Vacheron Constantin’s Mercator is a time-only quite unlike any other. Released in 1994, it sought to honor the 400th anniversary of Gerardus Mercator who created map projection—the basis of all modern cartography. He was also, notably, a calligrapher and engraver: both of which inspired the overall basis for this ref....

Simon Brette’s Chronomètre Artisans Rose is a contemporary independent watch rooted in traditional craft. Raised in Auvergne and trained in Neuchâtel, Brette worked at Chronode under Jean-François Mojon before roles at MCT and MB&F. In 2020, as independents surged at auction, he observed many smaller artisans nearing bankruptcy and created...

In the world of 90s Holy Trinity chronographs, I don’t think you can make an argument against VC having the sexiest case. The 5070 is lovely, but not this voluptuous. It’s thoughtful enough to not be retro, yet a bastion of traditional watchmaking technique. It might just be the most...

If you happen to be seeking a perpetual calendar split seconds chronograph, options are limited. Most know the big three references, largely from Switzerland under Patek Philippe (5004, 5204, 5951). On the fringe, attempts have been made from Blancpain, Franck, IWC, and even Paul Picot in 2001 (there’s a deep...

The 6241 is a fundamentally interesting Daytona reference, in production for just three years from 1966 until 1969. Introduced concurrently to the 6240 with its relatively ground-breaking screw down pushers and acrylic bezel, this was effectively a 6239 updated to include an acrylic bezel for customers who preferred the classic...

The start of the Little Lange 1 has not been as widely studied as the classic 38.5mm case, but it is quite fascinating. This is the first generation model, a ref. 111.021, the yellow and gold champagne dialed start of Little Lange 1. Introduced in 1998, it aimed to bring...