In 2022, watchmaker Tudor unveiled its partnership with Alinghi Red Bull Racing, a contender in the most competitive yacht race in history, the America’s Cup. This was the first time Tudor ventured into the world of competitive yacht racing. But as you know, the brand doesn’t just form partnerships for the sake of advertising. There are, very often, some watches involved. And the resul...
When Oris released a Divers Sixty-Five series with surprisingly bright-coloured dials a couple of years ago, it hit the right note, and the pink, light blue and green bronze models became successful and are still very much in trend. A year later, in 2022, the watchmaker from Holstein added equally bright-coloured Perlon straps to the assortment (first Cotton Candy Divers were offered on a multi-pi...
It’s full steam ahead for H. Moser’s luxury sports Streamliner collection. Introduced in 2020, the fluid, sophisticated design of the Streamliner has hosted a Perpetual Calendar, a Tourbillon and its first model, a Flyback Chronograph with one of the best chronograph calibres designed by movement specialist Agenhor. Thanks to record growth and its increasing dominion of the independent...
When Seiko recently introduced a re-edition of the very first Seiko 5 Sports from 1968, I got quite excited, to be honest. What I was looking at, on paper until then at least, was a faithful recreation of an iconic watch. The Seiko 5 Sports has been, and still is a very important collection to Seiko, and I’m sure pretty much all of us came into contact with one at some point in life. It̵...
Last month Phillips auctioned a unique Doppelchrono a.k.a. Split Second Chronograph a.k.a. Rattrapante. It was the watch that Maria and Richard Habring2 and we, at MONOCHROME, together donated to the Save the Children charity organisation. And there’s more news, as we have two new team members whom I want to introduce!?But first, that stunning and unique Salmon Doppel 38 Habring2 x MONOCHROM...
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Omega Seamaster, the longest continuously produced collection of watches by Omega. For this occasion, the brand is pulling out all stops and is introducing no less than eight celebratory pieces, including a slightly updated version of the Seamaster Diver 300M, perhaps the most iconic model of the collection. Dressed in cool Summer Blue, it features all t...
Part of the Seamaster 75th anniversary collection, Omega had to release a dedicated version of one of its most iconic dive watches, the Ploprof. With its oversized dimensions, distinctive asymmetrical shape, giant crown guard and unique crown placement, this professional diver truly stands apart. As you would expect, the new Ploprof comes with the same treatment as the other Seamaster 75th anniver...
Omega, as a brand, has an incredibly long and rich history. When it comes to their watches, one can easily name models such as the Speedmaster or the Constellation. Yet, the watch collection with the longest production run is the Seamaster. Launched in 1948, to mark the 100th anniversary of the brand, the Omega Seamaster was based upon designs made for the British Royal Navy, but even though its t...
Louis Erard is on a roll. A small, niche brand re-launched in 2003, Louis Erard understood that two is better than one. Now under the leadership of industry veteran Manuel Emch, the brand thrives on collaborations and has reached out to leading designers, watchmakers, craftsmen and design studios to produce creative, original content. The idea behind these collaborations is to offer collectors acc...
The independent watchmaking duo formed by Richard and Maria Habring, working under the Habring2 name, are close to our hearts for various reasons. First, as you’re probably well aware, because of our first-ever Montre de Souscription and the unique piece we auctioned for charity earlier in the year. Besides that, and probably far more relevant for you all, is the fact Habring2 does things in...
The recently revived Nivada Grenchen brand offers five collections that draw inspiration from its glorious past. The new Nivada watches stay true to the original aesthetics while incorporating modern Swiss movements, cases, and sapphire glass. They remain accessible, with a significant portion of the collection priced below EUR 1,000. Following the success of the relaunched Antarctic Spider model ...
We’ve just passed the longest day of the year, meaning it is officially summer season. Summer is the season of relaxation, fun in the sun, a splash in the pool or something a bit more adventurous. And with it, there’s no need to be shy about what you put on your wrist. Make it pop and stand out, as summer is the perfect opportunity to be more creative in your watch selection. Luck woul...
Birthdays are to be celebrated, whether it’s a personal one or one related to a company or product. Just as in watchmaking, where this year we celebrate anniversaries of the Daytona, TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms and many others, there’s plenty of partying going on in the car industry. Iconic cars like the Chevrolet Corvette, or the Aston Martin DB5 can blow ...
The name Casio, rendered in that never-changing font, has the ability to conjure a wide array of nostalgic feelings for people of a certain age. For me, it conjures up warm memories of a 1980s childhood filled with a bevy of calculator watches and F91s and SK-5 keyboards. I can still hear those dog and laser sounds, clear as day. For others of a more scholarly bent, it likely brings to mind the si...
Since its introduction in 2020, a launch that marked a new step in the life of the emblematic chronograph of TAG Heuer, the classic Carrera 42mm has been presented in an array of editions, ranging from non-limited models in blue, black or grey, but also some bolder versions in gold, matching the style of the 911 2.7 RS or with colourful accents. Now, all of these watches, even limited ones, were m...
Behind the name Singer Reimagined is another brand that is not related to watchmaking, but that crafts some of the most desirable restomoded Porsche 911s, Singer Vehicle Design. Since car guys are often watch guys and vice-versa, Rob Dickinson, founder of Singer, decided it was time to create a watch as remarkable as his reimagined and restored 911s. Rob teamed up with two men with serious watchma...
To say that the Tissot PRX is a success would be an understatement. It is a massive hit, and for obvious reasons. Besides the overall very decent quality of the watch, combined with an accessible price, it’s mostly its style that made it so popular… The flair of the 1970s, the luxury sports watch look, the integrated design, a powerful and reliable movement and the resemblance with som...
With the launch of the new Ulysse Nardin Diver Net Azure and Diver X Skeleton Azure, the brand continues its commitment to environmental protection by responsibly utilising raw and recycled materials. While these new watches share many similarities with previous models, they stand out with their distinct light blue colour schemes. Ulysse Nardin’s dedication to raising awareness about environ...
What can you do if you have revived an iconic model from your archives but want to give it a more contemporary twist? Renowned for its mastery of innovative materials, Rado has no qualms about revisiting its golden oldies in high-tech ceramic cases and skeletonising their dials to produce a refreshing take on the veterans. We've seen the Captain Cook, the brand's 1962 diver, turn up in black ceram...
When the term “Big Bang” is mentioned, it can evoke different associations for different people. For many people, it may bring to mind the popular American television sitcom that aired from 2007 to 2019, while watch enthusiasts might immediately think of the Hublot Big Bang, a collection that has become synonymous with the brand since its introduction in 2005. Additionally, there’...
People who keep a close eye on Formula 1, and in particular on 7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton might have already spotted this one, but IWC has just unveiled its latest TOP GUN family member. And it’s a big one, literally. What started in 2022 under the Colours of TOP GUN name is expanded once more with the introduction of the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Lake ...
Charles Lindbergh, the first man to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1927, became a poster boy for Longines. Not only was the brand in charge of measuring the official flight time of his epic feat, but it worked together with Lindbergh to create the famous navigation watch – Hour Angle – for pilots. Famous aviators associated with the brand, like Amelia Earhart, Elinor Smith, or the tyc...
Just as every year, Chopard launches new iterations of its iconic racing chronograph, named after one of Italy’s most famous racing events, the Mille Miglia. This daunting open-road race was held between 1927 and 1957 and made history thanks to some of the greatest racing cars piloted by the bravest drivers imaginable. The event returned in 1977 as the Mille Miglia Storica, a classic car eve...
It’s undeniable that the PRX collection has been a tremendous success for Tissot so far. Everyone seemed to gravitate to it when it was launched a mere two years ago. Tissot hit a home run with it, as it has all the credentials of a luxury sports watch; a shaped case, prominent bezel, integrated bracelet and a textured dial. What was missing though was a slightly smaller version, as plenty o...
One of the key events in the region and in the global watch calendar, Dubai Watch Week is held every other year. Having attended the previous edition, I had a truly memorable time there, so don't miss out on this instalment! Organized Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Watch Week will reconvene for its 6th edition from 16th to 20th Novembe...
The Polo is Piaget’s answer to the luxury sports watch. A remake of Yves Piaget’s 1979 sporty-chic quartz-powered model, the Polo resurfaced in 2016 with mechanical steel models initially positioned as entry-level candidates. The versatile nature of the Polo is attested by the wide variety of models available, ranging from time-and-date?all the way up to ultra-thin perpetual calendars ...
Who doesn't like a good collaboration, especially when it involves watches and motorcycles. Dutch watch enthusiast Tom van Wijlick recently revived the Lebois & Co. watch brand and has collaborated with Indian Motorcycle for a special edition of the Heritage Chronograph. Both brands are known for reviving classics and this is a perfect marriage of timeless craftsmanship and design. If you want...
A seasoned collector turned entrepreneur, Benjamin Chee is passionate about exquisite bespoke handcrafted objects. To sate his thirst for refined watches, the Singaporean created his flagship Benjamin Chee Haute Horlogerie (BCHH) in 2019, teaming up with some of the top names in watchmaking like Svend Andersen of Andersen Geneve. One of the most remarkable models to issue from BCHH in Switzerland ...
The Patek Philippe Grand Exhibition is hosted for the sixth time this year and opened its doors this weekend in Tokyo, Japan today. Running until June 25th, the Maison invites you to engulf yourself in the world of Patek Philippe, with ten themed areas showcasing the history and craftsmanship in its watchmaking. One of the areas brings together 50 unique pieces inspired by Japanese culture. Along ...
Just last week we showed you six high-end watches that utilised all the benefits of titanium; lightweight, a tactile feel, robust and hypoallergenic. While all that is fine, the most affordable watch on that list cost CHF 7,700 and the most expensive one has a price that’s on request which needs little explaining in this industry. That’s money not all of us can or want to spend on a wa...