century. Instead of going deep in the weeds on pocket watches in our main Reference Points, we're spinning it off into this secondary article—an addendum of sorts—for those who want a bit more background. The story won't be exhaustive; Patek continued to make split-second pocket watches long after they began making the same complication in wristwatch form, and some such watches deserve (and have had) their own standalone stories. There are also many different versions because Patek, at the time, didn't make things in batches the way they would starting in the 1930s. You could probably write 20,000 words on these pocket watches, but rather than go that deep, here's an overview of Patek's split-seconds pocket watches, with a focus on Victorin Piguet's movements. Understanding Patek's History of Split-Seconds Pocket Watches (1878 to 1970s) and the Importance of Victorin Piguet If you read the first part of our story, y...
Video
Here’s the mistake:
Hodinkee
You could make the argument that, among all brands, models, and complications, the Patek Philippe split-seconds wristwatch is one of the most overlooked, underappreciated, and least understood in any catalog. "That's because no one ever sees them," said Ben, when I made that very argument in the office recently. True. It's hard to call a watch underappreciated when the entry point for buying one is in the low six figures. But let me explain. The Patek Philippe ref. 5373. Think about this: the first chronograph wristwatch Patek ever made was a split-seconds. The first. Oh, and it was the first made by any brand. And while people are clamoring for perpetual calendar references like the 2497, 3448, and 3940, Patek has made at least 44 different perpetual calendar wristwatch models over the years (not counting different case materials, gems, or the 3971). How many serially-produced split-seconds references? Well, about 12 or 13, depending on how you count them. It wasn't until recently that the reference 5004—the first modern serially produced perpetual calendar split-second watch from Patek—began to receive its due at auction, and it finally broke a 13-year-old record for the reference. A 1436, the first serially produced rattrapante, can still be had for less than an F.P. Journe Chronomètre Bleu. That, frankly, is ridiculous. They're rare birds, and it's all the more impressive that we have nine of them on the table today, all from the same owner. The Patek Philippe r...
Deployant
Review of the Raymond Weil Millesime Small Seconds 39mm Tuxedo Dial, Winner of the 2023 Challenge Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG)
Deployant
The latest millesime small seconds keeps the core architecture of the line intact while shifting the visual emphasis toward stronger contrast and more deliberate layering. The case, proportions, and RW4251 movement remain unchanged, which gives the new references a familiar baseline. The update comes through the Tuxedo‑inspired dial treatment and the way each colorway organizes light and dark zones.
Time+Tide
Following 2024's Monaco Split-Seconds, TAG Heuer finally brings its impressive rattrapante chrono to the Carrera - and it's a stunner.The post TAG Heuer’s new Carrera Split-Seconds Chronograph is peak modern TAG Heuer appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Monochrome
We knew this one was coming… Since TAG Heuer unveiled the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph in 2024, it felt inevitable that the brand’s advanced rattrapante chronograph movement would make it into the Carrera line. Now, that moment has arrived. The new TAG Heuer Carrera Split-Seconds Chronograph brings the rattrapante complication to the Carrera lineup, wrapped in […]
Video
The Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8914. Rhodium-plated, with polished bevels and an applied Observatory medallion on the skeletonised rotor. Certified without a seconds hand.
SJX Watches
Having recently given the Monaco a rattrapante makeover, TAG Heuer has unveiled the Carrera Split-Seconds Chronograph, the first-ever split-seconds chronograph in the history of the storied Carrera line-up. The watch combines the brand’s contemporary ‘glassbox’ case design with the Vaucher-derived TH81-01 movement, the only split-seconds calibre in production capable of tenth-of-a-second resolution. Built of grade 5 titanium inside and out, the Carrera Split-Seconds is positioned as both a technical showcase and a halo product for the brand. Initial thoughts It’s more than a little surprising that the Carrera, one of the most storied names in sports chronographs, has never been made in a split-seconds variant until now. In the vintage era, many of Heuer’s peers introduced split-seconds chronographs with movements sourced from Valjoux, which also supplied the ebauches for the Carrera, which suggests the technology was well within reach. That said, the Carrera Split-Seconds Chronograph is arguably worth the wait, marrying the contemporary glassbox case design with the one of the only split-seconds chronograph calibres capable of tenth-of-a-second resolution. It’s a coherent product in more ways than one, carrying on the brand’s history of commercialising third-party calibres in design-forward, performance-oriented watches. In terms of design, the Carrera Split-Seconds feels more refined than the Monaco Split-Seconds, avoiding the superfluous “rattrapante” a...
Time+Tide
The lightest Monaco ever made, its unusually-shaped case is formed by a cutting-edge, "laser-melting" 3D printing process.The post TAG Heuer’s Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1 is a lightweight, cutting-edge take on an icon appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Monochrome
The TAG Heuer Monaco, along with the Carrera, has long been a platform for technical bravura, and the new Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1 takes the idea into the next decade by marrying a rattrapante calibre with radically rethought case architecture and additive-manufacturing technology. Let’s have a look at what surely is one of the […]
SJX Watches
TAG Heuer flexes its research and development muscles again with the performance-oriented Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1. Using the iconic square chronograph as a base, the brand’s engineers took inspiration from its Formula 1 partnership to explore new manufacturing techniques for this 30-piece limited edition that boasts an ultra-light, hollowed-out 18k gold case fabricated with laser additive manufacturing. Initial thoughts The original Monaco from Heuer remains one of the more enduring chronograph designs, with the storied past and distinctive square form. It is refreshing to see TAG Heuer using it as a base for newer, technologically-oriented pieces. This new limited edition takes the already-supercharged crystallised titanium split-seconds released earlier this year and reimagines the square case. The result is a honeycomb-patterned case that is surprisingly lightweight for the size and material. The complex and layered construction of the Air 1, here in an exploded view. The team at TAG Heuer employed a new additive manufacturing technique with the goal of a sturdy yet remarkably light chronograph. Keeping in mind that gold is a dense (thus heavy) metal, making a watch that qualifies as “lightweight” is usually incompatible with including the precious alloy. Here the engineers came up with a way to reduce the volume of gold used, while keeping the components’ sturdiness intact. The timepiece itself can be a little much in terms of styling, with the ...
Fratello
TAG Heuer is best known for its attainable racing-inspired chronographs. However, every so often, the official timekeeper of Formula 1 drops an exotic timepiece. Today’s new Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1 debuts at Dubai Watch Week, and we’re excited to take a closer look. Avant-garde watches are a relatively normal occurrence from TAG Heuer. While […] Visit Introducing: The TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1 to read the full article.
Deployant
Patek Phillipe unveils its most charismatic split-seconds chronograph yet, the Ref. 5370R-001 with a two-tone enamel dial.
Fratello
TAG Heuer has done a good job of showing the versatility of the Monaco over the past couple of years. With its series of classic race-inspired models, the brand has treated fans to some striking timepieces. But as it turns out, the Monaco is also the perfect platform for more futuristic creations. The watch’s late-’60s […] Visit Introducing: The Impressive TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph In TH-Titanium to read the full article.
SJX Watches
One of the most beautiful, albeit not particularly novel, debuts at Watches & Wonders recently was the Patek Philippe Ref. 5370R-001 Split-Seconds Chronograph with a two-tone grand feu enamel dial in brown and cream. It’s merely a new variant of a longstanding model, but it is striking. Prior versions were in platinum with a black and then blue enamel dial; this is the first model in rose gold and perhaps the first-ever modern-day Patek Philippe with a multi-part, two-tone enamel dial. Design aside, the ref. 5370R retains the same specs and movement as its predecessors. Initial thoughts I usually don’t like brown dials, and the ref. 5370R is merely a cosmetic tweak. The movement remains the same CHR 29-535 PS that is good looking and contains some clever technical features, but its decoration could be a little more artisanal for the price. Overall, the ref. 5370R isn’t fundamentally new. And despite being in rose gold, it’s even more expensive than its predecessors in platinum, with a retail price crossing US$300,000. Being a Patek Philippe, the ref. 5370R is expensive, in the same manner that Ferrari and Hermes can charge more than the competition. But despite so much going against it, the ref. 5370R is one of the few watches that has remained in my memory in the weeks after W&W;. It is simply that beautiful. As the saying goes, if I could, I would. The new ref. 5370 looks classical yet modern, and still captures the old school Patek Philippe aesthetic. The two-ton...
Monochrome
Since TAG Heuer announced its return as the Official Timekeeper of Formula 1 earlier this year, we’ve already seen an updated Formula 1 Chronograph collection. Naturally, it was only a matter of time before the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph – powered by the cutting-edge TH81-00 movement introduced last year – joined the F1-inspired lineup. What remained […]
Fratello
TAG Heuer is a name familiar to many of my fellow Australians. It’s a popular brand down under. Even so, it’s one from which I have never owned a watch except for an original quartz Formula 1 from the 1980s. This needs to change someday, but today’s article features a watch I could never hope […] Visit Introducing: The TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph F1 to read the full article.
SJX Watches
On its face, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Date in CFT carbon is familiar. The aesthetic is the oversized, stylised, and modern look that defines the Royal Oak Concept (ROC), with aggressive pusher guards and a complex, open-worked dial. And this latest version has the added feature of a carbon composite case produced via Chroma Forged Technology (CFT) that adds both colour and luminosity to the material. But the ROC Split-Seconds is more than just another Royal Oak chronograph because of the cal. 4407 inside. Launched in the 2023 titanium model, the is a latest-generation in-house movement and a notably innovative rattrapante calibre. The ingenuity of the movement lies in the fact that is both a traditional, integrated split-seconds chronograph and self-winding – a feat achieved with an elegant and patented automatic mechanism. Initial thoughts The very first Royal Oak Concept in Alacrite of 2002 was an enormous, heavy watch. Since then, the design of the ROC has been refined to become more wearable, and more lightweight thanks to new materials. The ROC Split-Seconds is perhaps the most wearable to date. Even though it’s a big watch, it doesn’t actually feel that large; the curved, tonneau-like form clings to the wrist well. The look is typical ROC – technical, aggressive, and modern. While I like the look, it is a little over the top. The style is now; I am not sure how it will age. Visuals aside, the ROC Split-Seconds is int...
Monochrome
Shellman is a renowned watch retailer in Tokyo, represented by independent brands and a curated selection of vintage watches. Over the years, Shellman has commissioned limited editions from refined Swiss brands like Habring and Andersen Genève. The latest collaboration is with Raymond Weil, and the watch selected by Shellman is the Millesime Centre Seconds, the […]
Deployant
Greubel Forsey celebrates their 20th annniversary with the presentation of their 10th Fundamental Invention: the Nano Foudroyante EWT.
Fratello
Today, we’ll look at the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date. This is a wild piece, and it debuts an innovative case material that took over five years of development. Get ready for some bright visual stimulation! The Audemars Piguet Concept offerings are typically filled with new technology from the […] Visit Introducing: The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date to read the full article.
Time+Tide
Watch Week Aspen is not only a new home for engaging horological events, but also a new Moritz Grossmann Central Seconds Limited Edition.The post Moritz Grossmann Central Seconds x Oliver Smith Jeweler Limited Edition debuts at Watch Week Aspen appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
The GPHG-winning Millesime Small Seconds gets a blue jean baby makeover.The post The Raymond Weil Millesime Small Seconds Denim brings a pinch of the ’30s to the jeans and t-shirt crowd appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Quill & Pad
Some watches are so perfect there isn't a thing you want to be changed about them. For Martin Green, this was the case with the Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Split-Seconds Chronograph Ultra-Thin Collection Excellence Platine. Apart from its name, which he thinks is decidedly too long. But a look through the display back more than makes up for that.
Hodinkee
A video look inside the creation of the brand's first (ever) split-seconds chronograph wristwatch.
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