Joshua Munchow highlights five pieces from some of our favorite independent brands that have just been released at Watches & Wonders 2021. From sapphire crystal-encased tourbillons and constant force fusée-and-chain-powered movements to stunning art pieces, these watches span genres and the spectrum of collector dreams.
In 2021 MB&F celebrates the tenth anniversary of the Legacy Machine collection and, fittingly, introduces a brand-new model to mark this milestone. While that watch is definitely increditastic, Joshua Munchow takes us on a journey through all the models, looking at key points and how the concept has evolved over the years before ending up with MB&F’s brand-new piece for the anniversary, LMX.
Konstantin Chaykin’s Moscow Comptus Easter Clock masterpiece isn’t designed for the wrist but for the mantel. And it presents further evidence that the man Joshua Munchow dubs the “Wonderboy Russian Watchmaker” is one of the greatest watch- and clockmakers in the game today.
Joshua Munchow appreciates brands that work hard to build their heritage and carve a niche for themselves with solid daily-wear watches while having fun with the occasional haute horlogerie piece, especially if that brand is an independent. And if it’s an American brand that makes its watches out of a small shop in Pennsylvania, all the better. Here Joshua reviews the new RGM Model 600 Chronograph, a robust and affordable chronograph suitable as a daily wearer.
The year 2020 heralded the fortieth anniversary of the first Corum Golden Bridge. To commemorate the occasion Corum released the Golden Bridge Rectangle 40th Anniversary, a celebration of the Golden Bridge and a reminder of just how unique the original was when it was released.
Connoisseurs, as I wrote previously, want to connect with their watches, desiring an object to behold and cherish for its beauty, rarity, or complexity. Enthusiasts, on the other hand, like to wear their watches, use their watches, and maybe even abuse their watches when they use them as the tools they are. Here’s why.
Bell & Ross has ventured back into skull-adorned watches (or perhaps it just never left), and this time takes the aesthetic in a decidedly new direction. The BR 01 Cyber Skull is one of the coolest skull-themed watches that Joshua Munchow has seen in years and here he dives into what fascinates him about this faceted memento mori.
If ever a movement from MB&F deserved to be on display it is that in the HM9 SV, which is decorated and colored in four different variations to create even more visual interest. The mechanical structure inside directs the almost organic sapphire crystal bubble case surrounding it, too. Which brings Joshua Munchow to the Hurst Hemi Under Glass.
Swatch Group has limited availability of the Valjoux 7750 chronograph, which powers a significant percentage of the chronographs available today, for outside parties. A few years ago, Seiko’s SII NE88 automatic chronograph entered the fray, and here Joshua Munchow takes a closer look.
The new S4, the fourth iteration of Garrick’s S line of models, also represents a solid effort to add as much value as possible to the brand’s watches while making them more accessible to collectors at large. And don’t miss the artistic prowess visible through the case back!