The New Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph - Monochrome Watches
Twenty-eight years after its debut, the Royal Oak Offshore of 1993 is back with three new references in 42mm steel, titanium or pink gold cases. Respecting the essence of the original timepiece, there are, however, several interesting evolutions, including the incorporation of the latest in-house automatic flyback chronograph movement and a novel interchangeable bracelet system. To enjoy a view of the movement, the sapphire crystal caseback makes a comeback, and the dial reveals some design tweaks.BackgroundLaunched during Baselworld 1993, the Royal Oak Offshore (ref.?25721ST) was as daring and defiant a proposal as the Royal Oak had been in 1972. The ROO was an oversized, high-testosterone version of the Royal Oak, a colossal 42mm watch (huge dimensions in 1993) bristling with textures and bold combinations of materials that earned it the nickname The Beast. As an offshoot of Gerald Genta's iconic Royal Oak, the ROO paid homage to the legend with hallmark design features like the rais

Buying Guide - 5 Watches That Redefine Ultra-Thin Watchmaking
Ultra-thin is a truly fascinating area of watchmaking. Ultra-thin is the child of miniaturization, which has always been one of the watchmakers’ goals. Ultra-thin is where design and mechanics meet, where the ingenuity of the watchmaker isn’t guided by the need to pack more and more functions, but by the wish to make the watch as elegant as possible. Ultra-thin is a true watchmaker’s field of research that requires complex mechanical solutions. But for long, ultra-thin meant classic watches. Can’t ultra-thin be cool, bold, modern, slightly provocative or usable on a daily basis too? Actually, in the past years, ultra-thin has changed and is no more reserved for the so-called “tuxedo” watch. And here are 5 impressively slender models that prove you can be thin and different.?The Modern Classic – Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-ThinMeet the thinnest perpetual calendar on the market… This watch combines the bes

COOL FINDS: 3 rarities from indie watchmakers - Monochrome-Watches
After showing you some highly interesting vintage timepieces?from Heuer and some rare vintage chronographs from Airain or Universal Geneve, we wanted to move on to our favorite subject: independent watchmakers. Those type of watches are always made in very limited editions and finding pre-owned ones is complicated. Here are three rare birds that you might like as much as we do.A classical Speake-Marin J-Class ResiliencePeter (Speake-Marin) is a very good friend of Monochrome-Watches. We’ve always thoroughly enjoyed?his work. He has now moved on to building some very nice, more affordable, pilot watches (the Wing Commander, the Seafire Chronograph and the Spirit MkII) but he also has his classical line, the J-Class, represented by dress watches, with in-house calibers and even a tourbillon. Ad - Scroll to continue with article The one presented here is a Re

The MONOCHROME Christmas-guide For Real Watch Lovers - Alligator Straps, Watch Rolls and One Surprise Gift
What to offer a real watch lover? Or what you, as a watch lover, can treat yourself to. We've got it all lined up! It is, in fact, our own wish list come true: handmade watch straps and watch rolls of the best possible quality at great prices. And of course, with plenty of guarantees. Find out for yourself. Here’s the MONOCHROME Christmas guide for real watch lovers!The Alligator StrapA beautiful mechanical watch can't live without the perfect high-end strap. And because we are real watch lovers ourselves, we know what that means. Handmade, Italian, comfortable, perfect size, and a fitting colour. Ad - Scroll to continue with article MONOCHROME’s alligator straps are made by hand by a?family workshop in Northern Italy and crafted from the most supple alligator leather we have ever had on our wrist. And believe us - we've tried a few. And we’ve

All the Generations of the Patek Philippe 5270 Perpetual Calendar Chronograph explained, including the 2015 third generation - Review, specs & price - Monochrome-Watches
The Perpetual Calendar Chronograph is the best interpretation of what defines a Patek Philippe. Like knows how to manufacture divers, Patek has mastered the Chrono with QP for ages and is, without any debate, the best at it. This association of complications?launched?in 1941 with the Ref. 1518 never ended and is still THE hallmark of the Geneva-based old lady (Patek Philippe). Recently we reviewed the latest example of this institution, the?Patek Philippe 5270 Perpetual Calendar Chronograph with a stunning blue dial. For 2015, Patek brings the third generation of the Ref. 5270,?with a new combination of a white dial and a rose gold case – plus the?correction of one of the main faults, the ‘chin’.Background – the 2011?and the 2013 generations of the?Patek Philippe Ref. 5270 explainedWithout going back into the full history of the?Perpetual Calendar Chronographs by Patek Philippe (that can be found here), let us give you some details about this specific referenc