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

Hermes H08 Deep Blue Titanium (Specs & Price)
Released in 2021, the Hermes H08 collection has been a rather good surprise. Here, at MONOCHROME, we tend to focus on true watchmaking brands, and Hermes, a luxury powerhouse offering multiple product ranges, isn’t necessarily our primary topic. Still, the H08 watch caught our attention with its mix of fluid design, multiple textures and sporty-chic vibe. This watch and its assertive style are now coming back in a new, colourful edition with the Hermes H08 Deep Blue Titanium.The idea of coloured cases seems to gradually grow amongst designers. Recently, Cartier launched a blue-coated edition of its Santos, resulting in what’s probably the most appealing edition of this watch. Hermes is now following suit with a watch that is entirely dark – either blue or black – for a new, cool style. Ad - Scroll to continue with article Design is certai

Pre-HYT H2 Tradition - the Hydro Mechanical Horologist goes (a bit) retro (specs & price) - Monochrome Watches
After several reviews of their watches, you should know what HYT is and that the timepieces they produce are highly technical, bold and modern. Whatever we talk about the H1, the H2, the H3 or the H4, they are all very far from being called vintage-oriented, traditional or retro. Recently, we’ve seen evolutions of several editions from the?Hydro Mechanical Horologists (that’s how the folks at HYT like to call them), like the aviator-style H2 or the implementation of a lighting system (mechanically-driven) in the H4. For their first participation at the SIHH (into the “Carre des Horologers“, with 8 other independent brands), HYT makes a U-Turn, with a more traditional vision of the H2… and some tweaks on the movements and display. Let’s have a look at the?HYT H2 Tradition.Take a look at the HYT H2, the second watch created by the brand, with the typical V-shaped bellows and the entirely skeletonized movement, visible from the front. I dare anyone to c

Event: Tokyo Calling, Patek Philippe Is In Town!
Want to understand why Patek Philippe is considered the “ne plus ultra” in the realm of watchmaking, and you happen to be in Tokyo between the 10th and 25th of June? Well, there is one event you cannot miss because Patek Philippe is in town hosting the sixth edition of its Grand Exhibition, offering visitors a unique 360-degree view of the brand’s universe. Open to the public free of charge, Patek will take over the Sumitomo Sankaku Hiroba glass skyscraper to stage the largest exhibition ever organised by the Genevan brand. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Patek Philippe is ready to open the doors of its Watch Art Grand Exhibition Tokyo 2023.If you haven’t had the chance to visit the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva or its majestic Rue de Rhone boutique, this Grand Exhibition is the next best thing. Now in its sixth edition, the Tokyo Exhibition is the largest ever organised by the manufacture and is an open invitation to explore the brand’s creations, her

Hands-on with the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle Small Seconds - Monochrome Watches
Recently we had the chance to get up close and personal with the new Patrimony Traditionnelle Small Seconds in platinum, that Vacheron Constantin introduced earlier this year at the SIHH. This new model has all the looks and attributes of a classic dress watch, and it’s one of the most attractive classic dress watches that we have seen in a long time.?Part of its great looks, is that it is not the standard classic dress watch and sets itself a bit apart from other dress watches in pink/yellow gold with a silver/white dial. The grey dial with the slightly recessed small seconds sub dial that is encircled by a rail track seconds index. looks a tad more sporty than a standard dress watch’s dial. And that perfectly matches with the platinum case, that measures 38 mm in diameter and 7.77 mm in height. Not too small, not too big… Vacheron Constantin got it just right.? Ad - Scroll to continue with article