Watches NEWS
Where does the name of your favourite watch model come from? - Monochrome Watches
Ever wonder how watches got their names? A few weeks ago we told you about the brand names and their origin. Today we’re going to look at the watch model names. With hundreds of past and present watches, what has been the inspiration for watchmakers and brands to call them certain names? Some are pretty straight forward, other more obscure. Finding a great name is not an easy task and is often essential to the success of a new watch. It needs to fit within the brand’s universe, while also telling its own story. It needs to be relevant, easily pronounceable, memorable and discoverable (in particular for internet search engines today). Ideally this shall be valid in different languages and for different cultures. Lastly, with the purpose of legally protecting the product's name with a trademark application in class 14 (which includes jewellery and watches), brands need to make sure there is no infringement of an existing trademark. Monochrome looks at the back stories of some
First Look: The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Bronze Gold and Burgundy
The long-awaited No-Date Seamaster Diver 300M… Teased during the summer, finally released in steel versions in late 2024. Deeply inspired by the No Time to Die edition once worn on screen by 007, this new sub-collection within the SM300 range got the vintage touch in addition to being free of its date window, domed sapphire crystal, aluminium dial and bezel, and some with a mesh bracelet. The design proved to be a success in steel, only to be confirmed by the Titanium and Bronze Gold edition with green accents a few weeks later. The story continues today with yet another version, this time crafted entirely in Bronze Gold and paired with a burgundy-toned bezel.?As with the recent steel versions and the titanium/bronze gold models, these new early-2025 versions are inspired by the Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition, which was launched in 2020 for the James Bond film No Time to Die. What made this watch special, besides its connection with the world’s famous British secret agent
Hands-on Baltic Tricompax Panda & Reverse Panda
Baltic skillfully rides the nostalgia wave, mastering the art of making vintage-inspired watches with enviable success. How many watches do you know that sell at a premium in the secondary market? We all know about certain references from , AP and Patek Philippe, but I bet you did not imagine a small French kickstart-startup of only five years of age would be included in this list. Nevertheless, the cool Baltic x Peter Auto Tricompax Chronograph Special Edition watches are offered with a 25% markup. Baltic, no bull. The overall concept of this limited edition is now back, with new classic editions of the Baltic Tricompax.Launched in 2017, five years later, Baltic enjoys the reputation of a brand with a solid offering. It creates affordable, thought-through and excellently executed watches that recall the iconic designs of time instruments of the past. Baltic certainly raised stakes in 2021-22 with some landmark events, the 1/1 Pulsometer Monopusher Chronograph for the Only Watch for o
Introducing Franck Muller 30th Anniversary Tribute Chronographs by Grail Watch
When considering Franck Muller’s watches, images of tonneau-shaped cases and flashy colours come to mind. But, looking back at the brand’s earliest days, there are some fascinating watches to explore. Just like early Daniel Roth models or early Roger Dubuis timepieces, some of the oldest Franck Muller watches are getting hotter and hotter and will probably be the next “big thing” in youngtimer watch collecting. Classic designs with an undeniable Patek vibe, handsome chronograph movements and refined details abound. And our friend Wei Koh of Revolution and Grail Watch seems to have an eye for this collection, which is about to be brought back to the market with a trio of stunning vintage-inspired and very legitimate models known as the Franck Muller 30th Anniversary Tribute Chronographs.Muller’s Early daysFranck Muller has not always been characterised by bold and audacious designs. While the formidable watchmaking skills of the company aren’t open to
UNIMATIC x Massena LAB Marine ?U1-MLM
Massena LAB, the timepiece creation studio created by industry veteran William Massena, is slowly making a name for itself with an ever-growing collection of special watches created with renowned or accessible watchmakers. Think about the bronze Habring2 or the Jurassic-like MB&F clock. For its latest creation, Massena LAB joins forces again with UNIMATIC following up on the brown Modello Uno here. This time, the inspiration comes from Massena’s country of origin; the UNIMATIC x Massena LAB Marine ?U1-MLM is inspired by the dive watches used by the French Navy in the 1960s – think Tudor Marine Nationale.Just like its predecessor, the ?U1-ML6, this new take on UNIMATIC’s Modello Uno is an ode to the past. However, it fast-forwards a decade and takes its style cues from the 1960s, specifically the professional dive watches used by French military frogmen – a navy-blue diving instrument with a typical olive green strap. All of these elements have been adapted i
[Rating:(5 / 5 stars)]
