Latest Watch News

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra-Thin With Blue and Grey Dials For 2017 - Hands-On with Specs & Price

At SIHH 2017, some new Master Ultra-Thin watches went almost unnoticed, lost in the shadows?of the?cool Master Control with Sector Dial, which?stole the show. However, the old Maison was not short of watches to feed the 2017 catalogue. Today, we take a look at 4 unapologetically elegant watches with classic style and functions, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra-Thin Small Second, the Master Ultra-...

2017-06-05

Vacheron Constantin Metiers dArt Villes Lumieres Beijing Edition

Today we are taking a closer look at the Metiers d'Art Villes Lumieres collection – and one model in particular – which once again sees Vacheron Constantin flexing its creative muscles. Available exclusively from Vacheron Constantin boutiques, the collection is comprised of four references, three of which are dedicated to Paris, Geneva and New York respectively, while the fourth is the...

2017-06-04

Ophion OPH 786 Watch With New Movement, New Guilloche Dials & Affordable Prices

The story of the brand Ophion shouldn’t be new to you, in case you’re a frequent reader of Monochrome. Indeed, we introduced it to you, and we even gave away one of their first watches, the OPH 960. However, don’t be fooled by the youngness of the brand, as less than 2 years after their first iteration, a new watch is coming – and we have it for you here, quite exclusively....

2017-06-02

Introducing the IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Sport Edition 50th Anniversary of Mercedes-AMG - Monochrome Watches

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of its?partner Mercedes-AMG, IWC unveils a new edition of the Ingenieur Chronograph Sport, which?was introduced in March of this year. The new version?comes in a titanium case, with new hour and?5-minute markers, and its magnetic field protection has been styled to look like a?brake disc! Let’s have a look at how IWC celebrates the 50th anniversary of its?pa...

2017-05-30

Citizen to introduce their first Tourbillon Watch for 300th Anniversary of Daimaru Department Store - Monochrome Watches

Citizen, that other Japanese watch brand, is about the introduce its?very first tourbillon watch. Yes, you read it correctly, this is not a typo. The Citizen Tourbillon Y01 will be launched next month, and will be exclusively available (and made for) the 300th anniversary of department store chain Daimaru. An interesting detail is that the watch, and its tourbillon movement, shows a lot of resembl...

2017-05-30

Up In The Air - Flying High With 5 Aviation Inspired Watches From Baselworld 2017 - Monochrome Watches

Legend has it that at the beginning of the 20th century, Louis Cartier designed a wristwatch for aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont because of the inconvenience of using a pocket watch while flying. The Santos was one of the earliest wristwatches and the first pilot watch. Born out of practicality, the watches intended for pilots have evolved - in fact, the original Santos had very little to d...

2017-05-28

Le Byblos Saint-Tropez celebrates 50th anniversary with Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Special Edition - Monochrome Watches

The Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix kick off the unofficial start to?summer in?the French Riviera. This week-end Audemars Piguet unveiled a new, limited edition, Royal Oak Offshore to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Le Byblos. Together with its night club, Les Caves du Roy, the iconic Saint-Tropez Hotel has contributed to the international renown of the Mediterranean jet set playg...

2017-05-27

LIVE FROM MONACO - TAG Heuer unveils Carrera Heuer01 SENNA 2017 edition in tribute to the legendary Brazilian driver (live pics, specs and pricing) - Monochrome Watches

TAG Heuer celebrates the 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s first victory?at the Monaco Grand Prix, releasing three special edition watches in tribute to the legendary Brazilian driver. In his brilliant, way-too-short career, Ayrton Senna roared to three world championships, 41 victories and 65 pole positions and is still regarded as one of, if not the, best ever drivers in F1! The watches w...

2017-05-27

Grand Seiko Spring Drive 8-Days and what's so "Seiko" about the Spring Drive technology - Monochrome Watches

Here’s the start of a story that I didn’t expect to publish on Monochrome, ever! It’s about a watch with a movement that is equipped with a quartz crystal. Wait… talking about quartz? On Monochrome? Well, I wouldn’t say that I’ve turned to the dark side, however visiting Seiko in Japan last year has opened my eyes to the beauty of the Spring Drive movements, eve...

2017-05-26

Throwback To The Thinnest Minute Repeater, the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater - Monochrome Watches

Until you have it on your wrist it's hard to appreciate just how thin the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater really is. Introduced back in 2016, it measures a mere 6.85mm thick cased up, with the complicated movement inside accounting for only 3.12mm of that. By way of comparison, a British one pound coin is 3.15mm thick! As interesting a model as it is however, it was just one of those watche...

2017-05-25

5 High-End Watches Made In Germany - Germans Do It Better?

German watches are distinctively unique. Their design is influenced by the Bauhaus philosophy with a minimalist approach and the idea that form follows function. Great emphasis is placed on simplicity, symmetry, clarity and practicality. The craftsmanship involved is superb, sharp and distinctive, and it can easily stand toe-to-toe with the best of Swiss workmanship. The work on movements is often...

2017-05-21

INTERVIEW: Zenith's new CEO Julien Tornare and interesting news about what we can expect from Zenith - Monochrome Watches

The other day at the Zenith manufacture we had the chance to meet Julien Tornare, the brand's new CEO. We showed up for a press conference, and Jean-Claude Biver walked in with some additional news about the brand’s future. After the press conference we had the chance to sit down with Julien Tornare and talk about the brand’s future. And now we are really looking forward to seeing what...

2017-05-20

Urban Jurgensen 1140RG - Hands-On Review (Specs & Price)

Every brand, at least those with a historical background, has?its own hallmarks, those unmistakable signs that create its?DNA, helping people to quickly identify a watch from a certain brand. For some, it is the shape of the case or a hand, for others it could be the complication used. For one brand, Urban Jurgensen, these are small details, however with such a level of execution that they deserve...

2017-05-18

Buzz Aldrin & George Clooney Talk Shop during the Omega Speedmaster's 60th Anniversary Celebrations - Monochrome Watches

Last month I had the distinct privilege of?attending the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Omega Speedmaster. While I am usually rather skeptical about anniversaries of watches, I have no problem whatsoever with celebrating the 60th anniversary of the first watch on the moon. As part of the celebrations, two gentlemen who were present during the festivities, named Mr. Buzz Aldrin and Mr. George...

2017-05-17

Oris Artelier Complication Redesigned 2017 (Specs & Price)

While Oris?might be famous for its dive watches, such as the Aquis or the hype Divers Sixty Five, there’s another collection in the catalogue that is far from lacking interest; the?Artelier range. Offering?the same overall quality at?an affordable price as the rest of the watches produced by the brand, the Artelier collection is a?more elegant and complex (relatively-speaking) offering. For ...

2017-05-17

Hublot Classic Fusion Chronograph Berluti - Hands-On (Specs & Price)

Last year, at Baselworld 2016, Hublot demonstrated once again its?concept of “fusion“, its unique approach to blending?different materials, many of which are not usually associated with watches, that result in some?interesting combinations. The brainchild of a partnership between the watchmaker and Berluti, the famous Parisian shoemaker, they used?patinated leather for both the straps ...

2017-05-16

S.U.F. Helsinki Vetehinen By Sarpaneva Dive Watch Review (Specs & Price)

Rough, cold, with a unique character and surprisingly fascinating… that is how I would describe the?contrasting country that is Finland. Funnily enough, it’s also how I would describe?the new?S.U.F. Helsinki Vetehinen, the brand's first dive watch. A Finnish watch made by Finnish watchmaker Stepan Sarpaneva, who loves to play?with the elements of unique design DNA he has developed,?tra...

2017-05-15

Elegant in blue - 5 High-End Watches of 2017 with Blue Dials

You hear it every year: blue is the new black. With its timeless qualities, blue stands out but lends itself perfectly to elegant occasions. We have picked 5 dress watches of 2017, outside of the mainstream brands, to help you find a blue that speaks to your style.Ulysse Nardin Classico ManufactureUnveiled at SIHH 2017, the Classico Manufacture highlights the art of enameling with a translucent bl...

2017-05-13

Value Proposition - Don Kylne & Co Time Master (Review)

Cars, it seems, are an?everlasting source of inspiration for watches. Many of the big brands feel the need to join forces with racing teams, car manufacturers or people of the industry to create dedicated watches highlighting the parallels between the two industries. And, in all fairness, some of these become highly desirable! Smaller brands tend to follow this line too, with a wide range of autom...

2017-05-11

Hands-On - IWC Portugieser Chronograph Classic 2017 Edition IWC3903 (Specs & Price)

The IWC Portugieser Chronograph Classic was introduced in the middle of 2013 with little fanfare, long after the madness of the SIHH had subsided. The underlying idea was a more technical (new movement) but highly faithful take on a watch that has become a cornerstone in the collection (the design is heavily based on the Portugieser's DNA). For 2017, this now-classic model receives a discreet face...

2017-05-10

Louis Moinet Memoris Red Eclipse Chronograph Engraved Pink Gold - Hands-On (Specs & Price)

The Louis Moinet Memoris Red Eclipse' is an integrated, automatic, inverted mono-pusher chronograph with column-wheel. It was first presented in a limited edition at Baselworld 2016 to celebrate the bi-centenary of the Compteur de Tierce (1816-2016) by Louis Moinet. This complex chronograph, with all its mechanics visible on the dial, is now available in a richly engraved pink gold version. Let's ...

2017-05-09

Omega Seamaster Edizione Venezia (Specs & Price)

What an unexpected but refreshing surprise… Clearly, dress watches are not Omega’s specialty – chronographs and dive watches are. In terms of elegant and dress timepieces, the brand’s offer usually comes up short. However, Omega has decided to prove us wrong, with an extremely elegant, perfectly proportioned and true-to-the-past watch, the new?Seamaster Edizione Venezia,?to...

2017-05-07

Buying Guide - 10 Great Dive Watches Of 2017, For Every Pocket

You may or may not be planning a deep dive over the summer. It doesn’t really matter. You do not need to be a diver to love these high-performing, utilitarian dive watches. They make great daily wearers too and as summer is fast approaching, we have picked 10 new dive watches for 2017, with choices to suit every pocket and taste. In short, the best watches to look cool on the beach, on a boa...

2017-05-06

Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier - A Look Behind-The-Scenes Of The Watch Industry - Monochrome Watches

Over the last few years, we have reviewed quite a few brands and their manufactures. From the largest ones, for instance those owned by groups like Swatch Group, Richemont or LVMH, to the smallest ateliers of independent watchmakers. Recently, we had the opportunity to visit another type of manufacture, one that is not part of a brand but rather a supplier. The name is probably familiar to you alr...

2017-05-05

Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze Blue Bucherer Edition (Specs & Price)

Please welcome the BBBBB… Yes, 5 B’s for a new model that will definitely create some buzz (again). Three of these B’s are already known, they refer to the Black Bay Bronze. Add to that a fourth B, for Blue, the color used by a certain Maison for its special editions, plus a fifth a final B for another Maison,?Bucherer. So there you have it, following the tradition of special edi...

2017-05-04

Introducing Vacheron Constantin Quai de lIle Steel with Blue Dial - Specs & Price

The?Vacheron Constantin Quai de l'Ile is a watch with surprising contrasts. Made by one of the most prestigious names in?the industry, but crafted in steel. Designed in a sporty, urban way but featuring a “Hallmark of Geneva” movement. Bearing a name synonymous with dream watches but rather accessible. This superb surprise is now available in a new style. Here is the?Vacheron Constanti...

2017-05-03

Exhibition - Swatch Group Baselworld 2017 Novelties To Be Displayed at Tourbillon Boutique, Amsterdam - Monochrome Watches

We, watch journalists, are privileged, as we get to see all the novelties of the year to come at Baselworld. Of course, we try hard to cover these watches in this magazine, so you can have an instant and extensive view on the new watches that exhibitors have to show. However, nothing is worth a live view and a touch-and-feel experience. And that’s exactly what you’ll be able to do̷...

2017-05-02

Omega Celebrates 60th Anniversary of the Speedmaster in London - Monochrome Watches

Last week I had the privilege of attending the 60th anniversary festivities that Omega organized for the Speedmaster. The event, and everything around it, was nothing short of being absolutely awesome. Watches and anniversaries always stir up some emotions, and one could question whether the watches that are often discussed in this way, actually are icons. According to marketeers there are many ic...

2017-05-01

Anonimo Nautilo Bronze Blue Redesigned - Baselworld 2017 Review (Specs & Price)

Anonimo is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, marking the date that Dino Zei and Federico Massacesi used the remains of the famous Florentine origins of Panerai to build a new brand following their move to Switzerland. The focus was to offer robust, nautical inspired watches with Italian design as their core. Over the years, the brand that doesn't say its name has built quite a name for i...

2017-05-01