The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo - SIHH 2012 - Monochrome Watches
This year is Audemars Piguet celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Royal Oak. The timepiece Gerald Genta design and that was launched in 1972, became a true classic and an icon in the horological history.?For this celebration they release many new Royal Oak models and among them a new Royal Oak Jumbo, a new Royal Oak Automatic and a Royal Chronograph. My personal preference is the new Royal Oak Jumbo and my first reaction is… I WANT ONE! Ad - Scroll to continue with article The new Royal Oak Jumbo has brought back several elements of the original Jumbo from 1972, like the AP logo that is now (again) positioned above the 6 o’clock position. Like on the old version, the new Jumbo has no white line around the date window. This is something I’m pleased with and I’m sure many enthusiasts will love it as well.?The hobnail dial is now finer, wi

Pre-SIHH 2019 - IWC Big Pilots Watch Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition "Le Petit Prince" IW590303 - Specs & Price
Among the four watches that IWC introduces for its pre-SIHH 2019 collection are three ‘standard’?pieces – a chronograph, a double-chronograph and a world time – and one very exclusive, complicated piece; the?IWC Big Pilot's Watch Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition “Le Petit Prince” IW590303?(yes, quite a name…) Nevertheless, if some will point to a lack of relevance and a strong departure from the tool/pilot watch concept, what remains is a superb piece of mechanical art, which features a rare complication: a constant-force tourbillon.Meet the first tourbillon ever fitted to an IWC Pilot’s watch. While we’ve seen various complications featured on Big Pilot’s (QP, annual calendar or even a digital QP-chronograph), it is the first time that IWC integrates a regulating organ of this kind in this collection. The tourbillon is usually reserved for dressier watches, such as the Portugieser, the Da Vinci or the Portofino. And for this

Interview - Antoine Pin Of Bulgari at LVMH Watch Week 2023
Horologically, the new year gets started with the LVMH Watch Week 2023 in Singapore, where Bulgari, TAG Heuer, Hublot and Zenith join forces to present some of their novelties. It was the perfect opportunity for MONOCHROME to interview Antoine Pin, Managing Director of the Bulgari Watch Division, and discover all the new models that the watchmaker/jeweller presented and what to expect for the upcoming year.Note: This interview was conducted in Switzerland a few days before the event. Ad - Scroll to continue with article Xavier Markl, MONOCHROME –?The LVMH Watch Week is held in Singapore this year; how does Bulgari integrate this event into its 2023 calendar??Antoine Pin, Managing Director of the Bvlgari Watch Division – Since 2019, we have seen massive changes concerning the organisation of commercial events. We have seen the end of Baselworld, the r

IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Moon Phase - Review
Over the last few years, IWC has been steadily re-positioning its various collections in a decidedly upward direction. Most notably, the Portugieser has moved up a few rungs on the price list, whilst the Portifino now occupies the space this move created. Although at first this may not seem like great news for your wallet, it has resulted in the introduction of several interesting and attractive pieces into the Portofino range, including this gorgeous IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Moon Phase. Today, we go hands on to find out what all the fuss is about.When I first laid eyes on the new Portofino Hand-Wound Moon Phase (ref. 5164) earlier this year, I must admit I was impressed. Quietly introduced without much fanfare from the brand, it is a nice-looking watch that packs a lot of functionality into a rather understated design. In keeping with IWC's Bauhaus aesthetic, the dial is well-balanced, with clear, easy to read font and indices and a focus on function leading form. Two different versio

Baselworld 2018 - Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Steel 36mm / 40mm (specs & price)
While we’ve already introduced the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date in bronze with a 36mm case, there are other novelties regarding the Pointer Date that Oris is introducing at Baselworld 2018. Alongside the bronze edition, Oris will also release some steel versions of the Pointer Date watch, this time in?40mm and 36mm cases, as well as with steel bracelets or leather straps – and again with an unbeatable quality/price ratio. Overview.While the bronze version of the?Oris Big Crown Pointer Date will certainly be one of the main talking pieces for the brand at Baselworld 2018, there are also some more rational steel versions. This watch is based on a limited edition launched mid-2017 – the?Oris Big Crown Pointer Date D.26 286 HB-RAG – which reintroduced one of Oris’ most famous designs, the 1984 Pointer Date watch, which in turn was based on a 1938 design. No more limitations now, the Pointer Date is back in the collection with various options. Below, some of the