Latest Watch News

Its Konstantin Chaykins 10th Anniversary In the Business! And He Wants To Bestow Good Luck On You! (No, this is not a chain-mail hoax) - Monochrome Watches

The Russian Magician is turning 10! (Not really - he's young - but he's not that young!) October 23, 2013 marks 10 years to the day Konstanin Chaykin began work on his first clock. Now, one lucky winner can receive a personal gift from Konstantin Chaykin: a lucky horseshoe! Konstantin Chaykin is a very, very humble person. He would NEVER boast about his skill or creativity. He's also not the type ...

2013-10-23

Another Letter From the Editor - Tell Us What YOU Want - Monochrome Watches

Last month I posted the first “Letter from the Editor” in the seven years of Monochrome and I gave you a sneak peek of what is to come and to tell you I would be off the air for a week to enjoy my honeymoon (thanks for all the kind messages!). Immediately after returning we successfully made the transition from monochrome-watches.com to monochrome-watches.com and today we’ve reac...

2013-10-21

ATTACK OF THE CLONES! See What Happens When a Body and Face are CLONED - But the Soul is Nowhere to be Found! - Monochrome Watches

I’m truly sorry to dredge up this subject once again – but I’ve been asked by some highly influential people to pontificate on the sordid subject of ‘so called’ clone watches.A few weeks ago I shared an exchange of messages back and forth with Monochrome-Watches.com Editor, Founder, Head-Honcho and newly-wed: Frank Geelen. This tte--tte was initiated by a clone' wa...

2013-10-17

Ma?tres du Temps Chapter One Round Transparence - Monochrome Watches

Dreams do come true. In the US, anyone who has played fantasy football or attended an all-star baseball game knows the synergistic thrill of combining top talent from various sources. These sports venues reveal a dream team in action, and Ma?tres du Temps embodies this concept for the watch world; the Chapter One Round Transparence is their latest dream realized. The Transparence is an evolution o...

2013-10-16

Weekly Watch Photo - A. Lange & Sohne 1815 Up/Down and Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar - Monochrome Watches

A. Lange & Sohne had an incredible strong year and introduced several extremely complicated timepieces, like the Grand Complication (that we showed you here) and the 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar. Besides these two complicated timepieces, they also introduced several less complicated pieces, like the 1815 Up/Down that will become a classic for this German brand.When you go through all We...

2013-10-13

HYT Starts Delivery to Retailers and Tour the World - Monochrome Watches

Developing something new isn’t always easy, or should we say, is never easy. The guys from HYT Watches know all about that, but they did pull off something extremely special with their hydro-mechanical watches. Their first model, the H1, already won the Innovation Watch Prize at the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Geneve in 2012 (check last year’s winners here). Now the fi...

2013-10-12

Visit the Speedy Tuesday Event in the Space Expo in the Netherlands - Monochrome Watches

Our buddies from Fratellowatches are crazy about the Omega Speedmaster. Not just crazy, but seriously nuts about that watch, its history, its legacy, all the different models and well, just everything about the Speedmaster a.k.a. Moon Watch. Every Tuesday they post a story about yet another highly collectable and rare Speedmater. The crown on more than a year of Speedy Tuesday is coming soon: the ...

2013-10-11

Patek Philippe Nautilus ref.5980/1A Fully Reviewed - Monochrome Watches

Any discerning watch fan would know that the race to build the first ever automatic chronograph in the late 1960s was one of the moments that changed the landscape of how we define sports watches today. It's a topic of much debate and great controversy regarding who came first. Similar to Formula One racing, the very sport that became synonymous to automatic chronographs, competition is stiff - an...

2013-10-08

A Letter From The Editor - Monochrome Watches

It’s been a pleasure to see the number of readers increase every month and I always enjoy your emails, responses and reactions through all our social media channels. Thank you for that! Since Monochrome has started, back in 2006, it has been a thrill to see Monochrome grow to become one of the defining blogs (or online magazines) about watches. And as you know, we focus mainly on (ultra) Hau...

2013-09-29

Montblanc Introduces the ExoTourbillon Rattrapante - Monochrome Watches

The Watches and Wonders watch fair in Hong Kong has inspired several watch brands to introduce rather impressive new timepieces. And when we say “new” , we really mean new, not just a visual touch-up. Montblanc has really outdone themselves and introduce THE new pinnacle in mechanical chronographs, the ExoTourbillon Rattrapante.The ExoTourbillon was already a pinnacle for tourbillon wa...

2013-09-27

IWC Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar and Mark XVII - Limited Special Edition "Le Petit Prince" - Monochrome Watches

Watches and Wonders is more or less the Asian version of the SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, which takes place in Geneva every year). All exhibiting watch brands see this as an important fair, and they have been introducing new timepieces like it’s Christmas. IWC has just introduced two new pilot’s watches, both limited special editions to celebrate the 70th birthday ...

2013-09-26

Tudor Heritage Chrono Blue Reviewed - Monochrome Watches

This year at Baselworld the Monochrome Team visited Tudor for the first time. That might just have something to do with the introduction of Tudor on American soil. Finally Tudor is available for US customers! Over the past few years Tudor has been building a new collection, that has deep roots in their own heritage. A very rich heritage that is not solely based on tool watches, although we’r...

2013-09-26

Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Handwerkskunst - Monochrome Watches

Last week we showed you the Grand Complication that A. Lange & So?hne introduced earlier this year (click here). It was Lange & Sohne’s first ‘grand complication’ but it was the second watch from this Saxon watch brand with a striking complication. The first timepiece from Lange that features a striking mechanism was the Zeitwerk Striking Time. The magnificent Lange 1 Tou...

2013-09-25

Vacheron Constantin Introduces the World's Thinnest Minute Repeater caliber and Thinnest Minute Repeater Watch - Monochrome Watches

Vacheron Constantin sets two records with the introduction of the Patrimony Contemporaine Ultra-Thin Calibre 1731. It is the world’s thinnest minute repeater movement and the world’s thinnest minute repeater wrist watch. This new ultra-thin chiming watch measures just 8.09 mm in height and its movement is just a mere 3.90 mm in height. Even leaving the “world records” out o...

2013-09-25

Parmigiani presents the Bugatti Aerolithe - Monochrome Watches

In the watch industry there are many collaborations between watches and cars. The combination of mechanics and design, masculinity and speed are easily linked. Just think of Ferrari (now-a-days with Hublot), Porsche (now-a-days Eterna, but it used to be IWC), Bentley (of course with Breitling) and Aston Martin (Jaeger-LeCoultre). Today we can show you the brand new Parmigiani Bugatti Aerolithe, a ...

2013-09-24

Weekly Watch Photo - A. Lange & Sohne and Horch - Monochrome Watches

The week always starts with a Weekly Watch Photo here at Monochrome Watches. The photos of this week are provided by German watch manufacture A. Lange & Sohne and they have created a set of brilliant photos… again! It is of course no surprise to you, that we just love the watches from A. Lange & Sohne. For their stylish classic looks, for the beautiful movements with three-quarter pl...

2013-09-23

Speake-Marin Introduces the Spirit Mk II DLC - Monochrome Watches

Followers of our online magazine will, without a doubt, know the British watchmaker Peter Speake-Marin. His work with legendary watchmakers Roger Dubuis and Daniel Roth has led to Chapter Two by Ma?tres du Temps, and he was also involved in Chapter One together with Christophe Claret. Peter’s own watches are already well-known among collectors and connoisseurs of fine watchmaking, always spo...

2013-09-21

Omega Sochi Petrograd Tonneau Watch for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics - Monochrome Watches

Earlier this year Omega introduced the Seamaster Planet Ocean Sochi 2014 Limited Edition, two special editions to honor the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Today Omega introduces another limited edition for the Sochi games. We don’t know if that means that the Seamaster Planet Ocean models have sold out, but we do like this vintage style watch a lot.Omega Museum collection 2004The new Sochi...

2013-09-20

Ulysse Nardin Marine Chronometer Manufacture - Monaco Limited Edition - Monochrome Watches

Ulysse Nardin has a long history in watchmaking and that has led to several iconic timepieces. Take for instance the Freak, that is undeniable an icon in watchmaking history. The (Maxi) Marine Chronometer is maybe less iconic in watchmaking history, but is at least as iconic for the brand, as it’s Ulysse Nardin’s best sold model. This model only gained in importance now it’s bein...

2013-09-19

The 5th Edition of the ONLYWATCH Tour Swings Through Shanghai! - Monochrome Watches

We buy watches for many different reasons: Sometimes we buy them because we love their designs and engineering. Sometimes it's because we love their status and exclusivity. We buy watches to mark special occasions - even if that occasion is just today was a good day! ONLYWATCH presents us with a unique opportunity to combine all of those reasons with the chance to contribute to charity.Duchenne Mu...

2013-09-18

The A. Lange & Sohne Grand Complication marks the Beginning of a New Era for the Brand - Monochrome Watches

A Grand Complication is, exactly as the name indicates, a GRAND complication. Not many brands can say that they have a Grand Complication in the collection and when counting there are really just a few of the oldest and most admirable watch brands that do. Of course there are the three ‘Grande Dames’ of the Haute Horlogerie, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet.Also ...

2013-09-17

Weekly Watch Photo - Vintage Omega Watches - Monochrome Watches

Another start of the week with our Weekly Watch Photo and today we’ll show you just how incredibly beautiful vintage Omega watches can be. Last week we showed you photos,?made by Etienne Malec, of a vintage LIP. Well, Etienne sent us some more photos and we think they are simply brilliant. Of course, the watches shown in the photos are very beautiful, but we also think that the way they are ...

2013-09-15

Linde Werdelin SpidoLite II Tech Green - Monochrome Watches

Linde Werdelin introduced the SpidoLite II Tech Green earlier this year at Baselworld and we got one of the two prototypes for an extensive review. The new SpidoLite II Tech Green is one of two new models that mark a special moment for Linde Werdelin as they have started using new materials. Like forged carbon and ALW, which stand for Alloy Linde Werdelin, being their own extremely light alloy. Be...

2013-09-10

Weekly Watch Photo - vintage LIP Venus Chronograph - Monochrome Watches

With our Weekly Watch Photo of this week we go back to our roots. Showing photos that made an impact on us and we’re not going to write an extensive story about it. Why, you might wonder? Because there simply isn’t much information to be found about the LIP watch in question. The photographer is Frenchmen Etienne Malec, who’s photos can be admired here at his website.This first p...

2013-09-09

Omega Grabs the Sailing Spotlight - The Louis Vuitton Cup - Monochrome Watches

The stage is set. The players are in place, and the quest for the America's Cup trophy is set to begin. The conclusion of the Louis Vuitton Cup saw Omega's Emirates Team New Zealand win and earn the right to challenge Team Oracle USA for the America's Cup trophy. We previewed the America's Cup season and the new AC72 yachts here; now we are ready for the dramatic denouement. In a prescient move, O...

2013-08-28

Imitation is the Sincerest way to get Sued! - Monochrome Watches

Readers of Monochrome are no doubt familiar with most of the major watch case/bezel/dial combinations that make-up some of the greatest and most expensive timepieces ever. You folks will also (no doubt) be familiar with the scores of companies that have popped-up over the past few years offering the taste' of those deluxe' creations with out all of the calories. The look with out the commitment of...

2013-08-26

Weekly Watch Photo - TAG Heuer Autavia - Monochrome Watches

Some years ago – in a period when TAG Heuer had advertisements with celebrities who know how to strap a watch on their wrist instead of holding them in their hands – they had a “Classics” collection comprising a variety of re-issues of important watches from the 1960’s and 1970’s. Today our Weekly Watch Photo is dedicated to one of these watches, which is also o...

2013-08-25

The Gleam of Architectural Achievement: The JEANRICHARD Terrascope Reviewed - Monochrome Watches

In New York City you can spot a tourist. No, not by his campy t-shirt, fanny pack or outrageous shoes; the sure-fire tell of a tourist is a craned neck, positioned so he can stop and stare upward at a skyscraper. Pointing his finger, the interloper exclaims, Hey, look! It's the Empire State building. You might think he was gazing on the eighth wonder of the world, mesmerized by the building's desi...

2013-08-23

Ulysse Nardin Freak Phantom - Limited Edition of 99 Pieces - Monochrome Watches

Last week we asked ourselves the question, if the hybrid smart watch with its impressive 41 mega pixel camera, the Hyetis Crossbow, is the future of watchmaking. Well, some 12 years ago, in 2001, every watch connoisseur, watch lover, watch journalists and everyone else in the watch industry must have asked themselves the exact same question. Everyone was was either in shock or in total awe, becaus...

2013-08-20

Weekly Watch Photo - The Eadweard Muybridge Cinema Watch by Konstantin Chaykin - Monochrome Watches

Just the other day we bumped into the brilliant photo of Konstantin Chaykin’s Cinema Watch. When we told you about this watch before (click here) we told you our first impression was that it had of the shape and layout of a medium-format camera. So what better photo to start our Weekly Watch Photo with.Of course we already told you more about the Russian watchmaker Konstantin Chaykin. Our ma...

2013-08-18