Latest Watch News

Giugiaros Legacy: A Watch And A Car - A Different Perspective On the Reissue Of an Iconic Quartz Chronograph by Seiko - Monochrome Watches

Today we’re going to have a look at two style icons, and one of them is a quartz watch! You know us, we hardly ever focus on timepieces with a quartz regulator, however this is one that shows in a very novel way that there are many possibilities in the design of a wrist watch. In the final months of 2015 Seiko re-issued one of its iconic quartz chronographs that was originally introduced in ...

2016-01-15

TAG Heuer and Abarth partner with the Abarth 595 Competizione by TAG Heuer and a dedicated Carrera - Monochrome Watches

Abarth, the customization department of Fiat that some of you may know for the funky 1970s cars and numeral victories in rally, is about to launch a new limited edition of its fastest, funniest car, the?Abarth 595 Competition resulting here from a partnership with TAG Heuer. This?Abarth 595 Competizione by TAG Heuer features a specific matte grey wrapping, 17″ racing wheels, Brembo brakes an...

2016-01-13

Value Proposition - The Stowa Flieger Blue Limited (specs & price) - Monochrome Watches

From time to time, we set our selection-mode to another level, far from our actual posh, high-end standards, with a “value proposition” watch that we think deserves to be featured, for its great design, for its great quality / pleasure / price ratio or because we simply like it. It is the case with the new?Stowa Flieger Blue Limited Edition, which basically renew the concept of the B-U...

2016-01-13

The Collector's Series - William S. Lerner, a Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Atalante Flyback Chronograph and the perfect car to match... - Monochrome Watches

Collaborations between luxury goods companies is nothing new. This is particularly true when it comes to the watch world. From a marketing standpoint, you can see the obvious collaborative opportunity between a watchmaker and a class-leading automotive company. When the opportunity came up to discuss (among other things) why a collector valued the partnership between Parmigiani Fleurier and Bugatt...

2016-01-12

Hands-on Frederique Constant Manufacture Classics Moonphase, a qualitative but affordable dress watch (live photos & price) - Monochrome Watches

A few months ago, we introduced to you the?Frederique Constant Manufacture Classics Moonphase. Usually, this brand isn’t matching with our “standards” (because, you know us, we love high-end watches). We’ve nothing against the brand but our editorial choice is to have a focus on more complex and lavishly finished timepieces. However, with this one, the offer was?a bit diffe...

2016-01-11

Introducing the Oris Carl Brashear Limited Edition - specs and price - Monochrome Watches

I bet you still remember the Oris Divers Sixty-Five, the?charming vintage-inspired diver’s watch that the brand introduced early last year. Today we’re introducing a watch that was inspired on the Divers Sixty-Five: the same shaped case, crown, domed sapphire crystal, however it’s 2 mm larger! And instead of a steel case with ceramic black bezel, now the case and bezel are comple...

2016-01-11

MCT Sequential One - Review of one of the most impressive timepieces in the market - Monochrome Watches

I know, that’s quite a title to start with, and of course I will explain why I make?such a bold statement. I’m curious to find out if you agree – that is, after reading my review. Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps, or short MCT, introduced the Sequential One in 2009 and it is still in the collection. In the world of high-end watchmaking this is a rather odd duck, because you can...

2016-01-08

Pre-HYT H2 Tradition - the Hydro Mechanical Horologist goes (a bit) retro (specs & price) - Monochrome Watches

After several reviews of their watches, you should know what HYT is and that the timepieces they produce are highly technical, bold and modern. Whatever we talk about the H1, the H2, the H3 or the H4, they are all very far from being called vintage-oriented, traditional or retro. Recently, we’ve seen evolutions of several editions from the?Hydro Mechanical Horologists (that’s how the f...

2016-01-07

COLUMN - An Apple by any other name is a Moser? A look at the H. Moser & Cie Swiss Alp Watch - Monochrome Watches

The definition of Irish Alzheimer's is when all you can remember are your grudges. Some people just won't let things go; they develop a grudge and carry it around morning, noon and night. It seems that in their own tongue-in-cheek way, H. Moser & Cie (the present-day David of the watch industry) is about to cast a few stones jewels at Goliath! And here,?the stones?jewels that David hide in his...

2016-01-07

Why the Patek Philippe 5170G Chronograph is such a cool watch - Review with live photos & price - Monochrome Watches

When you think Chronograph (voluntarily with a capital?C), you probably?have in?mind a Daytona, a Speedmaster, racing cars, space exploration, timing sports competitions… In other words, you think sports watches. However, chronograph watches can be elegant, small, restrained and wearable with a suit – and here I mean that there are chronographs?intended to be worn like that, not sporty...

2016-01-06

Omega Speedmaster Mark II Chronograph Co-Axial - Hands-on with live photos & price - Monochrome Watches

In terms of icons, the Omega Speedmaster is definitely a big one. If not the most iconic watch ever, it can easily be categorized as one of the 5 watches to know (and to own if you’re a collector). Of course, everyone knows about the “Moonwatch”, the Speedmaster Professional, the one that has been worn on the Moon by Buzz Aldrin and that is still in the actual Omega catalogue. Ho...

2016-01-05

FP Journe Chronometre Bleu - Some personal thoughts about an icon (review with live photos & price) - Monochrome Watches

My daily job, as the associate editor of Monochrome-Watches, is to inform you about new watches, to share the industry news and to review timepieces that we believe worthwhile. Meaning: I’m a watch journalist. However, this also means (for me, at least) that I’m a watch enthusiast and a collector my-self. On the scale of desire for watches, I have three categories: the new watches of t...

2016-01-04

Pre-IWC Big Pilots Heritage Watch 48 & 55 (and more about the new 2016 Pilot's collection to come) - Monochrome Watches

Every year, the show is the same for IWC at the SIHH: renewing an entire collection of watches, with plenty of new models.?Last year was the?Portugieser, 2014 was the Aquatimer (that will also have some new models this year), 2013 the?Ingenieur?and 2012 the?Pilot watches. The 4 main collections of the brand have now been updated, so it’s time for another round-up, as for the SIHH 2016, the s...

2016-01-04

Introducing the Anonimo Militare Chrono Marine Van Dutch Special Edition (event report with live photos & price) - Monochrome Watches

For the launch of the Anonimo Militare Chrono Marine Van Dutch, we went to a pleasant place called Cannes, in the very south of France. There, we learned what this new watch is about, what the reason was for the partnership with Van Dutch yachts and how it has influenced the design of their iconic watch for this particular reference. So, let's have a closer look at the watch and the nice experienc...

2015-12-30

Porsche Design 1919 Globetimer All Black Titanium - Full Review (live photos, specs & price) - Monochrome Watches

A German piece of engineering needs to do what it is designed for and it needs to do that well. It will most likely be a perfect blend of functionality, aesthetics and it will sport a certain degree of inconspicuous innovation. Porsche Design is as German as it can get, with a couple of firsts in watchmaking, which helped in gaining validity in the business. The first ever Porsche Design product w...

2015-12-29

Oris Aquis Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition II (specs & price) - Monochrome Watches

Oris is well known for creating high-quality watches with classical but pleasant design, all with an interesting price tag. Of course, we’re not talking about dream machines but the watches Oris produces are clearly to be considered for anyone seeking for a solid, well designed and reliable mechanical watch. Many collections exist, including racing chronographs or pilot watches, but the most...

2015-12-28

Christmas Buying Guide - Our Top 5 Dive / Sports watches of 2015 - Monochrome Watches

Yesterday, we showed you our Top 7 Chronographs of 2015, a category that we believe to be one of the most important of them all… “One of”, yes because there’s a second one that must be regarded as pretty damn important, first because this category certainly represents the largest portion of sales for most brands and also because that’s the one collectors cherish most....

2015-12-22

The Collector's Series - The "Cooler than ice-cream" Patek Philippe Nautilus 5726 of Kristian - Monochrome Watches

When I'm speaking to a collector and you glance down to see their watch proudly sports the scuffs and scratches of daily wear, it gently warms the soul. Not only do you know that the owner, more often than not, chooses that watch, but you know it has a story associated with it. As a watch geek, your mission is to try to extract those stories. In many cases, the owner generally does not require muc...

2015-12-22

Christmas Buying Guide - Our Top 7 chronographs of 2015 - Monochrome Watches

After?presenting you?our top 5 dress watches of 2015 and our Top 5 accessible watches of 2015, it is time now to look at certainly one of the most important categories of them all, simply because most of us love the chronographs. Of course, only a very few will use them as it should be but who cares, chronographs are cool, complicated and this year, brands introduced to us?really great ones. This ...

2015-12-21

A look at the 2015 TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 "Steve McQueen" ref. CAW211P (live pics & price) - Monochrome Watches

This year was busy for?TAG Heuer, that changed its strategy, changed its CEO (welcoming Mister Jean-Claude Biver), introduced rather impressive pieces like this?Carrera Calibre Heuer 01 but also played on the vintage trend with this?Carrera Calibre 18 Chronograph Telemeter (that really is vintage looking, with a small diameter and bombe dial). In fact, the Carrera isn’t the only collection t...

2015-12-18

Christmas Buying Guide - Our Top 5 Accessible Watches of 2015 - Monochrome Watches

After our first Christmas Buying Guide focused on our Top 5 Dress Watches of 2015, it’s time to go back on earth and to talk about real people’s watches. Let’s be honest, most of us can’t afford these sumptuous watches priced over 30,000 Euros (and more). Lucky those who can, really! However,?we have to keep in mind that a watch is a huge investment and this is the raison d...

2015-12-17

Pre-Roger Dubuis Excalibur Automatic Skeleton Carbon (specs & price) - Monochrome Watches

For the?SIHH 2016,?Roger Dubuis?will be focused on?women’s with, with most novelties?adorned with floral motifs and gems. Just in case men were to feel just a bit neglected, Roger Dubuis has something to provide us with, as usual for the brand, a lot of skeletonization work and a bold design. Based on their entry level skeleton watch introduced in 2015, the?Roger Dubuis Excalibur Automatic S...

2015-12-17

Pre-New members of the IWC Aquatimer Family - Monochrome Watches

Not so long ago, at the SIHH 2014, IWC renewed one of their collections, the iconic, sporty and dive-oriented Aquatimer. That’s the way to do at IWC for the SIHH: renewing entirely a family to have a complete coherent collection. Last year was the Portugeiser, 2013 the Ingenieur and 2012 the Pilot watches. For the SIHH 2016, IWC has some new Aquatimer watches to show us, but do not?worry, th...

2015-12-16

Pre-Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classic and Reverso Classic Large Duo - Monochrome Watches

Earlier this week, we showed some first anniversary editions of the?Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso – because yes, the old lady celebrates its 85th birthday this year… making it one of the oldest watches with a continuous production, and thus, one of the most iconic timepiece?(and luxury object) available. If these new introductions were focused on heritage, Jaeger-LeCoultre also renewed the ...

2015-12-16

This week's Collector Series is an Editor's pick: Our very own Frank and his Speake-Marin Piccadilly - Monochrome Watches

Why did Peter Speake-Marin feel compelled to start making watches in the first place? Well, like most of us, he fell in love with the intoxicating combination of history, art and mechanics.?The London born watchmaker was education in London at the Hackney Technical College and then at WOSTEP (the prestigious Swiss watchmaking school in Neuchatel). Following his training in Switzerland, and on his ...

2015-12-15

Pre-Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie Date by Hand (hands-on review, specs & price) - Monochrome Watches

Earlier today, we showed you in advance (and with hands-on thoughts) one of the SIHH 2016 highlights from Montblanc, the Heritage Chronometrie Chronograph Quantieme Annuel. You thought that?was all… You were wrong, as Montblanc has more to show us for this 2016 edition of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie.?After the complicated chronograph with annual calendar, here is a simpler...

2015-12-15

Pre-Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie Chronograph Quantieme Annuel (hands-on review with live pics, specs & price) - Monochrome Watches

It has to be said: the celerity at which Montblanc has enlarged and developed?the Heritage Chronometrie collection is impressive. In less than 2 years, we’ve seen a Dual Time, a Quantieme Complet, an Ultra-Slim, a Quantieme Annuel and even an affordable (relatively speaking) Tourbillon Chronograph. And what has to be kept in mind is that, even if Montblanc uses third-parties base movements, ...

2015-12-15

Christmas Buying Guide - Our Top 5 Dress Watches of 2015 - Monochrome Watches

The end of the year is coming fast, and like most of us, you’ll probably have this big question in mind: what are THE watches to focus on this year? What were the noticeable introductions of the year 2015? To start with a series of articles that will look at sports watches, dive watches, chronographs and accessible timepieces (and more), why not start with the dress watches…? Simply be...

2015-12-14

Pre-Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Calendar and Reverso Tribute Duo - the 85th anniversary editions - Monochrome Watches

When talking about iconic watches, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso will always come into the conversation because frankly, this watch is a proper historical monument. This iconic watch?was created in 1931… Meaning that 2016 will be its 85th anniversary, a jubilee that Jaeger-LeCoultre will celebrate by introducing several new editions, including two “Tribute” ones. Here are the?Jaeg...

2015-12-14

Ulysse Nardin Anchor Tourbillon Blue Enamel Dial (inc. price) - Monochrome Watches

After introducing a first prototype in 2014, demonstrating to the world the brand new innovation they created, Ulysse Nardin followed in early 2015 with an impressive commercial piece called the?Anchor Tourbillon, a visually very classical watch that integrates a splendid (and totally new) escapement module, a massive break after 200 years of Swiss anchor?escapement. Introduced first with a?conser...

2015-12-14