Given its complexity and often lethargic pace, cricket is not a sport that pops up in the crosshairs of watch brand alliances. However, in 2022, Oris struck an alliance with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), becoming the first official timekeeper in the club’s history. Celebrating this three-year partnership, Oris and the MMC have collaborated on a special bronze edition of the Big Crown Po...
For more than 30 years, Nomos has been part of the monumental effort to resurrect the German watchmaking tradition that once thrived in the Glashutte region in the easternmost part of the country. The region is home to a dozen or so brands, from relatively affordable names like Union Glashutte and Nomos?to ultra-high-end like A. Lange & Sohne and Moritz Grossmann, all honouring the Glashutte w...
Dials can come in all sorts of colours and decorative patterns, but one specific style that always seems to stand out more is the gradient dial. Also referred to as fume?or degrade, the concept is fairly simple. You start with a certain colour in the middle and gradually darken it towards the edge. More often than not, such a dial can elevate a watch beyond more mundane, solid-coloured rivals. One...
For the majority of the time we have been running the Petrolhead Corner, we have been predominantly focussing on four-wheeled fun. That changed a while back when our contributor Erik, a knowledgeable and experienced rider, and I, a novice rider who bought his first bike less than a year ago, started to write about motorcycles every now and then. Similar to what often goes down when sourcing inspir...
In 2012, Chopard made waves with the introduction of the L.U.C 8HF, featuring the groundbreaking L.U.C 01.06-L calibre with a silicon escapement, oscillating at an impressive 8Hz (57,600 vibrations/hour), double the speed of most mechanical movements. Notably, it became the first high-frequency calibre to receive chronometer certification, marking a significant milestone. Encouraged by this succes...
For some months now, we’ve heard and seen evidence that things were about to change at LVMH, a reshuffling strategy that industry insiders love to call the musical chairs of management. Things are now official as Julien Tornare, ex-CEO of Zenith, becomes CEO of TAG Heuer. He’s replaced in this role by Benoit de Clerck, who previously was COO of?Panerai, a branch of LVMH’s competi...
The Longines Master Collection has always been a discreet one. Classic, timeless design with nothing truly groundbreaking to report. Sure, these were elegant and restrained models but they could live with a bit more extravagance. In late 2022 and again last year, Longines decided to do exactly that, with the release of a series of Master models with stunning dials featuring engraved Breguet numera...
The world of Yvan Arpa is one of boundless imagination. Flamboyant and unpredictable, he breathes life into timepieces, which under the brand Artya, defy convention and embrace a daring uniqueness. True to its name, the Dome collection captivates with its sculptural domed sapphire crystal, protecting distinctive dials, some crafted from natural materials, ensuring that no two dials are identical. ...
Let me start by saying that, on this first day of 2024 and on behalf of the entire MONOCHROME team, I’d like to wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year. May it be filled with passion for watches and remarkable new models. 2023 has been one of the most prolific years for the watch industry – yet with a slightly degraded context – and for our magazine, too. New team members jo...
If we talk about trends in watchmaking, vintage has been one of the main sources of inspiration for brands since around 2010. And yet, after all these years, re-editions of glorious past models and vintage-inspired watches are still a hot topic in 2023. Retro-styled watches, vintage reissues and old-school design language are still staples in brand collections across the board. However, finding th...
Back in 2019, we inaugurated the Petrolhead Corner as a way to provide a break from all the watch-related news we bring you and to share another passion that runs deep for several members of MONOCHROME’s Editorial Team. Our love for cars has since grown into a weekly column full of amazing car stories from all over the world. We try to mix things up by bringing you fascinating tales from the...
As we’re drawing a close to 2023, we take a look back at some of the Best New Watches revealed this year in various categories. And even though we’ve already covered fan favourites such as Chronographs, GMT watches, Dive watches, as well as several others, we’re now upping the ante with some of the best ultra-complicated watches that burst upon the scene over the past twelve mont...
Independent watchmaking, a category defined by low-production, artisanal-like companies where the soul of the creator can be deeply felt in the watches, is one of MONOCHROME’s most important (and favourite) topics. This segment of the industry has always been a highlight for us, and we are committed to promoting the work of these small companies… because this is where passion, innovati...
Watches cost money; it’s as simple as that. And it’s also a given that luxury watches cost luxury money. But the assumption that you need to spend a fortune to wear something cool and stylish is wrong, luckily. While most of us might dream of tourbillons, split-second chronographs, minute repeaters or perpetual calendars, not many of us have the budget to spend tens of thousands or mor...
It might not be the most productive of categories, but the pilot’s watch remains one of the all-time important watch styles, even though its real-world relevance is more limited these days due to flight management systems. Nevertheless, nostalgia and vintage inspiration are still important drivers of the watch industry’s creativity, and for that reason, some brands continue to release ...
Next up in our rundown of this year’s ‘Greatest Hits’ is a list of calendar watches, specifically Annual and Perpetual Calendar watches. Looking back at what brands have brought to the table in this category only confirms the appeal of a watch that keeps track of more than just the passing of time. With indications that need little to no adjustments over the year, these calendar ...
We’re all well aware how the luxury sports watch segment has exploded over the past few years. To the point, sadly, where the usual suspects have become unavailable and often subject to speculation. Luckily, though, affordable alternatives have penetrated the market, and even independent watchmakers have stepped up to meet demand. Although the market has calmed down a bit, the luxury sports ...
As the end of the year draws nearer every day now, we’re in the midst of the festive season. Christmas parties, New Year’s Eve celebrations and whatnot dominate our agendas. The perfect time really, to whip out a high-class dress watch and pair it with your cocktail dress or smoking, or with a onesie and cosy slippers if that’s more your thing. Regardless of how you will ‘s...
The end of the year is near, so it's time for the MONOCHROME team to sit down and look back at everything that happened during what was objectively a rich year for new models With so many new launches, there was a lot to pick from in all categories and all price ranges. Today, we continue our series of buying guides representing our selection of what we think are the best watches in each category,...
Yesterday, we started looking back at 2023 and all the new watches we’ve seen to try and make a list of the best ones. The MONOCHROME Editorial Team took votes to determine the Best Chronograph of 2023, which kicked things off, but also many other categories. Up next is the GMT/Travel category, and although the list wasn’t as long as the chronographs category, there was a lot of debate...
The end of the year is near, so it's time for the MONOCHROME team to sit down and look back at everything that happened during what was objectively a rich year for new models There was a lot, with so many new watches launched in all categories and all price ranges. Today, we kick off a series of buying guides representing our selection of what we think are the best watches in each category, starti...
When you hear the name TAG Heuer, which watches come to mind? The Monaco, the Carrera, or perhaps the Autavia? Maybe the Aquaracer? But what about the Monza? The Monza can be considered the dark horse of TAG Heuer's lineup, occasionally popping up over the years but never having quite the staying power as other, more famous, TAG Heuer models. 2023 saw TAG Heuer relaunch the Monza yet again, this t...
Today, IWC Schaffhausen announced partnering with Warner Bros. Picture's upcoming feature film Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom to launch two new models, inspired by the red and blue glowing prop watches that the brand supplied for the production of the highly-anticipated feature film sequel. Ultra-bold, clearly on the large side, equipped with multiple complications and shaped for a mission, IWC has ...
About a year ago, Louis Vuitton, through its manufacture of watches La Fabrique du Temps, announced the establishment of the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives, a biennial prize that celebrates the creative talent, savoir-faire and audacity of the independent watchmaking industry, to support and encourage artisans and entrepreneurs and accompany future generations. Since the annou...
For a large part of the world, the cold season is setting in. Temperatures are dropping, daylight gets pushed back by darkness, snow and ice are grinding cities and towns to a halt and so on. To turn things around and embrace the cold, why not opt for a cool white watch for the winter season? The colour is usually most associated with summer sun, the beach or the pool, but it works just as fine in...
We were recently invited to join the festive reopening of the Amsterdam Boutique of IWC Schaffhausen. Nestled in one of the most luxurious high streets in our nation’s capital is a haven where you can fully immerse yourself in the wonderful world of IWC. Step inside, and you can discover the brand’s various collections in a unique open display, have a coffee in the Big Pilot Bar, and e...
A few months ago, Swatch and Blancpain introduced the Swatch x Blancpain Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms. Yup, quite a mouthful. It's effectively the follow-up of the Moonswatch, which can be seen as Swatch's take on the Omega Speedmaster. We didn't cover it on MONOCHROME for obvious reasons (it's a quartz watch) despite being a huge commercial success and possibly a stroke of marketing genius. Of ...
Chinese New Year 2024 will fall on Saturday, the 10th of February, heralding the Year of the Dragon. The dragon holds a special place in Chinese culture, representing power, strength, and good fortune, and brands have started to announce their dragon-themed watches. Among these, Chopard had just unveiled the latest addition to its Chinese Zodiac collection – an L.U.C XP featuring a dial ador...
After a career in financial technology, the Festa-Bianchet couple embarked on a new entrepreneurial project driven by their passion and desire to create their own watches. As evident from their inaugural timepiece, the B 1.618 Openwork, they have specialized in crafting ultra-modern tourbillons, with the number 1.618 serving as a reference to the golden ratio, a pivotal element influencing their d...
What happens when you put a reputable watch designer, a veteran industry mover and shaker and a renowned collector in the same room? The answer is Kollokium, a new project-based platform that is going to stir things up on the watch scene. Boldly stating that Kollokium is not a brand, the platform founded by Manuel Emch, Barth Nussbaumer and Amr Sindi claims to have no defined artistic direction, n...