No watch can compete with the story of the Moonwatch. Period. And you can be sure that Omega will be pulling out all the stops and rolling out the red carpet to celebrate the golden anniversary of the Speedmaster’s Moon landing.On 16th July 1969, the Apollo 11 lifted off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida and four days later, on the 20th of July at 20:17:40 UTC, reached the Moon. Comma...
These days it seems that any watch model from Patek Philippe that has the word Nautilus in its title is in great demand – and short supply. The two crowd favourites are of course the Ref. 5711 and the Ref. 5712. Both have seen their resale values skyrocket in the past few years and it doesn't look like things will abate any time soon. In fact, the last I heard, the wait time for a 5711 from ...
Slim, sophisticated and with just the right hint of complexity, the new Chopard L.U.C Flying T Twin is a collector's dream. Recently unveiled at Baselworld 2019, it's the first calibre equipped with a flying tourbillon from the Manufacture. Cased up in 100% ethically sourced Fairmined gold, it cuts a striking figure on the wrist. We managed to get our hands on one and were impressed by its perfect...
Everyone knows the Breitling Navitimer. Like, literally everyone. That's because it has one of the most recognisable dial/bezel configurations in the business. That doesn't mean it's the easiest to read but it definitely stands out in a crowd. Launched in 1952, this legendary watch - designed specifically for pilots - has seen many, many variations over the years. Some admittedly better than other...
Panerai is, without a doubt, one of the most followed brands in the industry - think Paneristi - and one of the watch manufactures with the clearest identity; remember that the Radiomir and Luminor lines found their roots in the 1930s. Being the CEO of such a company isn't an easy task and change is the main enemy, even though necessary. In order to understand more about the future of the brand, w...
In line with the trend of improving client service, Jaeger-LeCoultre just announced that the brand will offer an 8-year warranty on all watches for clients enrolling in their new care programme. In addition to this extended warranty, the programme will deploy a dedicated digital platform, personalized with value-added information, advice and services. To benefit from these services, customers will...
There’s no denying that the “luxury sports watch” segment is, by quite a margin, currently producing some of the hottest watches on the market. The demand for such pieces simply surpasses production. For this reason, we see more and more brands entering this market (and there will be more), some foreseeable, some less – Maurice Lacroix on the accessible side, Urban Jurgense...
After Oris introduced the Bronze Carl Brashear Chronograph earlier in 2018, and after the brand announced teaming up with Swiss retailer Bucherer to created a new episode of the “Blue Editions”, we knew that the standard version of the Divers Sixty Five Chronograph was about to come. So end of the teasing: here is the regular production model of the Oris Divers Sixty Five Chronograph &...
A moon phase is certainly a nice, slightly poetic complication, annual or perpetual calendars are the best when it comes to displaying the date on a watch, and a tourbillon is a superb demonstration of watchmaking “savoir-faire.” Yet, it is hard to beat a GMT or dual-time complication when it comes to practicality. With our modern lifestyle, which implies regular travelling or working ...
Earlier this year, during the SIHH 2019, Jaeger-LeCoultre released a triple round of its iconic Reverso. A Reverso Tribute Small Seconds with a superb Burgundy dial and two editions of the Reverso Tribute Duoface join the timeless Reverso family. Like their 1931 ancestor, all three manifestations of the Reverso come with manual-winding movements but flaunt Casa Fagliano leather straps. Let’s...
The latest “experimental collection” unveiled by Ferdinand Berthoud during Baselworld 2019 unites the findings of two pivotal scientific minds of the Enlightenment. Closer in nature to an instrument than a watch, two limited editions of 10 pieces celebrate the genius of pioneers Ferdinand Berthoud and Jean-Charles de Borda, men whose discoveries and quest for chronometric precision and...
We all know that the real watch war is not waged for the throne of high complications, but for the far simpler three-hand and date models. Wristwatches are celebrating their first century of existence (they became popular after the WW1) and the idea that they are mainly a tool to accomplish a basic function (telling the time) has prevailed since then. That is the only information – along wit...
To many, the notion of elegant, dressy watches usually means beautiful finishes, high-end movements and precious metal cases. In short: expensive pieces. Yet, Baselworld 2019 proved that you don’t necessarily need to spend a 5-figure amount to look classy. So, in order to avoid going to the bank for a mortgage or to enter a fight with your partner, here are five elegant and reasonably priced...
Back in 2017, Ulysse Nardin launched a new sub-collection, still inspired by the classic Marine Chronometer design, but with a more casual look and a more accessible price. This watch, the Marine Torpilleur, first came in a traditional style, with a white dial, Roman numerals and a power reserve indicator (faithful to 19th-century chronometers). In 2018, the brand turned this watch into something ...
The Lange 1 “25th Anniversary”, introduced prior to the SIHH 2019, was the first of a commemorative series of ten watches. Two other limited edition pieces followed, with the Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase?and the Little Lange 1. For the fourth model in the collection, A. Lange & Sohne introduces the most complicated and exclusive model of this watch family. Meet the 25-piece A. Lange &a...
Girard-Perregaux is using the Laureato collection as its battering ram to break into the kingdom of the “luxury sports watch”. Suffice it to say that there are only 25 different models in the Bridges family, 44 models in the 1966 collection… and nearly 75 Laureato watches. And let’s keep in mind that the modern version has only been around since 2016, a rebirth Brice report...
The link between TAG Heuer (and previously Heuer) and motor racing doesn’t need to be demonstrated anymore From the creation of dashboard instruments to the Carrera chronograph, followed by an array of F1 or sports car-inspired watches (most named after famous race tracks), to end up with the brand’s current sponsorship of the Red Bull F1 team, motor racing made the brand what it is to...
The new Seiko SLA033 has been one of the most anticipated and talked about watches of Baselworld 2019, up there with the Tudor Black Bay P01. It is undeniable that Seiko has more memorable divers per square metre – and price segment – than any other company (just head to the Seiko microsite on MONOCHROME to confirm my assertion). And not as a result of a well-planned marketing campaign...
Chopard celebrates 31 years of partnership with the Mille Miglia endurance race this May. One of the longest-standing alliances in the world of classic motorsport, the event is celebrated with the release of two limited edition Mille Miglia watches; one in stainless steel and the other in two-tone steel and rose gold case. We introduced the steel version just before Baselworld 2019, but seeing bot...
With the Swatch Group gone from Baselworld 2019, the “Value Proposition” category, meaning watches under EUR 2,500, has been seriously affected. Brands like Tissot, Mido, Hamilton or Longines usually perform well in this segment. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean we haven’t seen some cool things at Baselworld this year (and around the fair too). Here are the best accessible w...
The Oris stand was buzzing at Baselworld 2019. The brand's high-performance dive watches were the stars of the show with a surprising and very cool iteration of the Sixty-Five in a retro two-tone bronze and steel case and bracelet, and two Aquis limited edition models dedicated to ocean environmental projects, the Aquis Clean Ocean and the Aquis Great Barrier Reef III. ?Fleshing out the Aquis coll...
In the past few years, Longines has been quite successful in re-editing some of its most glorious vintage watches. This includes, of course, the Legend Diver, but also the recently launched Skin Diver, the Avigation Big Eye or the Lindbergh watches. Altogether, these create a solid, coherent “Heritage” collection. One of the latest additions is pushing the concept even further… V...
It was just a matter of time before the regular stainless steel version of the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph would make its debut. We knew it after seeing the Bronze Carl Brashear model, we just didn’t know how and when… The wait is over, as the first steel edition of the Sixty-Five Chronograph is out, however, it isn’t just an Oris; it is also a Bucherer-themed watch. Meet ...
A.Lange & Sohne's classic Langematik Perpetual comes of age and is regaled with a refined honey gold suit and some decorative touches on the dial. When it was introduced in 2001, the Langematik Perpetual was the first watch with a self-winding movement to combine a perpetual calendar with an outsize Lange date. Eighteen years down the line, the technical specs are identical to the original but...
Baselworld has been through difficult times recently, drawing criticism and seeing more than half of the exhibiting brands leaving the show. The main announcement was, of course, when Nick Hayek decided that the whole Swatch Group was leaving the 2019 Edition – which we now know to be a definitive decision. While the 2019 edition was certainly better than some expected, the situation remains...
The chronograph is, without doubt, one of the most popular complications. A complex, purposeful piece of engineering, it is a must-have for watch aficionados and the category has given rise to some of the most iconic watches (think Moonwatch or Paul Newman here). Among the numerous new models presented at Baselworld 2019, some really stood out. Here's a look at 5 of our favourite chronographs of t...
I’m thrilled to announce this news. Machiel Hulsman, former IT consultant turned watchmaker, has created the very first entirely handmade wristwatch from the Netherlands. We have the legacy of Christiaan Huygens, the inventor of the pendulum clock, Christiaan van der Klaauw, a watch and clockmaker who created the smallest planetarium (in a wristwatch), and the horological brothers Bart and T...
Like a good thriller, the Calatrava Weekly Calendar 5212A is packed with subtle clues that offer us a glimpse into the strategies of its maker. More complex than the elite and minimalist line-up of Calatrava watches, the Weekly Calendar also departs from its family heritage of precious metal cases and flaunts a stainless steel case. Currently the only Calatrava watch in steel, the 5212A gets some ...
The world’s largest luxury group LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) is the first of the major groups to report its quarterly sales for 2019 – a good indicator of the state of the industry. Overall, LVMH recorded revenue of EUR 12.5 billion for the first quarter 2019, an increase of 16% compared to the same period in 2018. Organic growth (note: with comparable structure and exchange rat...
Standing out with its clean and pragmatic lines, the Longines HydroConquest was introduced over 10 years ago as part of the brand's sports collection. This modernly designed dive watch has since seen numerous iterations, including newer versions fitted with coloured ceramic inserts on the bezel. The brand now goes a few steps further in this direction incorporating ceramic on the entire case. Meet...