Hublot introduced its Spirit of Big Bang collection in 2014 as an evolution of the popular Big Bang series. It retained all the familiar Bang elements yet was presented in an entirely new shape the brand seemed to have avoided until then – the barrel. Over the decade, the tonneau case series has grown and it is incredibly prolific in the chronograph category, with nearly thirty references in...
Gerald Genta (1931-2011), the watch designer, is one of the most celebrated names in the industry associated with timeless icons like the Nautilus and the Royal Oak. Gerald Genta also created his own brand in 1969, a hotbed of wild creativity and high-end complications. Having languished for some time after its acquisition by Bulgari, ears pricked up with the LVMH announcement in 2023 that the bra...
While bright colours have become noticeably prevalent in watchmaking for quite a few years, until recently, the exciting hues have been reserved for the dials and the straps. On the other hand, Hublot tries hard to make its entire watches, case included, literally eye-popping. Moreover, the brand strives to showcase its movements and does it well by using sapphire crystals and materials such as SA...
The TAG Heuer Carrera requires little to no introduction anymore. With its name inspired by the perilous Carrera Panamericana race, the model became one of the most iconic racing-inspired watches. Since its introduction in 1963, its design has evolved in many directions. Presented in 2023, marking the 60th anniversary of the collection, the handsome Carrera Glassbox was an instant hit. This modern...
The TAG Heuer Carrera Date 36mm is designed to captivate both men and women, all thanks to its versatile unisex diameter. Within the collection, however, some models naturally lean towards a more traditionally feminine appeal, enhanced using soft colours and diamond-adorned dials. The two latest additions to the colourful lineup, featuring delicate powdery pink and lilac dials with sparkling indic...
TAG Heuer's Carrera has been basking in the limelight for 62 years now, a timeless racing-inspired chronograph designed by Jack Heuer in 1963, named after the Carrera Panamericana Road race. Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2023, TAG Heuer introduced a compact 39mm edition of the Carrera with a pronounced domed sapphire crystal, imitating the look of the curved acrylic crystals used on Carreras...
Watch season officially opens with the LVMH Watch Week 2025. Originally scheduled to take place in Los Angeles from January 21 to 24, the devastating wildfires have led to the cancellation of the physical event. However, the launches are underway from LVMH's stable of brands, including Bulgari, which comes with exciting news about its new, more versatile and practical Lady Solotempo BVS100 mechani...
Launched in 2016, the Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 combines the best of Hublot: modern materials, an edgy skeleton movement with a 10-day power reserve – one of the most important calibres from the brand with the Unico Chronograph – and versatility with the practical one-click interchangeable strap system. With the current trend for smaller watches, we now get a more compact and ergonomic v...
Rado began experimenting with innovative materials in the early 1960s, resulting in the Diastar and its futuristic helmet-like case made from scratch-resistant carbide tungsten. Since 1986, Rado has employed high-tech ceramic in its creations, obtaining a broader palette of colours and finishes over the years. The True Square, a collection launched in 2020, perpetuates Rado's history of square-sha...
Among the many partnerships between automotive brands and watchmakers, the collaboration between TAG Heuer and Porsche stands out as one of the most seamless and authentic despite being recent – since 2021. This synergy has given rise to special edition timepieces that captivate enthusiasts well beyond the racing world – the Carrera Porsche Chronograph, then the Carrera x Porsche RS 2....
For 2025, TAG Heuer feels it’s time for a massive overhaul of its racing-inspired Formula 1 collection, and here we are. Plus, it’s a timely refresh as well, as it has been just announced that TAG Heuer, as part of the LVMH Group, is the official timekeeper for the FIA Formula 1 World Championship again! The first watch, or watches rather, that put things in motion is this all-new Form...
A Chopard L.U.C watch offering a perpetual calendar complication with a tourbillon regulator is not new to the series. In 2013, Chopard presented its L.U.C Perpetual T model, which was then followed by two extraordinary unique pieces in 2018, the “La Santa Muerte” decorated with the Mexican motifs and “Spirit of the Chinese Zodiac” in a homage to Chinese traditions, all pow...
The L.U.C Lunar One was Chopard's first calendar and astronomy complication. Unveiled in 2005, the model combines a perpetual calendar and a precision orbital moon phase display in a rotating aperture. Twenty years later, Chopard revisits its L.U.C Lunar One with a more compact basin-style case, a trimmer, more legible dial decorated with hand-guilloche in blue and salmon and a practical quick-rel...
It’s often said the watchmaking industry is a conservative business, and for the most part that’s quite true. Traditional techniques are still at the heart of the vast majority of mechanical watches, but there are those who dare to push back boundaries and venture into the unknown. This can result in innovative materials, new designs and surprising collaborations. But, as some of the w...
Well, as far as we know Flamingos aren’t blue. As far as we know, the previous hit of Tudor was pink, and yet it wasn’t named Flamingo… Try to understand. Or simply just enjoy yet another unconventional and fun watch by Tudor. Following the highly-discussed and sought-after Black Bay Chrono Pink last year, which somehow matched David Beckham’s football team, Inter Miami FC,...
It is widely known that the watch market, and most luxury markers for that matter, are facing a relatively difficult situation. According to Bain & Company Luxury Study, the global personal luxury goods market is likely to dip by 2% in 2024 – not a dramatic situation, but not a positive one nevertheless. While jewellery?was the most resilient core luxury category, watches are more impact...
A moon phase complication on a watch that went to the Moon and is named, at least for some of the editions, the Moonwatch… Add to that a glass of moonshine and a slice of mooncake, and you’ll be over the Moon. I allow you to blame me in the comments for this lame introduction, which doesn’t feel like asking for the Moon… Maybe I should do a moonlight flit and disappear. Rig...
Following the latest Divers Date from late 2024, Oris is looking back at its original dive watch from 1965 and a remake in 2015 with a distinctive dial design and retro vibe. The new Divers Sixty-Five 60th Anniversary Edition is a sequel of sorts to the 2015 50th Anniversary Divers Sixty-Five that became a best-selling series. The two share a lot of aesthetic similarities and it's a great way to c...
While we won’t do the entire story of the Speedmaster once again here (look here for that), we can quickly talk about a complication that first appeared on this watch in 1985; the moonphase display… For a watch that went on the Moon and that is named the Moonwatch, it’s quite appropriate, don’t you think? There have been multiple variants of the Speedmaster Moonphase, from ...
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is on everyone’s lips. It’s a topic that divides and generates strong opinions (pros or cons), and it will, in the future, become increasingly important, whether you like it or not. These tools, at least the tools that we, the public, can use (image or text generators such as ChatGPT), are becoming better and better at being creative – just ask AI ...
First presented for the 222nd anniversary of the venerable watchmaker Vacheron Constantin, the 222 was the brand’s answer to the then-growing demand for luxury sports watches with integrated bracelets. The third member of the iconic Holy Trinity of luxury sports watches, next to the Royal Oak and the Nautilus, all three sharing the same base movement (at the beginning), the 222 wasn’t ...
A week ago, we covered?some of the best watches coming from the Netherlands for the simple reason that both our founder Frank and myself are Dutch. However, part of the team comes from France, and as such, I thought it would be fun to have a look at French watches this time around! And when I’m talking about French watchmaking, the spotlight immediately shines on the likes of Breguet, Cartie...
Longines is known to tread carefully in developing new watches, often delving into its hugely impressive archives to find inspiration for tons of fine heritage-related watches. It’s also a brand that doesn’t jump in unexpected directions, resulting in strange and inexplicable choices and subsequent releases.?So it’s fair to say this?Ultra-Chron Carbon took us by surprise, as it&#...
Lately, it seems that Tissot can do little wrong. Release after release shows an impressive sense of style, historical inspiration and solid mechanics, all the while remaining true to the brand’s relatively affordable pricing strategy. Following the immense success of the PRX Powermatic 80 and subsequent PRX Chronograph collections, Tissot is now pushing the PR 516 into the spotlight. Things...
I’m very fortunate (and spoilt, in a way) to handle hundreds of watches every year working for MONOCHROME Watches. To the point that I almost have to admit it’s not that easy to be impressed anymore, but it does happen from time to time. Of course, it’s not that difficult to be amazed by very complex and exquisitely finished watches, but I have to take a certain budget into accou...
Panerai starts the new year by releasing a watch that perfectly encapsulates the brands philosophy and style – staying true to its storied watchmaking heritage blended with modern construction. The latest Luminor reference delivers everything loyal Panerai enthusiasts anticipate while incorporating subtle design updates to set it apart from previous models. True to the brand's identity, the...
In 2023, the Tissot Le Locle collection marked its 20th anniversary, and with the addition of the two new models, it now comprises 30 references. Renowned for its classic yet engaging design, the collection offers elegant, timeless elements and practical features, appealing to those seeking a refined, understated timepiece with an exceptional price-quality ratio. Let’s explore the latest add...
When you think of split-second or rattrapante chronographs, you immediately picture high-end watches from Vacheron Constantin or Patek Philippe. Finding an accessible rattrapante chronograph, at least new on the market, is not an easy task, especially if you consider Swiss or European watch manufacturers. But something from the other side of the world is about to change that. In late December 2024...
After the Dragon, it will soon be time to celebrate another important animal of the Chinese Zodiac, the snake, an animal associated with wisdom, charm and transformation. Since 2016, Hublot has been commemorating the Chinese New Year with artfully rendered special editions of the Spirit of Big Bang – such as the Dragon-themed model of last year. As you will have guessed by now, the brand is ...
It’s only January, and yet the upcoming 2025 Formula One season is already in the starting blocks. We had the recent announcement of a new official timekeeper, and there are watch-related things to be expected on this side soon. But the first to kick off the F1 watch game this year is IWC, which presents a watch that unsurprisingly looks familiar. Indeed, while being a time-and-date watch, i...