Latest Watch News

Video - Louis Moinet Celebrates the 200th Anniversary of the Chronograph with the Memoris 200th edition (live pics & price) - Monochrome Watches

When digging into the history of watchmaking, it has been long admitted that the invention of the chronograph was credited to Nicolas Rieussec. Indeed, in 1822, he patented a clock that was able to write time, to record measures of elapsed time. It was, until recently, known as the first ever chronograph (a machine that writes time…). However, in 2013, another watch has been discovered, a wa...

2016-06-21

Hands-on with the new Oris Big Crown ProPilot Day Date (live pics, specs & price) - Monochrome Watches

When Oris’ name comes in the conversation, most collectors know what it is about: reliable, well-crafted, well-designed and perfectly priced tool watches (and not only tools…). This goes for the Oris Aquis, a reliable and accessible dive watch, or the Depth Gauge, with its innovative mechanism. There’s also a huge cool factor with some, like the Divers Sixty Five. But Oris is not...

2016-06-20

GIVE AWAY: 3 Patek Philippe books and the 2016 Patek Philippe necktie (in orange) - Monochrome Watches

Again it’s time for a new installment of the Monochrome 10th anniversary give-away, and today we have the pleasure to announce some spectacular gifts (again) that one of our readers can win. For this sweepstake we will be giving away a copy of the Patek Philippe Watches volume I & II books, a copy of the 175th anniversary book, a Collection Book volume II, and a Patek Philippe 2016 neckt...

2016-06-19

Book Patek Philippe Watches by the Patek Philippe Museum - Volume I and II - Monochrome Watches

There are books and there are BOOKS. Patek Philippe Watches Volumes I and II, made by the Patek Philippe Museum, belong to the second category. These must have' volumes for Patek aficionados weigh a respectable 6.4kg and measures approximately 295x260x85mm. Definitely something you can put as an art object on your table - and certainly a read that will teach you one thing or two about Patek Philip...

2016-06-16

Oris Aquis Date with new colors to perform in the deep (specs & price) - Monochrome Watches

When you have the concept of a rugged and functional dive watch in mind, with great quality and for a relatively affordable price, the Oris Aquis Date has to be on your wish-list. No debate, this watch is good for what it has been designed for – and it’s also a pleasant watch on a daily basis (even professional divers spend some time on land…). Although we thought it to perform w...

2016-06-16

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Deep Black (Ceramic GMT) - Darker than The Deep Sea - REVIEW with live photos, specs & price - Monochrome Watches

What is the color of the deep sea? Blue? Navy?blue? No, when you reach 600 meters, the sea is black, pitch black in fact.?At this depth, everything turns dark and no color can be distinguished anymore. You probably saw?us coming with this teaser. Yes, here is it, this is the “raison d’tre” of the brand new?Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Deep Black. After the Speedmaster Dark Side ...

2016-06-14

Hands-On - Tudor Heritage Advisor Cognac, one of the very few alarm watches on the market (live pics, specs & price) - Monochrome Watches

In terms of complications, the chronograph is certainly the most widely known – and used – of them all. Then, when you pronounce the words “chiming watches“, the immediate reference goes to the minute repeater. However, one chiming complication shouldn’t be forgotten, one which?is actually rather important historically and one that will immediately link to the “...

2016-06-13

Ulysse Nardin Classico Manufacture with steel case and enamel dial (specs & price) - Monochrome Watches

Ulysse Nardin is certainly widely known for their signature collections; the Marine and the Diver. Both inspired by antique marine chronometers (something that was the core business of the brand at its inception), they share a unique and easily recognizable design, with some bold aspects – like we’ve seen recently in this article or previously in this in-depth review. The UN collection...

2016-06-13

GIVE AWAY: an orange Applause Machine from MB&F's MAD Gallery - Monochrome Watches

It’s time again for a next give-away. Our good friends from MB&F, who also run the MAD Gallery in Geneva, Taipei and Dubai, kindly offered an Applause Machine that we can give to one of our readers. Just a few days ago we showed you, in a short video that we recorded in the MAD Gallery in Geneva, what a cool place it is. It’s all about mechanical art, whether we’re talking ab...

2016-06-11

5 Cool Finds: An old IWC Mark X, a GP Rattrapante, a Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Perpetual and two AP's that you wouldn't expect - Monochrome Watches

In the online world of watches, vintage watches are covered extensively. Many of our online colleagues are doing a great job at this. Since we’re ‘passionate about vintage watches, and certainly no experts, we are more than aware of all the dangers of this ‘murky world’ of vintage watches. We’ve heard too many stories of modifying parts (bezels, dials, hands) or excha...

2016-06-10

Value Proposition: Olivier Randin Technomatic - When you want to measure your pulse and speed after discovering that a massive thunderstorm is approaching quickly - Monochrome Watches

OK, that’s a long title to start with, however it explains what you can do with the Olivier Randin Technimatic: measure your pulse (pulsometre), measure your speed (tachymetre) and how far lightning is away (telemetre). A while ago we asked you what you wanted to see more on Monochrome, and value propositions was one of the things you would like to see more on Monochrome. So when we saw a ph...

2016-06-09

Hands-on - Jaeger-LeCoultre Duometre Quantieme Lunaire in white gold and opened dial (live pics, specs & price) - Monochrome Watches

The concept behind the Jaeger-LeCoultre Duometre has always been highly interesting, from both a technical and visual side. The entire lineup of watches under the Duometre name are coming with a unique Dual-Wing system, including two barrels and two gear trains. One of the main springs powers the display of the time and the complications, while the other mains spring powers, via the second gear tr...

2016-06-09

Watches and Formula 1 - Episode 2 - Ferrari and Hublot - Monochrome Watches

Without a doubt, the biggest name in Formula 1 certainly is Ferrari. It is the only brand still running since the formation of the Official Formula 1 Championship in 1950. The have competed in every single race (except the very first one) and in every single season of the championship, with some of the biggest, most illustrious names behind the wheel. Partner it up with a bold, relatively young Sw...

2016-06-08

Booze and Havana - 4 watches inspired by fine alcohols and cigars from Hublot, Zenith, Armin Strom and Speake-Marin - Monochrome Watches

Imagine yourself comfortably seated in antique leather Chesterfield sofa in a gentlemen’s club. What could be better, at such a moment, than enjoying a fine cigar and glass of old rum or cognac…? I can see some of you picturing this and already enjoying the very thought of it. It seems that amateurs of delightful booze and cigars?have taste for?fine crafts, and this of course includes ...

2016-06-06

GIVE AWAY: Montblanc Travel Watch Roll for 2 Watches - Monochrome Watches

One of the coolest things for this year, is that we can give away lots of great presents. OK, we’re celebrating our 10th anniversary. However it’s the brands that we cover here on Monochrome that chip in and donate these great presents, which we can share with you guys! After some amazing gift that we already send to twelve of you (10 Meistersinger desk clocks, one Ophion wrist watch a...

2016-06-04

Chronographs for Collectors: Hamilton Fontainebleau Chronomatic Calibre 11 - Monochrome Watches

Who still has the 1970s chronographs from Hamilton in mind? Set apart in the shadows by Breitling and Heuer watches, However Hamilton played a crucial role in the launch of the famous Chronomatic calibre. The brand's flagship model at that time was the Fontainebleau - named after a famous French castle. A nice chateau that deserves to be re-visited today.Collectable Hamilton chronographs today suf...

2016-06-03

A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia Boutique Edition with Grey Dial - The Perfect Dress Watch... But More Exclusive (live pics, specs & price) - Monochrome Watches

You love excellence. Excellence in work and excellence in life. But you do not like showing off. It is something that shows in your career, your lifestyle, your clothing, and your watches and jewelry. When you buy a watch, it has to be perfect. And it has to be understated. You are somewhat puzzled about what to buy next. You are looking for something that you can wear with other black or blue clo...

2016-06-02

Why not a pocket watch? Hands-on with the Montblanc 4810 Orbis Terrarum Pocket Watch 110 years Edition (live pics, specs & price) - Monochrome Watches

Pocket watches used to be very popular. Well, in fact it seems certainly understandable, given they were the only available option to carry the time. Then, at the beginning of the 20th century, along came wristwatches, which through the first half of the 20th century, became the norm. Pocket watches?turned into an obsolete object, more?prone to adorned collectors' displays and museums than to be w...

2016-06-02

A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia Thin 37mm - Germany's perfect dress watch and Lange's new entry-level - Monochrome Watches

At the SIHH 2016, A. Lange & Sohne came with an updated edition of its most elegant and discreet watch, the Saxonia Thin, their vision of a slim and refined dress watch. Following the updates on the entire Saxonia collection (see the 2015 editions), the 2016 Saxonia Thin featured longer indexes and a cleaner dial. All of that was available in a rather large 40mm size and as of now, the thin La...

2016-06-01

Hands-on - Omega Speedmaster CK2998 Limited Edition at Baselworld 2016 - Could it be one of the coolest modern Speedies? (live pics, specs & price) - Monochrome Watches

The Omega Speedmaster is a watch that needs no introduction. It’s an icon, most certainly one of the two most iconic chronographs and, considering its superb pedigree, one of the most iconic watches ever. Among all the editions and versions that Omega created since 1957, some are grails, like for instance the first one, the CK2915. Following it was the CK2998 – explained?here – w...

2016-05-31

Ulysse Nardin Diver Chronograph Hammerhead Shark (live photos) - Monochrome Watches

As we recently showed to you, the Marine collection by Ulysse Nardin celebrates this year its 20th anniversary. In an interview we filmed during Baselworld 2016, the CEO of the brand, Patrik P. Hoffmann, was showing his pride with several new watches. However, these were not the only novelties of the brand this year, and the other successful model of UN, the Diver, is about to be introduced in a n...

2016-05-31

Dead Second a.k.a. Seconde Morte for Deadly Precision - Monochrome Watches

Watch collectors and aficionados are used to looking at the nearly continuous sweep of a second hand around the dial to distinguish a mechanical timepiece from quartz watches. In a mechanical watch the second hands moves forward in increments of a fraction of a second depending on the frequency of its balance. Yet, dead second watches (also called dead beat second or seconde morte in French) mark ...

2016-05-27

Face to Face with Omega: A Tour Revealing the Past, Present and Future of the Company - Part 1 - Monochrome Watches

Baselworld is complete madness. It's difficult to comprehend the sheer size of the fair when you hear it from someone, and it’s a totally different thing to experience it personally. This year the Monochrome team cunningly decided to split forces and covered almost everything with battle hardened Frank accompanied by Brice and Robin. My role was to dig a little deeper. Taking advantage of my...

2016-05-26

The Collectors Series - Martin talks about his American-made RGM PS-801-E - Monochrome Watches

Martin Gluck is a fascinating gentleman. An army Psychologist and watch collector – he has direct family links to the watch world, as well as a wide ranging collection. His?grandfather (after whom he is named), operated the first watchmaker’s supplies business in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When his father was 18 years old he went on the road as a salesman for his family business. After ...

2016-05-24

Beyond the hour hand, other ways to display the time - Monochrome Watches

The circular motion of hands has been widely adopted for the use of displaying time for centuries. No doubt it was first inspired by the movement of sundials' shadow. Like these, early mechanical clocks showed only hours, before the invention of the minute hand. There are however a number of other ways to indicate the hours in mechanical wristwatches. These alternatives offer endless possibilities...

2016-05-20

Montblanc Star Roman Carpe Diem Special Editions (specs & price) - Monochrome Watches

The Montblanc Star collection is certainly not widely coveted, at least less than the recent creations, like the Heritage Chronometrie collection or the high-end Villeret creations. In fact, this collection is older than its siblings but it’s not void of interest. It’s even a interesting choice for those looking for a?traditional and classical design, with an elegance suitable for an e...

2016-05-20

Hands-On URWERK UR-210 CP with Clou de Paris engraved case (live pics, specs & price) - Monochrome Watches

For those who vist Monochrome-Watches regularly, you probably know that we have soft spot for independent watchmakers and timepieces?that display the time in a different way, meaning without traditional hands and dials. One of our top favorite watches?is, without any possible discussion, the URWERK UR-210, a piece?that we extensively reviewed and filmed in a rather personal column, written by our ...

2016-05-19

Exclusive Hands-On - Montblanc TimeWalker Pythagore Ultra-Light Concept (and yes, it is really very light...) - Monochrome Watches

Last week, we announced to you a very interesting piece from Montblanc, a concept watch made with one single idea in mind: lightness. Indeed, the?Montblanc TimeWalker Pythagore Ultra-Light Concept is said to weight ONLY 14.88 grams - which, even if difficult to comprehend what it means, is?a serious achievement. Last week we traveled to Switzerland for a series of visits and interviews, including ...

2016-05-18

The SIHH 2017 Open to the Public and with more brands (incl. Girard-Perregaux and Ulysse Nardin) according to Fabienne Lupo - Monochrome Watches

Until 2015, the SIHH, Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, organized by the FHH (Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie) was opened only to 16 brands, mostly the Richmont Group (Cartier, JLC, IWC) and a few friends of the group (Parmigiani, Audemars or Greubel). In 2016, 9 new independent brands came to join the show in the Carre des Horlogers (MB&F, Urwerk, Laurent Ferrier). For 2017, in a c...

2016-05-17

Chopard Grand Prix de Monaco Historique 2016 Race Edition Chronographs (specs & price) - Monochrome Watches

In the world of classic cars, one of the most prestigious and spectacular events to admire is the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique. Looking at some of the best past Formula 1 or Le Mans drivers pushing hard in the middle of the narrow streets of Monaco, driving Pre-War or 1960s powerful race cars is certainly an experience.?Chopard has been sponsor and official timekeeper of the Grand Prix de Monac...

2016-05-17