Imitation is the Sincerest way to get Sued! - Monochrome Watches
Readers of Monochrome are no doubt familiar with most of the major watch case/bezel/dial combinations that make-up some of the greatest and most expensive timepieces ever. You folks will also (no doubt) be familiar with the scores of companies that have popped-up over the past few years offering the taste' of those deluxe' creations with out all of the calories. The look with out the commitment of capital. Now, however, three HEAVY WEIGHT names in the horological and fashion industries are squaring off to fight over what one side will argue is an icon and what the other side will no doubt say is simply a shape. On August 13, 2013, Audemars Piguet filed suit against Tommy Hilfiger U.S.A. Inc., Tommy Hilfiger Licensing LLC, and Movado Group, Inc. and 10 unnamed individual defendants (I've got a Pound in at William Hills that one of them has a name that rhymes with Hommy Tilfiger!)Again, I rely on the deftness of the readers of Monochrome to affirm that the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, penn

Chopard L.U.C XPS 1860 Red Carpet Edition (Specs & Price)
This year, Chopard celebrates 20 years of partnership with the Cannes Film Festival (the relationship dates back to 1998). In order to honour this long-term alliance, the Geneva-based brand presents a new model dedicated to red carpets and?passion for film-making. Based on the nicely executed?and ultra-thin L.U.C time-only watch, meet the new Chopard L.U.C XPS 1860 Red Carpet Edition.For this edition, Chopard adds a touch of glamour to one of its signature models in the Haute Horlogerie collection L.U.C, the XPS 1860. This version, introduced in 2016, was?based on the traditional, yet highly elegant XPS, an ultra-thin dress watch with a small seconds counter, as a re-edition of the?very first L.U.C watch introduced in 1996. As the first watch entirely produced and manufactured by the Chopard Manufacture it was the first with an in-house movement. It was later followed by a stainless version reviewed here. Ad - Scroll to continue with article

Manufacture Royale 1770 Micromegas Revolution Limited Editions Review
The 1770 Micromegas Revolution is a spectacular launch from the Indie watchmaking brand based in Vallorbe that we have not got a chance to review yet. Clearly, once?you can manage to?a closer look at this watch, you understand that this would have been a pity not to cover it. As the brand is introducing three exclusive limited editions, we take a look at this architectural double tourbillon - and with on of them rotating super, super-fast.The name Manufacture Royale' traces its origins to enlightenment and Voltaire. In 1770, the French philosopher created watchmaking workshops near Geneva. Now based in Vallorbe, the modern-day Manufacture Royale cultivates the free-thinking spirit that inspired Voltaire, designing watches with distinctive personality and powerful visual impact. Their latest creation, the 1770 Micromegas Revolution is no exception and combines complex engineering with a bold, creative design. Ad - Scroll to continue with article

Opinion: Our take on the Swatch x Blancpain Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms
A few months ago, Swatch and Blancpain introduced the Swatch x Blancpain Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms. Yup, quite a mouthful. It's effectively the follow-up of the Moonswatch, which can be seen as Swatch's take on the Omega Speedmaster. We didn't cover it on MONOCHROME for obvious reasons (it's a quartz watch) despite being a huge commercial success and possibly a stroke of marketing genius. Of course, rumours are already circling of what might be the next collab from Swatch Group, where Swatch gives its own take on an emblematic watch from another Swatch Group brand. Since the Swatch x Blancpain Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms comes with a mechanical Sistem51 movement, it meets our standards, and we were all looking forward to getting our hands on these watches!?In the Netherlands, Robin and I received one Antarctic Ocean (white Bioceramic and grey bezel) for review and in France, Brice received the Arctic Ocean (beige Bioceramic and orange bezel). So, time to get our hands on the wa

Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 41.5mm Bi-Colour (Specs, Price)
Oris introduced the in-house calibre 400 automatic in late 2020 that replaced Sellita counterparts in higher-end models and joined the in-house, hand-wound calibre 110 from 2014 (and subsequent variants). Major improvements like an anti-magnetic escapement and five-day power reserve overshadowed the always reliable Sellitas, but prices remained (relatively) accessible for the updated Aquis Date models. The latest Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 duo come with 41.5mm cases and 18k gold bezel edges, and the latter adds some panache to the already stylish series. You also have the choice of two dial colours and either an integrated bracelet or rubber strap, so there's a nice variety on tap as well.? The new collection matches the aesthetic of last year's introduction of the 41.5mm Aquis Date Calibre 400, but gold accents really dress things up. As mentioned, the unidirectional rotating bezel has an 18k gold finish on the outer edge, while the detailed 60-minute diver's s