If a lot of data is easily available online regarding modern watchmaking, finding resources about watchmaking history is far more difficult. Well, it was The Watch Library is a not-for-profit organization that is built around the desire to make watchmaking heritage accessible to the widest possible audience. Launched on the initiative of the Maillard family (from our colleagues of Europastar) and ...
In less than ten years, Bulgari's ultra-thin legion of Octo Finissimo watches has marched across the watch landscape conquering eight world records for its incredibly thin mechanical wonders. However, its imperial ambitions stretch beyond the merely mechanical thanks to Fabrizio Buonamassa's bold, contemporary design language that reflects the brand's Roman origins. No stranger to collaborations, ...
A lot has been written about neo-vintage dress watches. It certainly makes sense – in the 1980s and 1990s, many watch manufactures embarked on a journey to relearn and rediscover the art and science of the complicated wristwatch. These watches were generally slim, cased in precious metals, and elegant. In looking at this segment of neo-vintage watches, however, I feel many collectors overloo...
While it’s dangerous to be overly triumphant, claiming that your brand has just produced the world’s lightest mechanical watch, Ming errs on the side of caution and proclaims that it has probably produced the two lightest mechanical watches on the market. Two new releases, the Ming LW.01 Manual and the LW.01 Automatic, sail in with flyweight credentials, tipping the scales with a watch...
As the first brand to espouse the concept of fusing disparate materials like gold and rubber, Hublot has taken “fusion” to the next level, reworking some of its icons with top-tier contemporary artists like Richard Orlinski, Maxime-Plescia-Buchi (aka Sang Bleu), Shepard Fairey and Murakami. The latest collaboration has been percolating in the lab for three years and responds to a desig...
Without a doubt the most contemporary collection of dive watches by Omega, the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M is a strong model devoted to performance, mixing luxurious elements with all the necessary features you’ll need in a deep dive watch. This highly modern intention, which separates it from the classic Diver 300M or the vintage-inspired Seamaster 300, is mostly seen in the use of innovati...
A. Lange & Sohne's Zeitwerk Minute Repeater is an extraordinary, highly original watch that perfectly captures the personality of this grand Saxon brand. As the only mechanical wristwatch to combine a jumping numerals display with a decimal minute repeater, the Zeitwerk is visually and acoustically exceptional. Following the first platinum Zeitwerk Minute Repeater of 2015 and the white gold mo...
As a rule, we rarely cover battery-powered watches on MONOCHROME - but rules are made to be broken, or at least make exceptions. And the quirky Gelfman IN-16 Nixie provided the perfect opportunity. With its retro-futuristic design, this digital display watch is simply in a class of its own as the jury of the GPHG confirmed in 2022, nominating it for the Petite Aiguille. I have always been fascinat...
Few segments in the watch industry are as popular and heavily contested as the luxury sports watch. The dive watch may come closest, but we can all agree that the luxury sports watch has boomed in recent years. Even independent watchmakers like H. Moser & Cie and Czapek have jumped on the bandwagon with (it must be said) very cool collections. Simultaneously, there’s also a move towards ...
It’s not often we have the potential chance of owning a genuine thoroughbred Can-Am-inspired road car built by a former Formula 1 engineer, but today’s the day. Steve Nichols, who famously was involved in the development of the all-conquering McLaren MP4/4, has stepped out of the limelight and presented his own supercar just a couple of weeks ago, the Nichols N1A. And by the looks of i...
It’s common practice for brands to outsource certain steps in the manufacturing of watches to specialised companies. It is, in fact, how the vast majority of watchmaking entities operate. Cases, dials, movements, crystals and straps can all come from different suppliers around the world before being assembled into a fine mechanical watch. Watches by brands high and low have been produced thi...
Over 70% of our precious Earth is covered in water, and huge areas of it have not yet been fully explored. It’s very likely we’ll never manage to discover all the far corners of the oceans, as they are one of the most challenging environments mankind can face. The main issue is pressure, which increases by 1 bar (or 14.5 PSI) every ten meters down. At 60 meters below the surface, the p...
The press release for the Studio Underd0g 02 Series field watch collection starts with the question of why horology can’t be a little bit more playful from time to time. It’s the exact question I ask myself every now and then and the reason I have a soft spot for quirky, oddball watches. Watches with a twist, a little surprise or even a good dose of humour. I immediately think of the f...
Long before revolutionizing watchmaking with silicium technology and introducing the Freak in 2001, Ulysse Nardin had earned acclaim for its precision marine chronometers. This expertise not only defined Ulysse Nardin’s legacy but also significantly influenced the design philosophy of the brand’s contemporary models. In 2017, Ulysse Nardin launched the Marine Torpilleur, a collection p...
The buzz surrounding TAG Heuer’s celebration of the 60th anniversary of the iconic Carrera chronograph was hard to miss this year. The brand marked this significant milestone by introducing several timepieces to the collection, much to the delight of enthusiasts. Earlier in the year, we were happy to unveil the Carrera Glassbox references and the 60th Anniversary Edition Panda. Now, it’...
IWC Schaffhausen is well known for its pilot’s watches, its TOP GUN sub-collection and the use of ceramics. These three elements come together in the brand’s latest travel watch, the Pilot’s Watch Timezoner. The Timezoner, to keep it short, was introduced only a couple of years ago and is available as a pure travel watch or as a chronograph. IWC now adds a new style to the simple...
Under the moniker of the ‘Colours of TOP GUN‘, IWC is producing boldly coloured editions of its famous (Big) Pilot’s Watch collection, all inspired by nature. For the past couple of years, we’ve seen some fascinating styles emerge. Whether it’s the formidable Big Pilot or lesser gargantuan editions, all share a common theme; ceramics! So far, there’s Lake Tahoe ...
In the world of luxury watch retailers, Bucherer holds a rather special place. Not only has it been announced that has acquired the well-established watch retailer (the biggest in the world), but it also has a long history of collaborative watches. Always revolving around some kind of blue, these Bucherer limited editions can range from relatively affordable to astronomically expensive. As they ...
Piaget is synonymous with ultra-thin movements and high jewellery watches, areas of expertise the brand started to cultivate in the late 1950s. Not many watch brands excel in both disciplines, and alongside its state-of-the-art watch manufacture outside Geneva and its historic site in La C?te-aux-Fees, Piaget owns the largest jewellery workshop in Geneva. The latest Piaget Polo Emperador is a stun...
Who doesn’t like a good party every now and then? A chance to dress up, have a blast and just let loose a little. In any industry, this is a recurring theme as birthdays are celebrated regardless of what they’re about. The brands in this Buying Guide certainly celebrated 2023 in a big way, as we’ve seen some very cool and impressive new watches celebrating all kinds of watchmakin...
Girard-Perregaux brings back a captivating concept, which was, to many, one of the most interesting technical developments in modern watchmaking: the Girard-Perregaux Constant Escapement. This novel escapement is one of the most sophisticated answers to a crucial question for watchmakers: how to handle the waning driving force supplied by barrels? The first-generation Constant Escapement was a tec...
Presented in 2019 in time-and-date and time-only models, the Alpine Eagle collection was Chopard‘s take on the highly successful luxury sports watch with integrated bracelet category. Revamping a 1980 design, that of the St. Moritz watch, it has then been offered in a variety of editions, from compact ladies’ models to a highly desirable ultra-thin salmon watch or a bold and oversized ...
Each and every we serve up a selection of watches based on a common feature in our Buying Guide, and this week is no different. But instead of looking at elements such as colour, size, material or even type of watch (dress, sports, pilot, diver, etc.), we take a more technical approach for this instalment. Harnessing the pioneering spirit and groundbreaking work of historic watchmakers such as Abr...
Throughout history, Porsche and TAG Heuer have crossed paths on many occasions. This has led to a long and extensive partnership of the two legendary manufacturers, with watches and timekeeping on one end, and high-performance sports and racing cars on the other. Not only do the two brands share history on-track but also off-track, with special edition watches such as the Carrera Chronosprint x Po...
Just mention his name, and you will have the undivided attention of collectors and enlightened watch enthusiasts worldwide. Michel Parmigiani is considered a legend in watchmaking culture, and rightfully so. A personality marked by discretion, he has devoted his life to watchmaking and is renowned universally for his unparalleled expertise in the restoration of antique clocks. He is also the maste...
It won’t come as a surprise to tell you that the integrated bracelet category, watches inspired by 1970s luxury sports icons, is more popular than ever. Many brands, from entry-level to independent watchmakers, have already presented their alternatives in this field. When it comes to accessible luxury, the market is dominated by the Tissot PRX, a watch that has made a strong impact in the ca...
Three of the biggest trends in watchmaking today are more compact case sizes, textured, colourful dials and deliberate gender-free positioning. Audemars Piguet jumps on the bandwagon and produces its time-and-date Code 11.59 in a new 38mm case size to accommodate slimmer wrists of both sexes and decks out the vibrant purple and elegant ivory dials with a richly embossed pattern.The new 38mm Code 1...
Introduced in 2020, the Longines Spirit collection has been, without a doubt, the brand’s most prolific range in the past few years. Since its presentation, we’ve seen multiple editions, most of them built around the needs of pilots. Following a time-and-date, a?chronograph, a?no-date and recently a cool GMT Zulu time, without mentioning the different sizes, colours or materials, Longi...
The Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto isn’t the brand’s first attempt to enter the highly competitive luxury sports watch market. Three years ago, LF presented a watch with typical features of the category: an integrated design, a combination of robustness and superior mechanics combined with a rather personal touch to make this Grand Sport unique in the sports watch field. Yet, the productio...
The IWC Big Pilot has earned its cult status, as the oversized 46mm pilot’s watch is, without a doubt, one of the most emblematic and striking watches of its kind. With over 20 years of history (and close to 85 years if you look back at the ancestor, the 1940 B-Uhr by IWC), there have been countless editions, some truly collectable. Yet, probably no other timepiece from IWC’s pilot col...