The Captain Cook is, without a doubt, one of Rado's most emblematic watches. Named after the famous British explorer, the model was released in 1962 as a 37mm diver with a water resistance of 200 metres. Since it was relaunched in 2017, several Captain Cook models have been presented, such as the Bronze collection or the High-Tech Ceramic. Today, Rado gives us a new take on the design with a chron...
The idea of this article came to life after our first encounter with the new MB&F Legacy Sequential EVO a few weeks ago. Looking at this ultra-complex, yet impressively intuitive and pragmatic chronograph – that was officially launched today – made us look back at the new chronograph watches in 2022. And this is how we discovered that, indeed, there are some rather impressive model...
Recently, we were able to confirm what was the watch worn by Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick, the 2022 blockbuster and sequel to the cult 1986 movie. And yes, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell is back to action with the (almost) same Valjoux-powered black PVD-coated Porsche Design x Orfina Chronograph – to be fully accurate, it is not the same watch as worn in the 1986 movie, but one in a...
Chronograph movements are found all over the spectrum of the industry, from affordable quartz plastic watches priced below 200 euros to the very top of the range, where the sky is the limit. Moving from quartz to mechanical chronograph certainly is quite a large step for a watch enthusiast with a limited budget. Indeed, there’s hardly anything interesting or really consistent below 1000 euro...
In just over a couple of years, Norqain has demonstrated a rather impressive coherence in its collections and also quite a rapid expansion. Right from the beginning, the brand even announced partnering with Kenissi, a renowned Swiss movement manufacturer (also working for Tudor, Chanel or Breitling), propelling them straight in a more high-end league. From all the models we’ve seen recently,...
It's always fun to try and find a suitable topic for The Petrolhead Corner, our weekly episodic slice of car-related content. Every Saturday we publish a story that interests us, and hopefully is fun to read for you as well. This week we have a trio of cars lined up all sharing the same badge, but stemming from very different parts of the world. The two cars in question couldn't be much different ...
In our previous episode of the Collector's Corner, we took a look at the Chopard L.U.C 16/1860 and its siblings that are part of the micro-rotor Calibre 96 family. From the realm of time-only, we move to complications again. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2021 with the stunning Nonantieme, a celebration of the spirit of the Reverso and the possibilities afforded by...
When it comes to TAG Heuer, it hardly gets more emblematic than the square-shaped Monaco. Part of the various watches dedicated to motorsport, alongside the Carrera, the Silverstone and the Monza, the Monaco has gained immense popularity after being worn in the 1971 movie Le Mans on the wrist of Steve McQueen. And the name of the watch itself, paying tribute to the world's most glamorous F1 race, ...
It's no secret that Seiko and Citizen are the champions when it comes to affordable, in-house mechanical watches that are both stylish and reliable. Swiss counterparts like Hamilton and Tissot can't quite match the prices of these Japanese legends, and pieces like the Seiko 5 SNK809 show just how much watch you can get for under USD 100. Orient is a third Japanese watchmaker (and is part of the Se...
Watchmaking is at the crossroads of art and science. Just like Da Vinci's works. This might be enough to make the partnership between Vacheron Constantin and Le Louvre a natural fit. Specifically for a brand that has always demonstrated a commitment to perpetuate and encourage the metiers d'art traditional (and often rare) skills and a deep-felt attachment to culture. When the brand announced its ...
For the third year in a row, the Geneva Watch Days will be combining physical meetings in the heart of Geneva with a multi-platform digital presence. In the context of the global pandemic that hit the world, their decentralized, “phygital” format proved to be perfectly adapted to the times. The 2022 edition of the Geneva Watch Days is shaping up to be more open, engaging and inclusive ...
The colour green, what's left to say about it when it comes to watches? Well, plenty, as it turns out! Especially when brands are stepping up to the plate by fully embracing the green vibe and pushing it to new heights with fresh tones and unique decorations. The colour is steamrolling through the watchmaking industry and seems to be far more than just a shortlived, fashion-like one-year trend. Th...
In the world of classic cars, there's expensive and then there's Ferrari-expensive. Or at least, there was Ferrari-expensive because as of now it seems that a 1956 Mercedes-Benz has set the new all-time record for the most expensive car in the world. Where in the what, who and how has this happened? Well, Mercedes-Benz themselves have apparently sold one of only two 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupes ever m...
Over the course of the past couple of months, we've introduced you to a fair number of new and exciting watchmakers doing some fascinating things. One thing that becomes clear talking to these individuals is the love for sharing their passion, and there's a shared network of watchmakers helping each other move forward, perfecting skills and learning new traits in the process. Theo Levaltier, a stu...
We’ve said it over the past already, but 1980s and 1990s IWC watches are on the rise. This era, that of the resurgence of the brand, gave birth to superb watches, such as the Doppelchronograph or the Deep One. But instrument watches are not the only topic of discussion… That was the time for the comeback of the Portuguese too. Among multiple variations around the concept, the IWC Portu...
Usually, when a brand launches one or more new models, or perhaps even an entire collection, they want to generate a bit of buzz. Get the news out with a big bang, creating a splash upon launch that ripples through for a couple of days or even weeks. I sometimes wonder then, why from time to time a novelty is quietly and unexpectedly released. Case in point, the incredibly gorgeous Omega CK 859 Re...
I guess you're well aware that we, at MONOCHROME, are not enamoured by watches that comprise something else than gears, pinions, plates, bridges and springs. Nicely finished metallic parts, 100% mechanical. As soon as a battery (or worse) is involved, we're out. Now guess what our first response is to anything blockchain, tokenization and the likes Yet, here's an initiative that somehow sparked ou...
The mission of Gerald Charles, an independent family-owned watch company based in Lugano, is to perpetuate the legend of the late Gerald (Charles) Genta, the foremost watch designer of the 20th century. With a portfolio of watches built around an extravagant Genta case design known as Maestro, the brand launches the Gerald Charles Maestro 8.0 Squelette, a skeletonised version of the watch designed...
Watches are mechanical instruments that have long been associated with the world of motorsport, most of the time on four wheels. It is no secret that car enthusiasts are often equally passionate about mechanical watches and these two collecting communities have long joined forces. What's true for sports cars is also true for motorbikes and today we'll reveal the result of a collaboration that coul...
As of today, the OAK collection, comprising no fewer than 160 wristwatches, can be admired in the Design Museum in London until May 25th. Yesterday we had an exclusive preview of the exhibition and the watches, and it’s impressive… to say the least! If you’re in London, and if you like wristwatches, you won’t regret spending a few hours learning about some of the rarest (so...
Some watches are more special than others… The fact that we’re talking about a perpetual calendar manufactured by Patek Philippe is already a first clue. The fact that it’s a salmon dial watch with a white metal case is only adding to this specialness… Right, but what truly makes the 5320G Perpetual Calendar special, whether this new salmon version or the recently discontin...
Ulysse Nardin’s history has forever been intertwined with aquatic life. From very early on, the young watchmaker who started the eponymous company dedicated his work to high-precision chronometry to be used in marine navigation. By 1870, Ulysse Nardin would have already supplied marine chronometers to over 50 of the most formidable navies around the world. With a reputation as profound as UN...
MeisterSinger introduced the Pangaea Day Date back in 2013 with day and date discs that were fully exposed in the centre. Of course, a single hour hand was all that relayed the time in MeisterSinger style. The updated 2019 Pangaea Day Date received contrasting colours between the base dial and discs (and outermost track), which offered more visual separation and some additional character. That tre...
Whenever we come across a new high-end watch project, we have several reactions. There's bewilderment, scepticism, interest, excitement, and once we've understood what we're looking at and like what we see, determination. Determination to investigate further, reach out to the people behind it, and attempt to get our hands on it so we can eventually write a story. The same reaction occurred when we...
For two years now, Longines has concentrated a lot of efforts on developing its Spirit collection, a range of modernly executed, slightly retro-styled pilot’s watches. Available in different sizes (37mm, 40mm and 42mm), with various displays, many different colours and materials, the Spirit lineup is growing fast. Apart from the classic range, there are some special editions that have been s...
The world of watches and watchmaking in general isn’t limited to a small portion of the Swiss Jura mountains. In this respect, Japan is a country with a solid watch culture and a strong industry, gathering some of the most important brands around, such as Seiko (and all of its sub-brands) and Citizen. There’s also a highly impressive independent watchmaking scene to be explored in Japa...
Cvstos might not ring a bell with many of our readers but it is a niche watch brand founded in 2005 by Sassoun Sirmakes, son of Vartan Sirmakes of the Franck Muller Watchland Group. Based in Geneva with workshops in Meyrin, Cvstos is renowned for its upmarket watch portfolio built almost entirely around tonneau-shaped cases, a feature that often is compared to Richard Mille watches. Not surprising...
It takes tremendous amounts of knowledge and craftsmanship to open up a dial or a movement, or both for that matter, to reveal the inner beauty of a watch. The art of skeletonization remains one of the most intriguing watchmaking styles available. And I don't mean cutting a hole in the dial to reveal the balance wheel. No, I am talking about exposing as much as possible, even leaving a traditional...
In the world of bespoke cars, there's extreme and there's EXTREME, in capital letters, to emphasize just how extreme things have got. And famed German-based Mercedes-Benz tuners Brabus have perhaps just released the most extreme car you can think of. Forget Toyota Land-Cruisers or Land-Rover Defenders. Heck, you can even forget about your already intimidating, get-out-of-my-way-NOW Mercedes-AMG G6...
After a brief hiatus, we return to The Collector's Corner, with an entry that is as far removed from the Omega Seamaster Professional 300M?and the Explorer II Polar 16570?we last looked at, in both form and function. At Watches & Wonders 2022 (check out our full coverage here), Chopard presented not one, but three chiming watches to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the jew...