Life as a Watch Retailer in 2020, Brick & Mortar versus E-commerce, Corona Perils and Founding the Amsterdam Chapter of Red Bar - Monochrome Watches
The past year has been a tough one for pretty much everyone on the planet. Some saw their business grow at such speed that it was a huge challenge to keep the pace up, while others (unfortunately many more) suffered from an almost standstill of their business. Brick and mortar stores had a very tough time, online flourished. ACE Jewelers are, besides a family business, a pioneer in e-commerce, and were the first to be allowed to sell luxury watches online; not your typical old fashioned jeweler. We sat down with Alon from ACE Jewelers, in Amsterdam, to hear how they have dealt with 2020, with the Coronavirus, and all its challenges.Frank, MONOCHROME –?Alon, when did you enter the family business and what was your first task or job in the company? Ad - Scroll to continue with article Alon Ben-Joseph: My father started Ace Jewelers back in 1975. As a baby, I

The Bulgari Divas' Dream Mosaica 2023 Collection
Bulgari’s watchmaking renaissance has produced some remarkable watches. While the Octo has asserted itself as a pillar of incontestable elegance and thinness, women around the world have succumbed to the seductive sinuous charms of Bulgari’s snake mascot, the Serpenti. The iconic Roman jeweller, renowned for its exuberant colours, sensual cabochon cuts and design bravura, introduced the sensual Divas’ Dream collection in 2016, designed to capture the voluptuous curves of Italian Dolce Vita screen divas. Kicking off LVMH Watch Week, Bulgari launches new editions of the Divas’ Dream Mosaica, two new high jewellery mechanical editions that marry Bulgari’s iconic style with the ancient Roman art of mosaic picked out in gradient sapphires.Two years ago, Bulgari released three Divina Mosaica models, including a stunning diamond-set minute repeater, with sumptuous gemstone-set dials recreating a motif borrowed from Rome’s ancient Caracalla Baths. Initiated

Baselworld... or the new fashion collection of watches - Monochrome Watches
This month?most of?the big watch brands in the watch industry will show their new creations at the annual watch trade show in Basel, which is called Baselworld. Last month the Richemont brands (think: Jaeger-LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin, Montblanc, Lange &?Sohne, Cartier, etc.) had their ‘fashion show’ in Geneva during the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie or short SIHH.?Among this years novelties there where beauties and beasts, and I think the beasts outnumbered the beauties. ?Let’s have a look at this year’s beauties and one ‘beast’. gets the honor of releasing the most ‘ugly beast’ this year. The new 44 mm large Yachtmaster II features a countdown mechanism on a very busy and ‘loud’ dial. Although the ‘normal’ Yachtmaster was never one of my favourites, I definitely prefer it over this one. Yachtmaster IIMy absolute number 1 of the Beauties this year, is a simple divewatch with classic looks. T

Chopard's Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele Explains the New L.U.C Chiming Watches - Monochrome Watches
Live from Watches and Wonders Geneva 2022, we talk with Chopard‘s Co-President Karl Friedrich Scheufele, who will introduce to us the impressive new L.U.C collection, with no fewer than 3 chiming watches. First is the handsome, elegant and restrained L.U.C Strike One, a Sonnerie au Passage based on the legendary automatic micro-rotor Calibre 96. Next is a far bolder expression of the chiming watch, with the Full Strike minute repeater in a sapphire case, thus making full use in and out (as the gongs are also sapphire) of this transparent material. Last but not least, M. Scheufele shows us the ultra-complex Full Strike Tourbillon, combining a minute repeater with the famous anti-gravity device. For more details about the new Chopard L.U.C Collection, please visit www.chopard.com. Ad - Scroll to continue with article

Introducing Vincent Deprez Tourbillon Classique Souscription Edition
If you read MONOCHROME on a regular basis, you should be well aware that independent watchmaking has always been one of the main topics of interest of our founder, and of most of the members of the editorial team. We’ve always been passionate about creative, soul-infused watches made by small ateliers or even one-man shows. And in this instance, we’re always keen on discovering new members of the indie scene. The latest to surface is a relatively young Frenchman named Vincent Deprez, and despite his young age, his track record is rather impressive. Today, we’ll be taking a look at his first eponymous creation, a traditional, handmade, classically designed and superbly finished watch, the Tourbillon Classique Souscription Edition.Vincent Deprez, a Frenchman now living in Geneva, had an early start with watchmaking. Always keen on working with his hands, he first thought about starting a career in watchmaking at the age of 12, when most of us dream to be pilots or movie