Our Selection of The Very Best Novelties From Watches and Wonders 2024
It’s done, it’s over and it has been another wild ride: Watches & Wonders 2024. Quite literally the biggest watch fair of the year, it’s the social gathering where watchmakers bring their A-game. Brands high and low have presented countless new watches, setting records in the process. Records for ultra-thinness, for instance, or out-of-this-world accuracy. With so many new watches on display, it’s hard to keep track of everything. Over the coming days and weeks, we will be guiding you through some of the stuff you might have overlooked. But which did we think were the absolute best models, the so-called show-stoppers? Here’s the MONOCHROME editorial team’s selection of “Best in Show”!Chopard L.U.C. Qualite FleurierWe start things off simple, in looks at least. But simple equates to drop-dead gorgeous when it comes to the new Chopard L.U.C. Qualite Fleurier. This compact stunner of a watch comes in Lucent steel, known for its brilliant

In-Depth: The History of the ETA Peseux 7001, The Hand-Wound Classic
Self-winding calibres are undeniably an advancement, especially those boasting extended autonomy. Yet, there is a timeless ritual, almost archaic, the deliberate act of winding a watch by thumb and forefinger, each click of the ratchet wheel a symphony for the discerning ear. This tactile dance, this connection to the mechanics, is a pleasure some aficionados cannot forsake. As we edge closer to the end of the first quarter of the 21st century, manually wound watches persist and experience a new surge in popularity, fueled by a resurgence in appreciation for hand-wound calibres.Among these calibres, one movement has stood the test of time for over fifty years. It has powered numerous watch brands’ broad spectrum of creations, remaining a steadfast presence in the industry. I’m talking about the ETA/Peseux 7001, a movement with a storied legacy. Here is a recap of its enduring saga. Ad - Scroll to continue with article

On the Road to Baselworld 2015 - Monochrome-Watches
Here we are, the day before?the official opening of the most important week of the watchmaking industry, Baselworld. Two month ago was already an important moment, the SIHH. However, Baselworld remains the biggest watch fair around the world, the one that all the journalists, the collectors and the industry is looking for. To bring you the best of the Basel watch fair, we’re on the road to Baselworld 2015.2015 began hard for Monochrome-Watches. After an hectic week at the SIHH, covering as much novelties possible, we moved recently to our brand new website, with a clearer, more intuitive, more modern look. This website had to be online in March, for a simple reason: Baselworld was about to start. Hundreds of brand will be there in order to introduce their collections to both journalists, a few collectors and retailers.?Patek Philippe, , Tudor, all Swatch Group brands – including Omega, Breguet or?Glashutte Original – TAG Heuer and all the independents watchmakers tha

First Look: The new Schwarz Etienne 1902 Petite Seconde
Sometimes, moving forward means going back to recover the good things from the past. That appears to be the case at Schwarz Etienne, a small, independent brand from La Chaux-de-Fonds that wants to raise its profile and become better known on the watch scene. Founded in 1902, the brand is now in the hands of CEO Florian Brossard. Keen to exploit Schwarz Etienne's high level of vertical integration, the brand's full potential is about to be unleashed. Presented during Geneva Watch Week 2025, the 1902 Petite Seconde collection marks a new chapter in the brand's design language. A blend of old and new, the three-hand dress watch in three dial colours reveals a refined sector dial design, and the movement heralds the return of the brand's signature finger bridges.Brossard has an interesting background. Trained in micromechanics and movement design, he was involved in rebuilding the legendary Minerva manufacture, followed by long stints at Montblanc and Greubel Forsey. As he points out in th

Tissot Is Revving Up With The New T-Race MotoGP 75th Anniversary Chronograph
The Tissot T-Race series holds a prominent position in Tissot’s catalogue, a testament to the brand’s history in sports timing, including motor racing. Tissot has been the official MotoGP timekeeper since 2001, and colleagues report Tissot’s T-Race watches are frequently spotted at race events globally, underlining their association with the fast-paced world of racing. Special Tissot T-Race MotoGP models are offered to enthusiasts immersed in racing as limited editions, with quantities limited to thousands - for the fans are many. In line with this tradition, the newly unveiled 2024 Tissot T-Race MotoGP Chronograph with mechanical movement commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the competition and is restricted to just 2024 units. This watch pays homage to the daring speed demons who exhilarate the sport; we delve into the details of this particular timepiece dedicated to the thrill of speed.Behold the exquisite beast, the Tissot T-Race MotoGP 75th Anniversary Chronogra