CEO Jean-Christophe Babin Discusses the Bvlgari 2018 Novelties - Monochrome Watches
Like every year,?the month of January?was mainly driven by the SIHH and all the novelties that we’ve presented to you during this hectic week. Hosting eighteen large brands (among them Richemont brands) and seventeen smaller Independents, yet, there are always several brands exposing their novelties elsewhere in the city of Geneva. One of these brands is Bvlgari and we found some time, very early in the morning, to sit down with?Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of the brand. We?talked about how the brand was doing, after winning?two prizes at?last year’s GPHG, and?the novelties they were launching. This?is only part?one?of the Bulgari?novelties, as the second part will be unveiled at Baselworld next month.Although this was just part one, Jean-Christophe Babin already had quite some novelties to share with us. From a high-jewellery piece to a masculine chronograph, Bvlgari’s savoir-faire was well represented. Of course, our prime focus was on the two major men’s watch

Why I think the Omega CK 859 is the best new Omega of the year.
Usually, when a brand launches one or more new models, or perhaps even an entire collection, they want to generate a bit of buzz. Get the news out with a big bang, creating a splash upon launch that ripples through for a couple of days or even weeks. I sometimes wonder then, why from time to time a novelty is quietly and unexpectedly released. Case in point, the incredibly gorgeous Omega CK 859 Re-edition. No press release, no big campaign, just a devilishly good-looking watch no one saw coming. And to me, it's hands-down the best new Omega we will be seeing this year.I have several reasons why I genuinely believe this is the hottest watch coming from Omega in 2022 and I will happily explain. The backstory of this watch and its release is funny, and a-typical of the industry. It wasn't announced by Omega itself or an affiliated PR agency. It was just there out of the blue. Spotted on social media, we reached out to Omega to find out more and it tested our patience a little. What was go

Girard-Perregaux celebrates its 230th anniversary with 3 special watches
Celebrating its 230th anniversary this year, Girard-Perregaux has selected three emblematic models and given them a metiers d’art makeover with spectacular Grand Feu enamel dials and, in the case of La Esmeralda Tourbillon, a host of other artisanal techniques. Dubai Watch Week will be the stage for the unveiling of these Eternity Editions, a name that alludes to the never-fading lustre and intensity of colour produced by Grand Feu enamel.Brief BioAlthough the brand’s origins stretch back to 1791 with Jean-Fran?ois Bautte (below, left), the name Girard-Perregaux appeared in 1856 following the marriage of watchmaker Constant Girard (below, middle) and Marie Perregaux (below, right). One of the oldest Swiss watchmakers on the scene today, GP prospered during the quartz crisis by producing the world’s first quartz wristwatch vibrating at 32,768 Hz (standard frequency for quartz watches today) along with the launch of its luxury sports watch collection Laureato.

Microbrands vs. Accessible Established Brands - Are Newcomers Shaking up the Industry or Just Small Fish in a Big Pond? - Monochrome Watches
It's an interesting time to be a watch enthusiast. Fuelled by sites like Kickstarter, a phenomenon of?inexpensive, quality movements and parts is unfolding, available with the immediateness only online media outlets can offer. Small startups (or microbrands) are producing compelling watches with capital raised via crowdfunding and online-only storefronts, minimizing overhead that established brands still bear. A flurry of online watch publications cover a particular launch and suddenly a new watch is born. While microbrand offerings are often thought of as inferior, cheap watches thrown together in Asia, enough of these brands have surpassed the stigma and grown into competent watch companies. An excellent example is Farer Universal, a microbrand of just a few years that recently released a trio of unique chronographs that can go head-to-head with established brands like Hamilton or Tissot. Dedicated entrepreneurs are working tirelessly to steer your attention away from familiar brands

Ochs und Junior - Luxury 2.0 - Monochrome-Watches
What is luxury? Luxury was the topic of conversation at the lunch we had with Beat Weinmann, CEO and cofounder of the brand Ochs und Junior. The brand's technology and design maestro, Ludwig Oechslin, recently retired curator of the Musee International d'Horlogerie, was absent for our gastronomical affair, which happened in Lucerne, far, far away from the bustle of Baselworld 2014. Given that the discussion centered on luxury, you may be surprised to know that the Ochs und?Junior's headquarters sits several blocks away from the prestigious retail enclaves near the lake, and appropriate to the minimalist ethos of the brand, the shop/headquarters sits in an unassuming storefront. Inside is a spartan workshop with large tables for viewing Ochs und Junior watches, which as a rule have an unadorned, industrial feel. Where are the fashion models who waited on us in Basel? Where is the champagne? Where are the precious metals, which are polished to within an inch of their lives? In a word, wh