Latest Watch News

Visiting the Panerai Manufacture, the Brands Highly Efficient Production Site (With Exclusive Live Pics) - Monochrome Watches

Preliminary Note: Until now, very little has been communicated about the production procedures of Panerai watches. We had the opportunity to visit the brand's state-of-the-art manufacture and were impressed by the time and effort invested in quality management.The Panerai manufacture was completed in 2014 and is currently headed by Jean-Marc Pontroue. Located on the outskirts of Neuchatel, the 10,...

2018-11-21

Hands-On - TAG Heuer Carrera Fragment Heuer 02 Hiroshi Fujiwara (Specs & Price)

Today, TAG Heuer announces a new partnership with one of the most influential?personalities in the world of streetwear:?Japanese designer Hiroshi Fujiwara, the face behind the brand?Fragment. While some might find a certain interest in this venture, this is clearly not what gets us excited here at MONOCHROME. However, there is something very special about this new creation… It looks just stu...

2018-11-20

Omega and the PloProf Research Programme - Innovation in Professional Dive watches (incl. Pioneering use of 904L Steel for Watches) - Monochrome Watches

By the early 1940s, Emile Gagnan and Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s Aqualung - the first commercially successful self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (a.k.a Scuba)-? had become a worldwide phenomenon. Along with the growing popularity of recreational diving, the needs of military and professional divers underscored the paramount importance of reliable sub-aquatic instruments. The first mod...

2018-11-18

VIDEO - The Seamaster Chronicles - Part 1, The History of the Omega Seamaster

Last year, we introduced one of our largest projects ever, the Speedmaster Chronicles. Five videos with five men, including James Ragan (the man who turned the Speedmaster into the Moonwatch), Omega’s CEO, a well-known auctioneer, Mr?Speedy Tuesday and an?anonymous?collector, who all shed their light on one of the most iconic watches ever created, the Omega Speedmaster a.k.a. Moonwatch.?Toda...

2018-11-16

The Habring2 Erwin LAB01 - A Bronze Edition from the Newly-Created Massena LAB - Monochrome Watches

William Massena is one of those inescapable names in the watch industry. A former head of an auction house, Managing Director of one of the largest watch forums, he is first and foremost an avid watch collector and a true connoisseur.? Habring2 is a small, independent watchmaker from Austria with superb craftsmanship and interesting (but not overpriced) complications. So what happens when you mix ...

2018-11-15

Interview - Max Verstappen on F1 and Watches & the new TAG Heuer Verstappen Edition

Following the controversial outcome of the Brazilian Grand Prix, we had the chance to sit down with the hottest ticket on the grid right now as TAG Heuer releases a new watch dedicated to Max Verstappen. Third in line, after the orange and red strap versions from 2016 and 2017, we now get a metal bracelet. It’s still a quartz movement though, as TAG Heuer targets a younger crowd, not necessa...

2018-11-14

Tudor Glamour Double Date 42mm Manufacture Movement 57100/57103 (Specs & Price)

When the name Tudor is mentioned, models such as “Black Bay” or “Pelagos” spring to mind. For sure, the brand communicated (and created) a lot on these products – which are admittedly?great watches. However, there are more watches in the collection than these sporty, vintage-inspired pieces – and that includes, for instance, the “Style“, the recently...

2018-11-14

Heritage Corum Lab 01 (Specs & Price)

With its new Lab collection, Corum aims at taking risks and experimenting. The timepieces of this collection eschew traditional codes and instead provide an off-beat take on watchmaking where mechanics take precedence. Meet the Heritage Corum Lab 01, a shaped watch with a bold design and an openworked, micro-rotor movement.The first two Labs' are barrel-shaped limited edition watches bringing thei...

2018-11-14

Omega Seamaster 1948 Limited Edition Platinum (Specs & Price)

This year Omega celebrated the 70th anniversary of one of its two emblematic collections, the Seamaster. Born in 1948, made waterproof thanks to the experience acquired with military watches but in a civilian and rather elegant way, the early Seamasters were still gentlemen’s watches – and not the robust, professional tools that most of us know today. At Baselworld 2018, the brand pres...

2018-11-12

Value Proposition Marloe Haskell Hand-Wound ETA (Specs & Price)

Marloe Watch Company is a brand of only a few years, but already has a nice portfolio of affordable, mechanical watches. It has chosen to use hand-wound movements in all four of its lines and I'm a big fan of this decision. I like the daily interaction that comes with winding a watch and the view from an exhibition caseback is more detailed without the interference of a rotor. Most of its watches ...

2018-11-12

Panerai Luminor Regatta Transat Classique 2019 (PAM00956) - Specs & Price

Panerai dedicates a model from its Luminor 1950 Regatta family to celebrate the Regatta Transat Classique, the most extreme and exciting race for classic yachts covering 3,000 miles and departing next 8 January 2019 from Lanzarote. The new limited edition 47mm Luminor Regatta Transat Classique PAM00956?is a flyback chronograph fitted with a regatta countdown function, a knots scale to calculate sp...

2018-11-10

Bovet Wins the "Aiguille dOr" at GPHG 2018 (and all the other prize-winners) - Monochrome Watches

This is it, the 2018 edition of the GPHG, known as the “Oscars of the watchmaking industry”, has come to a close and the prize for the best watch of the year, also known as the?“Aiguille d'Or”, has been awarded. Once again this year, complications, creativity and Haute Horlogerie have been rewarded. Meet the best watch of 2018, the Bovet?Recital 22 Grand Recital – rev...

2018-11-09

Watch the GPHG 2018 Live Tonight on MONOCHROME - Monochrome Watches

Tonight, as every year, is the celebration of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Geneve (or GPHG 2018) – the Oscars of the watchmaking industry. Several categories are represented (ladies, men, complicated and even affordable) and the best watches of the year will be awarded the coveted Golden Hand prize – and of course, the prize we’re all waiting for, the “Aiguille d...

2018-11-09

Fran?ois-Henry Bennahmias, CEO of Audemars Piguet, about AP Certified Pre-Owned Watches, Leaving SIHH and more - Monochrome Watches

Recently, Audemars Piguet has had a lot of hot news headlines – unprecedented revenues, quitting the SIHH, new technological partnerships. We decided that it was time for us to move to Le Brassus and have a good talk with the one person to answer our questions: Fran?ois-Henry Bennahmias, CEO of Audemars Piguet. It isn’t the first time we’re in conversation with?Fran?ois-Henry?...

2018-11-08

MeisterSinger City Edition 2018 - 58 Different Watches Representing Major World Cities - Monochrome Watches

MeisterSinger is following up on last year's No. 01 City Edition, which represented 45 different cities in an equal number of limited edition watches. The company is known for having single hand dials that actually make up its entire portfolio, which is unique among watch brands. It’s now bringing 58 City Edition pieces for 2018 to represent 58 different cities or countries around the world,...

2018-11-08

Value Proposition Mercer Airfoil Automatic Pilot Watch (Specs & Price)

Mercer Watch Co. is an American microbrand that I've been following for a couple of years now. I recently reviewed its?Lexington Chronograph and was impressed by the aesthetics and overall quality for the price. Although it has a Seagull ST1901 hand-wound movement from China, Mercer assembles, regulates and tests each one in-house and this particular movement has a solid reputation for reliability...

2018-11-06

Tutima Grand Flieger Classic Chronograph (Specs & Price)

Emphasising key traits of Tutima's historic pilot chronograph of 1941, the 43mm Grand Flieger Classic Chronograph is a solidly built, top quality companion for life's everyday missions.?The first flyback chronograph to be produced in Glashutte, Germany for the Luftwaffe, the distinctive credentials of the original Tutima Flieger Chronograph – like the coin-edged rotating bezel, the unique re...

2018-11-05

A Technical Perspective - The Peripheral Rotor, A Smart And Stylish Solution

Since 2009 and the introduction of the Carl F. Bucherer Calibre A1000, peripheral rotors are becoming more and more fashionable. With this smart and stylish solution, the winding mass is an annular segment mounted and swinging around the movement, instead of a centrally mounted oscillating weight rotating over the movement. This offers an unobstructed view of the movement along with providing the ...

2018-11-04

Industry Omega Raises its Warranty to 5 Years on all Watches

Following the trend for more services, more clarity and more security, Omega just announced it will now offer a 5-year warranty on all newly purchased watches – with immediate effect. Until now, the Omega warranty was different depending on the type of products – up to 4 years on Master Chronometer watches, compared to a traditional 2-year warranty in the industry (which was the warran...

2018-11-03

Car-Clock by John-Mikael Flaux

There is an inextricable link between cars and watches. It isn't as simple as saying that People who love watches also love cars or the other way around, there is something more to it. Something deeper. Perhaps it is the immediate sense of belonging that a fine watch or fine car brings out in its owners? You fall in love with one brand and that's it. Once you join the team you stay with the team f...

2018-11-02

SalonQP Set to Celebrate 10th Anniversary In Style in 2018 - Monochrome Watches

SalonQP is once again getting ready to open its doors in London later this month (22nd - 24th of November). With a new owner at the helm and a revised format planned, it seems the iconic location - London's Saatchi Gallery - is the only thing set to stay the same this year. Many familiar faces will be exhibiting at the event, along with a number of newcomers. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a ...

2018-11-02

Chronoswiss Regulator Classic Date (Specs & Price)

It's not easy designing a watch that really differentiates itself from the crowd. Obviously, there's more to a watch than an outward appearance and I'm generalizing, but I've always liked brands that have a distinct style that's easily recognized. You know a Panerai, or Roger Dubuis when you see it, for example. You can also spot a Chronoswiss in the crowd with its knurled case and oversized oni...

2018-11-02

Comparative The A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 and Lange 1 Daymatic (Specs & price)

The other day A. Lange & Sohne sent us two watches for review and not one, as is normal procedure. The two watches were the new blue dial Lange 1 and Lange 1 Daymatic. While the new blue dials are stunning (really they are!), we already covered them and well, without being blase about it, it’s a dial colour and we cannot say much more about this. The thing that really intrigues me, ever ...

2018-10-31

Understanding Bezels and all the Different Scales - Monochrome Watches

A bezel is a simple but extremely effective tool letting you perform all sorts of tasks: from timing a dive to calculating the average speed of a motorbike, from gauging your fuel supply or the distance of incoming fire to consulting the time in Japan, a bezel gets the job done and jacks up the functionality of your watch. The trick is deciphering what all the markings on the bezel or on the dial ...

2018-10-30

Anonimo Epurato Verde Natura (Hands-On Photos & Price)

Just like every other industry, the watchmaking world is driven by trends. A few years back, blue became a must-have for brands. “Blue is the new black,” they said. Literally?every watch brand came out with with a blue version of one of their bestsellers. Well, trends?come and go and it seems that green is slowly becoming the thing. Following this tendency, Anonimo brings a fresh-looki...

2018-10-30

Glashutte Original PanoGraph Fly-Back (Live Pics, Specs, Price)

With its asymmetric dials and large date windows, the Pano Collection has become a beacon of Glashutte Original's solid Saxon identity – the PanoMaticLunar and the PanoReserve are the best-known examples of this utterly Saxon sense of design and mechanics. First released in 2002, the PanoGraph stood out from the crowd with its novel chronograph totaliser that dispensed with the traditional l...

2018-10-29

Vacheron Constantin Metiers D'art The Legend Of The Chinese Zodiac Year Of The Pig (Specs & price)

In Chinese astrology, each year is related to a Chinese zodiac animal according to the 12-year cycle. February 5th, 2019 marks the beginning of the year of the pig and in preparation, Vacheron Constantin is unveiling its latest addition to its Metiers d'Art The Legend Of The Chinese Zodiac series - Year Of The Pig. Available in either a Platinum or 18K 5N pink gold case, each version will be offer...

2018-10-29

Buying Guide - 5 High-End Watches with World-Time or Multiple Time-Zones

A watch is an essential item while travelling. An essential item on your “things to pack” list. We've said it already several times here on MONOCHROME, but multiple time zone watches are certainly amongst the most practical you can find. Not only when travelling (obviously) but also for those working in an international environment - and there are more and more of them. For those who w...

2018-10-28

Hands-On MeisterSinger Perigraph Bronze Limited Edition (Specs & Price)

German brand MeisterSinger has carved a niche in the market with its single-handed watches. The Perigraph, MeisterSinger's automatic watch with an open date ring is revisited in this handsome, 43mm bronze case. A winning combination of industrial German design with the warm vintage appeal of bronze, this new take on the Perigraph is a limited edition of just 100 pieces and is available at retailer...

2018-10-27

Video - The Bvlgari Serpenti - One of the Most Iconic Ladies Watches Ever Created

In the world of watches, we often use the word “icon”. No need to name those watches, you probably know them as well as we do. But are you sure? When it comes to such emblematic pieces, the vast majority are men’s creations. But what about ladies’ watches? While today the Octo is the main topic of discussion when it comes to Bvlgari, there is another watch that deserves att...

2018-10-26