Latest Watch News

Pre-SIHH 2018 - Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Re-edition 25th Anniversary 26237ST Hands-On (Specs & Price)

Throughout its long history, Audemars Piguet has notched up many bold moves. Of course, we all remember the 1972 Royal Oak, a Genta-designed watch that simply revolutionized the concept of the luxury watch. Another of these bold moves should also not be forgotten. Back in 1993, Audemars Piguet presented an evolution of the Royal Oak, a highly-masculine version named the Offshore – a watch th...

2017-11-15

Panerai Luminor Due 3 Days Titanio 42mm PAM00728 - Hands-On Review (Specs & Price)

Much to our satisfaction, we have seen smaller watches re-emerged over the past few years. Even Panerai, known to be on the large side, has been downsizing its iconic design, with its 42mm Luminor Due, which is now offered for the first time in a handsome, light-weight titanium version. We go hands-on with the slender PAM00728 or Panerai Luminor Due 3 Days Titanio 42mm.The elegant Panerai Luminor ...

2017-11-15

Hands-On - The Garrick S1 Prototype With Skeletonized Dial (Specs & Price)

For the last few years, we've been hearing about the so-called “resurgence” of British watchmaking. Run by passionate Brits with a strong streak of defiance, these small independent brands are (very) slowly but surely gaining a foothold in the market and proving they have what it takes to stick around for a while. One such brand, which we've written about several times before on MONOCH...

2017-11-14

Pre-SIHH 2018 - Ulysse Nardin Classico Manufacture Grand Feu (Specs & Price)

The?Ulysse Nardin Classico Manufacture should be no stranger to you if you read MONOCHROME regularly. It is indeed a watch that we’ve covered several times, and on each occurrence, we loved it. It is, as you could guess by its name, a classic offering from the brand. Available in several materials (yet, mainly with steel cases recently) and with many dial variations, it always remains a stro...

2017-11-13

Montblanc Heritage Spirit Pulsograph with Minerva Chronograph Movement (Specs & Price)

Back in 2014, right after Jer?me Lambert was appointed CEO of the brand (and?who is now COO of almost all the Maisons at Richemont Group), Montblanc introduced the Heritage collection?– a line-up of classical, elegant watches with a clear vintage appeal, in both the design and the use of complications. There was some Minerva inspiration, yet with the usual “affordability” the bra...

2017-11-13

Phillips Sells the Omega Tourbillon 30 I, One Of The First Tourbillon Wristwatches Ever, For a Monumental CHF 1,428,500 (Most Expensive Omega Ever Auctioned) - Monochrome Watches

Today is the second day of the Geneva Watch Auction Six (GWA6) by Phillips. While there were some impressive lots (is that even a surprise from Aurel Bacs and Phillips…), with a Patek 2523 or an incredible Patek 2497 in white gold, the star of the show for us here, at MONOCHROME, certainly was the?Omega Tourbillon 30 I – a 1947 watch and one of the very first tourbillon wristwatches ev...

2017-11-12

Buying Guide - 8 of the Best New Tool-Watches Built For Adventures - Monochrome Watches

It's now time for our Year-End buying guides to gather 8 of the toughest watches launched in 2017. We have picked tool watches of various types, not excessively priced, but designed to hold up to outdoor activities, or constructed to tolerances for specific purposes. Perfect gifts for adventure seekers or simply for a rugged cool look for an afternoon trip into town.Alpina Alpiner 4 AutomaticAlpin...

2017-11-11

Christie's Sells the Unique Patek Philippe 5208T Only Watch 2017 for CHF 6,2 Million - Monochrome Watches

After the record-breaker that was the unique Patek Philippe 5016a for Only Watch 2015, which sold for an astonishing CHF 7.3 Million – at that time, before the Steel Patek 1518 and Paul Newman’s Paul Newman, the most expensive wristwatch ever – today was another potential record breaking watch for sale, the unique titanium, Minute Repeater, Chronograph, Perpetual Calendar?Patek P...

2017-11-11

Christie's Sells the Unique F.P.Journe Rattrapante Only Watch 2017 for CHF 1,150,000 (Most Expensive F.P.Journe Ever, By Far...) - Monochrome Watches

We continue with Only Watch 2017 and the incredible prices that this charity auction is achieving. After the unique Patek Philippe 5208T sold for CHF 6.2 Million, what was under the hammer next was the unique?F.P.Journe Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante, a watch created especially for the occasion of the auction – and not only unique in its style, but also featuring a movement created on...

2017-11-11

Faberges Aurelie Picaud Wins Woman of the Year Award at Eves Watch Awards - Monochrome Watches

In a predominantly male-dominated watch world, we have some women in top positions who are making a definitive mark. Eve's Watch aims to put the spotlight on those women, and on a choice of women's watches that have been awarded best in one of twelve categories. Additionally, there's a thirteenth award, chosen by the public. Last week, Aurelie Picaud, Timepiece Director at Faberge, was awarded Wom...

2017-11-10

Business Richemont Appoints Jer?me Lambert As COO of All the Maisons (Ex. Cartier/Van Cleef) and Announces Strong 2017 Half-Year Results - Monochrome Watches

Since a year, the Richemont Group is operating a deep internal restructuration. First of all, the group announced the appointment of both Lambert as Head of Operations and Kern as Head of Watchmaking, Marketing and Digital, followed by the “Big Reshuffle” at the head of several Maisons. Yet, this plan completely shattered on July 14th, 2017 when Georges Kern announced its departure fro...

2017-11-10

Watches and Formula 1 - Episode 7 - Williams F1 and Oris - Monochrome Watches

40 years, for some this feels like an eternity (I am only 33 years old) and for others it feels like next to nothing. Making it 40 years in life doesn't require too much effort if you have no serious challenges. But to make it 40 years in the grueling sport of Formula 1 takes skill, determination, luck, good judgment, a lot of money and a clear vision. One of the most illustrious names in the busi...

2017-11-10

In-Depth - The MING 19.01 With Exclusive Movement By Schwarz Etienne (With Live Photos) - Monochrome Watches

A few months ago, we introduced you to a brand new, Malaysian-based brand called MING and their debut timepiece, the MING 17.01. Designed by famed watch photographer Ming Thein, this break-out watch sold out almost immediately (thanks in no small part to its US$900 price tag.) Impressively, just a few months later, Ming and his team have already unveiled their second watch; the MING 19.01. With a ...

2017-11-09

Pre-SIHH 2018 - Ulysse Nardin Marine Torpilleur Military (Specs & Price)

Earlier this year, Ulysse Nardin launched a new watch that we here at MONOCHROME thought best represented the essence of the brand, the?Marine Torpilleur. Visually inspired by antique Marine Chronometers, powered by an in-house movement with silicon parts (UN were the first to equip a watch with that), this piece showed an overall pretty cool look immediately recognizable as UN and a very attracti...

2017-11-08

The Chopard Full Strike Wins the GPHG 2017 "Aiguille d'Or" (And all the results of the Grand Prix)

As you’ve probably seen through the live feed we provided to you, today was the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Geneve, also known as the Oscars of the Watchmaking Industry, celebrating the best watches (via 12 different categories, for 16 different prizes) of the year. While in 2016 the “Aiguille d’Or” (the prize for the best watch of the year) went to Ferdinand Berthoud ...

2017-11-08

Anonimo Nautilo Bianco with White Dial - Hands-On Review (Specs & Price)

Anonimo might not be the largest watch brand we know, but at least we can say is that they’ve had quite a productive year: a complete facelift of the Nautilo, some new sailing editions, some colourful versions of their dive watch, some new “bronze” watches and finally, new editions of the signature military chronographs. Why such a profusion of novelties? Simply because the brand...

2017-11-06

Buying Guide - 5 Complication Watches Offering Excellent Value For Money - Monochrome Watches

After going through some of the best dress watches of 2017 (part 1 and part 2), it is time for our year-end buying guides to pick 5 traditional complication watches from 2017, stressing value - because an expensive watch is not necessarily a better watch. All you need from a watch, without having to take out a new mortgage. This doesn't mean affordable watches, but rather impressive complications ...

2017-11-04

TAG Heuer Autavia Jack Heuer 85th Anniversary Edition - Hands-On (Specs & Price)

This year, Jack Heuer, Honorary President of Tag Heuer and watch industry royalty, is celebrating his 85th birthday. To mark the occasion, Tag Heuer will unveil a limited edition of the iconic Heuer chronograph - the Autavia - specially designed by Mr. Heuer himself. In total 1,932 pieces will be produced - in reference to Mr. Heuer’s birth year - with piece number 1 to be offered as part of...

2017-11-03

Industry news - Omega Opens New High-Tech Factory in Biel

Today, Omega just unveiled their brand new eco-friendly premises designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban. Located next to the brand's historical building where the brand is headquartered, the new factory was inaugurated today (Editor's note: November 2, 2017) and it is an important step for the brand, allowing it to centralise its forces, hitherto spread out between various sites. No revolution...

2017-11-02

Oris Big Crown ProPilot Calibre 111 Blue Dial (Specs & Price)

We often hear that blue is the new black… In recent years, we have seen dozens of watches evolving with the addition of blue dials, yet in sports watches, black is still pretty much the norm. Not for Oris! Just like they did recently with the Artelier Calibre 111, the brand introduces a blue version of its in-house version of the?Big Crown ProPilot, a powerful (to say the least) aviation-ins...

2017-10-31

Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921 Mid-Size 36.5mm - Review (Specs & Price)

Recently, Vacheron Constantin unveiled a mid-size version of one of its most appealing watches, the desirable and highly original?Historiques American 1921. Yet, there’s something tricky with this watch, and it’s all about its name, and the size that is implied by this “mid-size” appellation. Such watches have always been complex in terms of market segmentation… Large...

2017-10-30

Buying Guide - The Best Dress Watches of 2017 - Part 2

With the holiday season approaching, it's time for us to make our wish lists We already started with a selection of the dress watches introduced in 2017 - part 1, with a focus on watches under CHF / EUR 20,000. Now we move up, with a selection of 6 of the best dress watches, for those with larger pockets.Grand Seiko SBGW252To celebrate the fact that Grand Seiko was becoming a brand in its own righ...

2017-10-29

Buying Guide - The Best Dress Watches of 2017 - Part 1

The holiday season is fast approaching, which means it's nearly time to tackle your gift list (including some to give yourself) and for us to plan our gift guides. We'll start our series by trying to help to make dressing up easier, so we've picked 13 dress watches of 2017 with choices to suit every pocket and taste. And because that would be a lot for one single article, here is part one, with 7 ...

2017-10-28

A. Lange & Sohne x Monochrome Event Recap - Monochrome Watches

We certainly don't do this very often, however recently we hosted an event together with a watch brand. The brand in question was A. Lange & Sohne, which is in my humble opinion among the most beautiful brands in the world. The location for the event was the Louman museum, which showcases the world's largest automotive collection in private possession. A great match! Here's a recap of a memora...

2017-10-27

Breaking Phillips Sells Paul Newman's Paul Newman Daytona for $17,752,500, Being The Most Expensive Wristwatch Ever Auctioned - Monochrome Watches

This is it… This is the big one. The watch that the entire collecting community was expecting to see surfacing one day has gone under the hammer. This watch, as auctioneer Aurel Bacs explained to us in this video interview, is not only a celebrity’s watch; it represents much more than that. It’s the very?watch that created an icon (the Paul Newman Daytona), the very watch that is...

2017-10-27

Watch of the Year 2017 with CH24.pl and the Special Jury Prize for #SpeedyTuesday - Monochrome Watches

For several years I've been a member of the jury of the Watch Of The Year in Poland, organised by our friends of CH24.pl. Last week was the gala award ceremony, as per usual held in the beautiful?Sobanski's Palace in Warsaw. Last year we celebrated the many prize winner, and especially the Gronefeld brothers who won no less than two prizes! This year the Special Jury Award went to a fellow Dutchma...

2017-10-25

Hands-On - Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Moon Medium Ladies Watch (Specs & Price)

Earlier this year, Swiss watch brand Jaeger-LeCoultre unveiled its newest collection of Rendez-Vous watches, including the Rendez-Vous Moon Medium watch. The 34mm timepiece quickly captured the hearts of women around the world thanks to its chic design, intricate dial, romantic moon-phase complication and technical prowess. Today, we give this watch some wrist-time and see why it has some great ap...

2017-10-25

Hands-On - Bell & Ross BR-X1 Skeleton Tourbillon Sapphire (Specs & Price)

Last year, Bell & Ross set a new benchmark for itself with the unveiling of the BR-X1 Chronograph Tourbillon Sapphire. Housed in a jaw-dropping, sapphire case that left little to the imagination, the (way-too) limited-edition timepiece made it crystal clear (pun intended) that the brand is about far more than just military and aviation-inspired watches. Now, Bell & Ross is taking the chall...

2017-10-24

Attending The Inaugural Bulgari B. Dinner In Rome, And Re-Discovering the Superb Octo Collection - Monochrome Watches

A few weeks ago, luxury Italian brand, Bulgari, in conjunction with our friends at Watchonista, hosted a fun event simply called The B. Dinner in Rome. The idea was to bring together a group of watch enthusiasts (writers, photographers, collectors, etc.) from around Europe and introduce them to Bulgari's Rome. The Eternal City is, after all, the spiritual and physical home of the brand and as such...

2017-10-23

Mido Multifort Escape with Automatic Movement - Value Proposition Review (Specs & Price)

Founded in 1918, Mido is a company of the Swatch group based in Le Locle. For whatever reason, the brand is sometimes a bit underrated but it does deserve a closer look. Mido watches are well made and offer superb value. The Multifort was originally presented in 1934 and was among the first antimagnetic watches with a self-winding movement. A commercial success for the brand, it is one of its olde...

2017-10-23