Introducing the Handsome Berneron Mirage Prussian Blue & Sienna
Where do we start with a watch that seemingly breaks traditional conventions regarding style and substance? With the visionary individual that created it seems like a good start. Sylvain Berneron, the founder of his eponymous brand, and the former Chief Product Officer of Breitling and, through the support of Breitling CEO Georges Kern, was enabled to set out on his own. In development for a couple of years, Sylvain has been teasing the launch of his Mirage over the past few months. Now that we have a complete image, it turns out the Mirage is a truly mesmerizing watch, a debut piece that has certainly grabbed the full attention of collectors and journalists! But there’s far more to the story of Berneron, and the Mirage for that matter, than just an enticing design.Sylvain Berneron and his wife, Marie-Alix Berneron, set out to create a unique watch from top to bottom. His vision was not to be limited by existing design conventions, and no compromises were made to make his dream w

First Look: The New Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic Blue-and-Gold
Over the years, Bulgari has released various iterations of the Octo Finissimo Automatic, showcasing the brand’s willingness to experiment with diverse materials and textures. Each subsequent model breathed new life into its appearance, unveiling a captivating and distinct aesthetic. The brand also improved the Octo Finissimo Automatic series, notably increasing water resistance from the inaugural 30m to a commendable 100m. New to the series is this bold and luxurious new edition, a yellow gold and blue dial version of the ultra-thin Octo Finissimo Automatic.?In 2017, Bulgari achieved its third record in ultra-thin watchmaking with the Octo Finissimo Automatic, measuring a mere 5.15mm thick. This accomplishment followed the 2014 Octo Finissimo Tourbillon and the 2016 Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater. Despite these earlier achievements, the more accessible Octo Finissimo Automatic played a crucial role in solidifying the iconic status of the series. This watch, which started its life

Antiquorum Auctions Patek Nautilus 5711 Green EUR 320000
Most watch enthusiasts are certainly aware of the current situation in the luxury sports watch field, with the most emblematic models of the category – namely the Nautilus and the Royal Oak Jumbo – reaching incredibly high prices on the second-hand market. As for the topic of the day, we’ll be talking about a unicorn, the recently introduced and already ultra-coveted Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A-014, with its desirable olive green dial. A watch that is almost impossible to obtain from retailers and boutiques, and that is already undergoing extreme speculation. And as yet another proof of this insane situation, Antiquorum has just auctioned such a Green Nautilus 5711, reaching a price of EUR 320,000 (before fees).?A model introduced in 2006 for the 30th anniversary of the model, and the most classic version of this icon of the luxury sports watch with a time-and-date automatic movement and blue dial, the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 is undergoing impressive speculat

First Look: Manufacture Fleury Revives the Legendary Lemania 2310 Chronograph Movement
Social media can be a wonderful tool. When we discovered the initial pictures of the new chronograph movement from Manufacture Fleury a few weeks back, it immediately tickled our interest. Now that the dust from Watches and Wonders has settled, we have contacted Jean-Marc Fleury to find out more A few days later, we hit the road to the outskirts of Geneva to visit his workshop and get our hands on several prototypes of his Chronograph FXR-4. And to check its movement, derived from one of the most beautiful calibres of all times: the Lemania 2310.An experienced professional in the watch industry, Jean-Marc Fleury has been manufacturing watch parts since 2017 through his company Suisse Precision Composants. In his workshops based in Choulex, on the outskirts of Geneva, he produces components, meticulously crafted in small series, with an approach mostly tailored for independent watchmakers. Driven by an inherent passion for the craft, Fleury naturally gravitated towards the creation of h

Hands-On - Delma Cayman Worldtimer Automatic (Specs & Price)
Although Delma isn't the most familiar brand, it's one we've covered several times on MONOCHROME because of its excellent quality/price ratio. The recent vintage-inspired Continental Chronographs are solid examples, offering well-executed and diverse models for under EUR 3,000. This latest Cayman Worldtimer Automatic follows the simpler Cayman Automatic diver line with an added GMT hand and world cities on the external rotating bezel. Not a true world timer from the likes of Vacheron Constantin or Patek Philippe (with internal rotating 24-hour ring), but it gets the job done for a fraction of the price.BACKGROUNDDelma isn't a relatively new microbrand or the like (if you're unfamiliar with the brand), but an almost century-old, independent Swiss watchmaker that's family owned. It's known for sporty dive watches and chronographs with dress and ladies’ models as well. The new Cayman Worldtimer is a GMT watch with 24 world cities engraved on a rotating bezel, requiring a quick manua