Latest Watch News

Chris Grainger-Herr on the New 2020 IWC Portugieser Collection, the Big Pilot Safari and COVID-19 (warning: long read) - Monochrome Watches

I guess I need to start this interview with an apology. Sorry, this interview is long, very long, comprising close to 3,000 words. However, the conversation with Chris Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen, was great and there was just so much to say about the new Portugiesers. We had the conversation two weeks ago, in the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown. Chris was in his office, in Schaffhausen, ...

2020-05-29

Grand Seiko 60th Anniversary SLGH002 New Calibre 9SA5 - Review

In March Grand Seiko unveiled its 2020 watch collection and prepared to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the brand. Among the novelties were some elegant and discreet watches paying tribute to the first-ever GS watch, a robust and high-end diver with a brand new Spring Drive movement and watches focusing on traditional decorative skills. And… there was the SLGH002. A watch that, at first, a...

2020-05-28

Delma Cayman Worldtimer Automatic (Specs & Price)

Delma is a brand that we’ve covered on multiple occasions here at MONOCHROME. The watches, often rugged and powerful diving instruments, have proved to be well-executed and performing while retaining a reasonable price. One of its recent models, the Cayman, a cool, accessible, retro-styled diver’s watch, offers everything you need and more. Based on the time-and-date model, the brand a...

2020-05-28

Czapek Antarctique, The Brands Luxury Sports Watch (Review, Price)

The luxury sports watch is one of the most successful categories, dominated by cult classics such as the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus – two timepieces that defined the genre back in the 1970s. Smaller independent watchmakers are now entering the category. Brands like Laurent Ferrier, Urban Jurgensen or H. Moser & Cie. have recently unveiled steel sports watch...

2020-05-26

Krayon Anywhere Sunset and Sunrise Watch (Review, Price)

First breaking on the indie watchmaking scene in 2017, Krayon and its founder Remi Maillat made a name for themselves with Everywhere, a mind-boggling complicated watch capable of computing sunrise and sunset hours for any location on Earth. The development received a well-deserved industry accolade with the Innovation Prize at the GPHG 2018 (the Oscars of watchmaking). The brand is back with the ...

2020-05-26

Wempe Iron Walker - Steel Sports Watch Integrated Bracelet

There’s no denying the current trend for the luxury sports watch; stainless steel watches with shaped cases, relatively thin profiles, a combination of luxurious appeal and sturdiness and, most importantly, integrated bracelet/case design. In addition to the usual suspects (AP, PP and VC), we’ve seen multiple brands presenting their own (accomplished or not) vision of a luxury sports w...

2020-05-25

The Best of Indie Watchmaking Seen Through the Casebacks Part 1

Turning a watch over can be a moment of pure enjoyment. Beyond the intricacies of the mechanics of time, the meticulous search for perfection in their manufacturing, the time spent to decorate parts, the path for beauty and balance, is the hallmark of what we call Haute Horlogerie. We have put together some superb watches produced by Indie watchmakers, and we're only going to look at them through ...

2020-05-24

Interview Wilhelm Schmid on A. Lange & Sohne 2020 Novelties and COVID-19

Usually, we would start by saying “we sat down with Mr Schmid, CEO of A. Lange & Sohne, to discuss the brand’s newest releases” or something along those lines. Well, not today. Last week I met ‘virtually’ with Wilhelm Schmid during a Zoom meeting for an interview about the two novelties A. Lange & Sohne introduced during the (again, virtual) Watches & Wond...

2020-05-22

The 2020 Santos de Cartier ADLC Black (Specs & Price)

Cartier enlarges its successful Santos collection with two time-and-date models clad in steel and black ADLC. The most contemporary proposal in this family of watches of late, the use of black ADLC and sleek matte finishes conspire to give the watch an emphatically masculine presence. Let’s have a closer look at these stealth Santos watches.Santos de CartierNot to be confused with the Santos...

2020-05-22

Piaget Polo S Automatic Green-and-Gold Limited Edition

The Polo S is Piaget's answer to the luxury sports watch and was launched in 2016. With its 42mm cushion-shaped case and 1970s vibe, the 9.4mm height of the case remained surprisingly slim for an automatic sports watch and reflects Piaget's tradition of watches with lean profiles. For 2020, Piaget introduces a new version of its PDV green dial, now with rose gold hands and indices and a steel brac...

2020-05-21

OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean 36th Americas Cup (Price)

Omega has just announced its role as the official timekeeper of the 36th America's Cup that will be held in Auckland, New Zealand, from the 6th to the 21st of March 2021 and will see the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand racing against the winner of the Prada Cup, the Challenger Selection Series, with the winner being the first team to score seven points. This will mark the third time in history ...

2020-05-20

Bamford x Badgerworks TAG Heuer Carrera Tropical Coffee Dial

Let’s say that this watch won’t be everybody’s cup of tea… maybe some of you won’t find it brew-tiful… Maybe, this watch will make you feel mugged? Indeed, thanks to these (not-so-profound) puns, you’ll get the point with this watch, which is the rather special result of a collaboration between customizer Bamford Watch Department and luminescent materials ...

2020-05-20

Seiko Prospex Street Series 'Urban Safari' Tuna Watches

“Inspired by the original 1975 Seiko diver's, this new timepiece features the same iconic outer protector, in a more compact design perfect for urban living.” Seiko’s speech regarding these new models, an entire collection of no fewer than 11 watches, says it all. Take one of the brand’s most important professional specification dive watches, extract what matters (the case,...

2020-05-18

Buying Guide - 5 of the Best Recently-Launched Black Watches (Price)

Black has a weird attraction. Black is timeless and classic. Black can be discreet or bold. And the watchmaking industry knows it as blacked-out watches are highly popular and widely available today, but not all models wear black as well as others. Today, we've listed some of the best recently launched black watches, versatile pieces that look great with anything and are ideal for dressing up or d...

2020-05-17

Richemont Group 2020 Results Stable, Yet Affected by Coronavirus

In a statement released this morning, luxury group Richemont – the owner of multiple high-end watch brands, such as IWC, Lange, JLC or Cartier – has announced its results for the year ended 31 March 2020. On a yearly basis, the group recorded revenues of EUR 14, 238 million, up 2% at actual exchange rates and stable at constant exchange rate compared to the prior year. However, this do...

2020-05-15

Spotted - Craig, Knopfler, Hanks - 10 Notable People with Omega Speedmaster

The venerable Omega Speedmaster Professional was the first wristwatch worn on the Moon in 1969 and has gained an undeniable status symbol, being on of the most iconic watches ever, one with a popularity that goes far beyond just watch nerds. Considering its pedigree, it seems understandable to see this watch on the wrist of celebrities, and I have compiled a list with a few familiar faces wearing ...

2020-05-15

Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Selfwinding Chronograph (Price)

Even though it would be impossible to hide all the buzz, the discussions and the emotions that surrounded the launch of this watch – certainly the most commented watch ever – it won’t be the topic today. We could argue with its detractors… We could, but we won’t. Today we are going to be fair, objective and realistic. Because today, over a year after its launch, now t...

2020-05-14

Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Tourbillon Slate (Specs & Price)

Benefiting from the digital version of Watches & Wonders 2020, Parmigiani Fleurier has just presented the Toric Tourbillon Slate with a flying tourbillon at 7 o'clock, framed by a beautifully decorated dial and case. A hybrid of sorts, the Toric Tourbillon Slate appropriates the shell of the Toric watch family but is powered by its in-house, ultra-slim automatic flying tourbillon with micro-ro...

2020-05-14

Baltic Aquascaphe Bronze (Specs & Price)

The brainchild of a young, passionate French collector who wanted to offer handsome vintage-inspired pieces at reasonable prices, microbrand Baltic has been successful – rightfully so – with its two existing collections. One of them is named the Aquascaphe, a dive watch inspired by icons of the 1950s, packed with retro-styled elements. Following the development of the brand, this watch...

2020-05-14

In-Depth - The Merging of Pocket Watches and Wristwatches

Upgrading expensive mechanical devices is a centuries-old concept that prevents premature obsolescence as times change. In the American Wild West of the 19th century, black powder revolvers were commonly converted to shoot modern cartridges, forgoing the need to replace a vital necessity. Cameras are another example, such as early 20th-century screw-mount Leica rangefinders. The original fixed-len...

2020-05-13

Omega Speedmaster 38mm Co-Axial Chronograph Full Gold

The first watch to land on the Moon has fascinated men and women alike. In 2017, exactly 60 years after the debut of the first Speedmaster, the legendary watch made its debut in a 38mm case, a size far better suited to women's wrists. Easily recognisable as a Speedmaster chronograph, the 38mm models diverge from the men's models with their oval sub-dials and an oval date window at 6 o'clock. Up un...

2020-05-13

In-Depth - Is There Still a Place for Pocket Watches in the 21st Century?

The pocket watch… No style is more iconic and nothing has endured for as many centuries. These marvels of mechanical engineering have relayed status for elites, advanced transportation needs across land, air and sea, and just kept average folks on schedule. Outfits were even designed specifically to accommodate them. In the 21st century, three-piece suits have become a rarity, often relegate...

2020-05-12

Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date Excellence Platine

Presented in 2017, the Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date is, undeniably, one of the most elegant and balanced watches in Vacheron Constantin‘s slightly modern collection – the more classic watches are grouped under the Traditionnelle collection. Mainly characterised by its display combining a retrograde date and a moon indicator, this watch, previously available in pink or white gol...

2020-05-12

The 2020 Pasha de Cartier Stainless Steel 41mm (Specs & Price)

The Parisian Maison heralded the return of its Pasha de Cartier collection a couple of weeks ago, during the virtual edition of Watches & Wonders 2020. Originally launched as a collection in 1985, the Pasha was discontinued about ten years ago. Awakening after a decade of slumber, the Pasha de Cartier arrives in two new case sizes of 41mm and 35mm and is clearly being marketed as a unisex watc...

2020-05-11

Bamford London Commando GMT and Predator GMT - Introducing, Price

George Bamford is best known for customizing (officially authorized) watches from heavyweights like Zenith, and Patek Philippe via his company, Bamford Watch Department. His latest watch brand, Bamford London, has been building watches from scratch for a couple of years now and had an unusual start. There are now two main collections with several variants and collaborations, and they exist along...

2020-05-11

Buying Guide - The 10 Best Chronograph Watches of 2020 (So Far)

The chronograph, one of our favourite features and one of the most complex types of movement around, continues to be one of the most popular and practical complications. Chronographs can be started, stopped and reset to measure short (or longer) intervals of time. Over the years, these were adapted and rethought into specialized tools. Being used in specific fields such as aviation, space explorat...

2020-05-10

Spotted - Conor McGregor with a Stunning Green Patek Philippe 5905P

No surprises to see Conor McGregor, the flamboyant Irish professional mixed martial artist and boxer, mostly known for his fight against the equally flamboyant boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., in an episode of “Spotted”. His love for watches, mostly and Patek Philippe, is clearly visible on his Instagram feed, regularly showing some of his preferred timepieces – and some green dial ...

2020-05-09

Rewind - Video, Inside the Omega Master Chronometer METAS Lab

This was three years ago already but what a special day… Back then, Omega had announced its Master Chronometer certification. Created in collaboration with independent Federal Institute of Metrology METAS, the Master Chronometer certification was one of the most advanced and stringent certification processes in watchmaking. Yet, no one had ever been allowed to bring a camera inside the labor...

2020-05-09

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo 15206PT and 15207OR Yoshida

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin, with its modern steel iteration (Ref. 15202ST), needs no introduction anymore. The direct descendant of the 1972 original Royal Oak watch, still ultra-thin and identically proportioned, it is one of the most sought-after watches on the market and one of the most (if not the most) legitimate luxury sports watch. And while steel was part of the inaugur...

2020-05-08

TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 02 GP Monaco Historique CBL2114 (Specs & Price)

It would be quite difficult to come up with a better match than what’s following. When you own a watch in your portfolio – and an iconic one on top of it – that is named “Monaco”, you have to do something linked to motorsport in the Principality of Monaco – which is also known as a temple of racing. So not only has the Automobile Club Monaco appointed TAG Heuer ...

2020-05-08