Life as a Watch Retailer in 2020, Brick & Mortar versus E-commerce, Corona Perils and Founding the Amsterdam Chapter of Red Bar - Monochrome Watches
The past year has been a tough one for pretty much everyone on the planet. Some saw their business grow at such speed that it was a huge challenge to keep the pace up, while others (unfortunately many more) suffered from an almost standstill of their business. Brick and mortar stores had a very tough time, online flourished. ACE Jewelers are, besides a family business, a pioneer in e-commerce, and were the first to be allowed to sell luxury watches online; not your typical old fashioned jeweler. We sat down with Alon from ACE Jewelers, in Amsterdam, to hear how they have dealt with 2020, with the Coronavirus, and all its challenges.Frank, MONOCHROME –?Alon, when did you enter the family business and what was your first task or job in the company? Ad - Scroll to continue with article Alon Ben-Joseph: My father started Ace Jewelers back in 1975. As a baby, I

Introducing Pascal Brandt, Denis Peshkov and the result of our Habring2 x MONO Charity Auction - Monochrome Watches
Last month Phillips auctioned a unique Doppelchrono a.k.a. Split Second Chronograph a.k.a. Rattrapante. It was the watch that Maria and Richard Habring2 and we, at MONOCHROME, together donated to the Save the Children charity organisation. And there’s more news, as we have two new team members whom I want to introduce!?But first, that stunning and unique Salmon Doppel 38 Habring2 x MONOCHROME that was auctioned last month. The result is that I wired 25,000 CHF (the entire proceeds of this auction) to the Save the Children organisation’s bank account yesterday. Phillips, in association with Bacs & Russo, generously offered to auction this ‘lot’ free of charge, so the full proceeds could be donated to Save the Children. Of course, I’d love to thank Maria and Richard Habring for their incredibly generous donation and Phillips for auctioning our watch free of charge. But most importantly, I’d love to thank the person who bought this lovely salmon-dia

IWC Spitfire Chronograph with In-House Caliber 89365 - Monochrome Watches
Monochrome is into pilot’s watches and this week we share enthusiastic stories of our contributors, about their favorite aviation timepieces. Like the Omega Flightmaster that we told you everything about last Tuesday and the very cool Bremont Squadron Watch USNTPS?that we told you about yesterday. Today our guest contributor Angus Davies share his thoughts on the brand new IWC Spitfire Chronograph with the in-house?manufactured calibre?89365.?I remember as a young boy growing up in the 1970's obsessively watching films depicting war time conflict. Air supremacy was a topic which captured my interest with Spitfires and Focke Wulfs embroiled in aeronautical battle. The Focke Wulf Fw190 was arguably better armed than the Spitfire, but lacked its agility and ultimate prowess in the air. My innocent eyes would be captivated by jousting-like duels, guns angrily snarling, as the green and grey planes swooped through the nimbus clouds. Ad - Scroll to continue with article

Introducing: The White-and-Red TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph F1
Since TAG Heuer announced its return as the Official Timekeeper of Formula 1 earlier this year, we’ve already seen an updated Formula 1 Chronograph collection. Naturally, it was only a matter of time before the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph – powered by the cutting-edge TH81-00 movement introduced last year – joined the F1-inspired lineup. What remained a mystery, however, was how the fierce competitive spirit of Formula 1 would influence its design. As the brand unveils this latest iteration, one thing is clear: the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph F1 is as bold, dynamic, and performance-driven as the high-speed machines that define the sport.While last year’s Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph was encased in titanium with black PVD coating, for the F1 edition, TAG Heuer makes white ceramic the material of choice. The 41mm square case in white ceramic features a sandblasted, fine-brushed and polished finish, while the crown, the shaped chronograph pushbuttons

Vacheron Constantin FIFTYSIX Self-Winding and Complete Calendar with Blue Dials (Hands-On) - Monochrome Watches
This year, Vacheron Constantin will introduce striking blue dials to its popular FIFTYSIX collection. While it may be an obvious iteration for the brand, it is certainly not an unwelcome one, adding another element to Vacheron's entry-level offering. Today, we're taking a quick look at the new FIFTYSIX Self-Winding and FIFTYSIX Complete Calendar dressed in blue.By way of a quick refresher, Vacheron introduced the FIFTYSIX collection last year at SIHH 2018. Intended very much as an entry-level range designed to attract younger buyers to the brand, it was initially met with mixed reviews. Some - including us here at MONOCHROME - found the idea of an affordable' (relatively speaking, of course) watch a bit at odds with the brand's prestigious reputation for Haute Horlogerie. Ad - Scroll to continue with article To be fair, this opinion was mainly formed on the basi