As we’re getting closer and closer to the year’s end, and probably looking to put 2021 behind us quickly for several no-need-to-mention reasons, we’re also looking back on what has been a very interesting year in watchmaking. Not only did we see a very impressive run of new watches, but several brands have seemingly stepped up their game and brought us some exciting news. New col...
2021 was yet another complicated year for watchmaking, and not all brands were as active or creative as they might have hoped. Many of the established watchmakers have been playing it safe, adopting conservative policies or simply postponing major launches for better days. Yet others have shown impressive reactivity and presented solid collections in 2021, and Longines certainly is one of them. To...
A few weeks ago, we published “The?Definitive Guide to James Bond 007 x OMEGA Watches,” an in-depth look at all the OMEGA Seamaster watches that have been worn by the British secret agent in the 007 franchise, from Goldeneye to the latest episode of his adventures No Time to Die. But we thought we could do better and offer you an even more detailed and entertaining report! So pour your...
The Alpine Eagle collection by Chopard is the brand's take on the luxury sports watch. When the first Alpine Eagle model appeared in 2019, many had forgotten that it had a predecessor known as the St. Moritz, a sporty-chic watch of the 1980s with an elaborate-shaped bezel that captured the overstated flamboyance of the decade. Although the ornate bezel of the St. Moritz was not retained, the watch...
The end of the year is near, and we’ll soon be turning the page on 2021, a year of transition and (again) unexpected things. Sure, it was better than 2020 and its constant ups and downs, and sure it has been a great year for MONOCHROME, with the launch of two Montres de Souscription (with Habring2 and Czapek), the addition of new members to the team, and probably the most articles published ...
Unlike our Western tradition of celebrating New Year on a fixed date, the Chinese celebrate the date on the second new Moon after the winter solstice. In 2022, Chinese New Year will fall on the 1st of February and with it a changing of the guard for one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. Leaving behind the Year of the Ox, 2022 welcomes the Year of the Tiger, an animal revered in China as the...
Last week, when we reviewed the Traditionnelle Complete Calendar with its sexy, sleek grey dial, we asked whether Vacheron Constantin was getting hipper in its old age? Looking at what the world's oldest manufacture has pulled off today, a Complete Calendar with an openworked dial, it seems like some of the more complicated models in the traditional Traditionnelle family are getting a 21st-century...
Omega is primarily known for two significant and historic collections: the Speedmaster and the Seamaster. For more than half a century, these two models have dominated the show at the Biel-based brand, giving it its iconic status. But, Omega has much more to offer than these two sports watches. In fact, there’s a collection that is even more enduring, and that is the Constellation. Built as ...
Lionel a Marca has been working behind the scene for decades at the Swatch Group. A few months ago, he took over the operational management of Breguet, under the presidency of Marc A. Hayek, with whom he has worked closely for years. On the occasion of the Tourbillon Exhibition organised in the Geneva Boutique, we sat down with him to discuss his career and the future of this brand rich of 246 yea...
Founded in 2005,?Patek Philippe‘s Advanced Research department aims at improving mechanical movements and bringing innovative solutions in the fields of materials (silicon, for instance) and technologies for watchmaking. This goes for the introduction of Silinvar (2005), the Spiromax balance spring (2006), the Pulsomax escapement (2008), the Oscillomax ensemble (2011), and a further optimize...
The Royal Oak is, without a doubt, one of the most emblematic watches of the industry and the most iconic watch of its manufacturer, Audemars Piguet. And rightfully so, as when it launched in 1972, it defined a new genre known as the luxury sports watch. Since then, for almost 50 years, the brand has derived the concept in multiple forms, and with almost all complications available, including tour...
The circular motion of hands has been widely adopted for multiple centuries now, in order to display the time. But if you are ready to look at things differently and twist conventions, there is latitude for creativity and a multitude of other ways to tell the time. When faced with buying his first serious mechanical watch, Gautier Massonneau could not find his heart desire among the current range ...
It’s been a busy year over at Vacheron Constantin with the opening of its largest boutique in New York and a satisfying mix of releases, both old and new. Its luxury sports watch family, the Overseas, expanded with precious case materials for its QP and Tourbillon and two ruggedly sporty Everest editions. Vacheron also celebrated the centennial of the wonderful American 1921 with a trilogy o...
Even though in the past 2 years (already…) we’ve not been able to use them as much as we would have loved to, traveller’s watches still are some of the most practical timepieces you can imagine. Somehow a must-have in a collection. And they can take multiple forms, from the classic GMT-style, with central 24h hand, to the dual-time watch with an additional indication (sub-dial or...
What if I told you, you can own one of the most desired and rare Ferrari convertibles ever made, for a fraction of what it's actually worth? You'd be having a laugh, right? Or at least think I was a bit out there. But truth be told there is a way to own a Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder SWB for the measly sum of 1 million USD. And that, my fellow Petrolheads, is a bargain considering the value of...
If you’re a recurring reader of MONOCHROME or simply if you’re a watch enthusiast, you can’t have missed the piece of news that dropped last Monday. Indeed, Patek Philippe and its long-time retail partner Tiffany (now owned by LVMH… hence the logo on the back) released a highly discussed edition of the Nautilus 5711 with a Tiffany-Blue dial. Launched for the 170th anniversa...
Independent watchmaking has recently gained incredible traction, with impressive results at auction for rare models. But to understand the origins and the current state of the indie scene, one has to look back in time and investigate names like George Daniels, Vianney Halter, Svend Andersen, Philippe Dufour and of course, Daniel Roth. Often considered one of the earliest representatives of the ind...
For 30 potential collectors, the return in July 2021 of the A. Lange & Sohne’s Cabaret Tourbillon was a moment of celebration. Not only did the discontinued Cabaret Tourbillon stage a comeback – equipped with the world’s first hacking tourbillon – but it also staged its return in a lavish Handwerkskunst edition, the apogee of A. Lange & Sohne‘s artistic and ar...
A new trend is simmering in the distance. Or maybe not so far away. Now the Glasgow Climate summit has been concluded with a final declaration that leaves a lot to be desired; perhaps it is time to turn to ourselves as watch collectors to make a difference. We are not asking you to walk to the next Geneva Watch Days, eat vegan ‘Bratwursten’ or only buy Fairmined gold watches, we are ju...
The fact that the very first example of the Rexhep Rexhepi Chronometre Contemporain II (or RRCCII) hammered for CHF 800,000 at the latest edition of Only Watch speaks volumes about the recognition of independent watchmaker Rexhep Rexhepi, founder of the brand Akrivia. During Dubai Watch Week, we chatted with Rexhepi to find out how a young boy born in Kosovo became a watchmaker in Geneva and his n...
During Dubai Watch Week, we interviewed Hind Abdul Hamied Seddiqi, Director General of the event and Chief Marketing & Communications Officer of Seddiqi Holding. A key event in the region and the global watch calendar, Dubai Watch Week held its fifth edition from 24 -28 November 2021. Like previous editions, it was held at the Gate in the heart of Dubai’s financial district with over 45 ...
Since the end of 2021 is fast approaching and following our recent buying guides, we continue to look at the best watches introduced this year in most categories. After the best chronographs, our favourite watches by independent watchmakers or the top dive watches, it’s time for us to go elegant and dressy. But, MONOCHROME being MONOCHROME, we had to do it with a twist. Elegant doesn’t...
Josh Shapiro, the man behind J.N. Shapiro Watches, is unique in many aspects. As we’ve explained in an interview with the young independent watchmaker, he’s one of the only to exercise this fine art in California – his workshop is located in Inglewood to be precise. With the idea to produce as much as possible in-house, and thus on US soil, he has recently created a highly attrac...
The Historiques line brings together contemporary re-issues of Vacheron Constantin past glories. There's the Ultra-Fine 1955, a rigorist interpretation of the extra-flat dress watch. And then, there are these three unapologetically elegant watches standing out for their original character. I had got the opportunity to go hands-on with the cushion-shaped?American 1921 and the Chronograph 1955 Corne...
This just in… Yes, you’ve read correctly, there’s a new edition of the Nautilus coming. And while we thought the Olive Green version to be the last of the 5711 series – and that’s what was claimed back when it was introduced – The New York Times just broke the news that there’s actually a sequel to the last of the Nautilus 5711, a watch that will be made i...
When IWC Schaffhausen presented a downsized, tamer 43mm edition of its Big Pilot’s watch in April this year, there were mixed reactions. For purists, anything smaller than 46.2mm did not cut it as a Big Pilot, but for consumers interested in getting their hands on the archetypal pilot’s watch, the news was well-received. Along with its iconic Big Pilot looks, a simplified display, new ...
If the Speedmaster and the Seamaster are, without a doubt, the most recognizable watches produced by Omega, the Biel-based brand has far more models to offer. Besides its wide and attractive collection of sports watches, Omega indeed also has more refined, more complex and more luxurious timepieces on offer, whether in the De Ville or the Globemaster collection – the latter being a tribute t...
Perhaps not the best-known collection at Oris, the Rectangular is back with new proportions, colourful dials and straps. A classic dress watch with smooth Art Deco lines, the latest case size of the Oris Rectangular is designed to appeal to men and women alike.If you go to the Oris website and browse the Rectangular collection, you will see four models pop up, the four new models we are covering i...
Swiss high-end manufacturer Vacheron Constantin has a long tradition of delivering specific watches to the Middle Kingdom. For instance, every year, the brand creates Metiers d’Art watches dedicated to the Chinese zodiac signs, such as the recently launched Year of the Tiger models. Today, Vacheron releases another model exclusively made for the Chinese market, however, in a much more restra...
This year has been an incredible year for many reasons. We've seen some fantastic new watches as brands adapt to the pandemic and embrace new business practices. With this in mind, we continue our retrospective of 2021, even though we still have a few weeks left in the year. Once again, MONOCHROME's editorial team has cast their votes to determine our favourite pilot's watches of the year. And the...