Hands-on - The brutally honest Laco Kiel.2 Chronograph
Despite the fact that mechanical watches today are very much a luxury item and far from a necessity, there was a time when proper timing instrument watches were the difference between life and death. Watches served a true purpose and were used to time extremely important events. This need for precision also arose with the threat of war building in Europe in the 1930s, which lead to the creation of the Beobachtungsuhr, or B-Uhr. These watches became legendary for various reasons, and today, most Flieger watches take after these original timepieces. Some of the brands which produced B-Uhr watches back then still do that today, to an extent. One such brand is Laco, which has been around since 1925. And Laco recently presented the brutally honest, no-nonsense Kiel.2 Chronograph that takes after the historic design of the Flieger Uhr.A brief history of lacoThe German watchmaking brand of Laco was originally founded in 1925 as Lacher & Co. by Frieda Lacher and Ludwig Hummel. After initia

10 of the Best Dive Watches Introduced at Baselworld 2018 - Monochrome Watches
Now that Baselworld?2018 is over, it’s time for the MONOCHROME team to pick the best watches of the show. One category that is always highly disputed is the dive watch and 2018 has been another productive year. From vintage-inspired pieces to proper instruments, here are 10 of the best dive watches we discovered at Baselworld 2018.Bell & Ross?BR03-92 Diver BlueLast year, Bell & Ross surprised (and pleased) its community by adding a dive version of its iconic squared instrument watch. On paper, the combination of dive watch elements, such as a round rotating bezel, with the dashboard-like square case could have been difficult. In the metal, the?BR03-92 Diver was one of the coolest sports watches of 2017. First launched in black, this year Bell & Ross adds a blue edition of this?BR03-92 Diver (dial, bezel and strap) with nice yellow accents. Note: a bronze version is now also part of the collection. Ad - Scroll to continue with article

Review - Piaget Polo S Chronograph Steel (Specs & Price)
When the Piaget Polo S Chronograph (and time-and-date too) was unveiled last year in New York, the response was divisive to say the least. Many thought it paid too close a homage to certain other iconic steel sports watches, whilst others welcomed this bold move by Piaget to offer some more accessible models. Now, more than a year on, the dust has settled a bit and (presumably) emotions aren't running quite so high, which makes it the perfect time for a hands-on review of the Piaget Polo S Chronograph in steel.I must admit, when I first saw the press photos of the Polo S and the Polo S Chronograph last year, I was not particularly impressed. Whilst certainly a big step for Piaget design wise, the watches seemed to fall short of the mark, especially given that the accompanying marketing hype was all about leading rather than following. That said, I do feel that at the time it was difficult to form an impartial opinion, particularly given the endless stream of critical feedback on social

History of the Patek Philippe Calatrava Part 3 - Major Modern Models - Monochrome Watches
Today we conclude our three-part series on the Patek Philippe Calatrava with a look at the present-day models currently available from the brand. After reading Part. 1 (focussing on the very first model of the collection, the reference 96) and Part. 2 (the most important vintage models), I'm sure you will agree that the humble Calatrava is one of the most iconic dress watches of all time and has played a significant role in shaping the entire dress watch category. Incredibly, its underlying design has remained largely unchanged since its introduction in 1932, some 85 years ago. While it's true we've seen many variations over the years, the fundamentals have always remained the same, which is great news for vintage enthusiasts and new buyers alike.According to the official Patek Philippe website, there are 21 different Calatrava models currently available for men (this includes different metals and excludes complicated models), however, the “Calatrava” section on the PP webs

Introducing: The Tudor Black Bay Pro GMT Polar White dial
In 2022, we went as far as to consider the Tudor Black Bay Pro GMT the best tool watch we have seen that year, impressed by its cool design, ultra-robust construction and fair price. A perfect adventure watch, solid and legible, with a GMT complication for travellers - a do-it-all, wear-it-everywhere. This year, this Tudor model that does bear some resemblance to the Explorer II gets a polar dial, and that’s the news.The new version comes in the same 39mm case as the earlier reference, crafted from stainless steel with polished and satin-finished surfaces, waterproof to 200m, with a 24-hour fixed bezel, satin-brushed. The screw-down crown bears the Tudor rose logo, the domed sapphire crystal tops the case and the caseback is solid. Ad - Scroll to continue with article The domed opaline dial features applied ceramic hour indices with