Watches NEWS
SIHH 2012 - the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph - Monochrome Watches
By now it should be no secret anymore that Audemars Piguet revamped the Royal Oak collection and I’ve already shared my enthusiasm about the Royal Oak Jumbo. Another one that, in my humble opinion,?looks absolutely superb, is the new Royal Oak Chronograph.?The new Royal Oak Chronograph is 2 mm larger than its predecessor, that measured 39 mm in diameter.?While I usually cheer for downsizing, I was amazed to feel how incredibly comfortable the RO Chrono is and how perfect the fit is. Ad - Scroll to continue with article Last year I tried a friend’s Royal Oak Jumbo for a week and my conclusion was that it just was not my kind of watch. He also has a RO Chrono, that looks magnificent, but again, not my choice. So imagine my amazement when trying the new Royal Oak Jumbo and the new Royal Oak Chronograph. When I put it on my wrist, it was like everything
Pre-SIHH 2018 - Ulysse Nardin Classico Manufacture Grand Feu (Specs & Price)
The?Ulysse Nardin Classico Manufacture should be no stranger to you if you read MONOCHROME regularly. It is indeed a watch that we’ve covered several times, and on each occurrence, we loved it. It is, as you could guess by its name, a classic offering from the brand. Available in several materials (yet, mainly with steel cases recently) and with many dial variations, it always remains a strong package throughout, with great value for the money. Prior to the SIHH 2018, Ulysse Nardin presents two new versions?Classico Manufacture, with?“Grand Feu” White or Black Enamel Dials, combined to steel cases – and for less than EUR 9,000, that’s quite impressive.First of all, let’s talk about the new features of these?Pre-SIHH 2018 versions of the?Ulysse Nardin Classico Manufacture. No drama, no massive changes, just new dials. But what dials we’re talking about. Manufactured in-house (something rare enough to be mentioned) by sister company Donze Cadrans
Weekly Watch Photo - Jaeger-LeCoultre Duometrea Spherotourbillon - Monochrome Watches
An intriguing macro photo of a tourbillon is what triggered me to choose this as Weekly Watch Photo. Not just a normal tourbillon, but one with a entirely different hairspring and one that makes an unusual rotation!The connoisseurs among you already recognized the tourbillon from Jaeger-LeCoultre’s new Duometrea Spherotourbillon that we fully explaned in an extensive article about all its special features and techniques. If you look close you can see the cylindrical balance spring, which expands and contracts ‘vertically’. Ad - Scroll to continue with article In the explanatory article I also told you about Jaeger-LeCoultre’s dual wing concept. In my opinion the logical next step in the evolution of mechanical timepieces with a complication. The simple logic of it is that measuring and displaying the exact time, does not have to be influe
Introducing Jaeger-LeCoultre's The Collectibles Collection of Vintage Watches
Old is gold. Rounding out a collection with some pre-owned timepieces is a very special feeling, especially if we are talking about emblematic or rare models As the trend for vintage watches consolidates, the market for second-hand luxury watches is growing fast. In its 2022 Swiss Industry Report, Deloitte estimates that the pre-owned market accounts for CHF 20 billion and is likely to reach CHF 35 billion, making up for more than half of the primary market. The second-hand business has transformed dramatically and professionalised over the past few years, with a proliferation of players, including brands that are launching their own CPO (Certified Pre-Owned) programmes to capture part of this market and positively influence the perception and value of their watches. Among these is the recent initiative of allowing its retailers to certify and sell models with a two-year international warranty. Now, Jaeger-LeCoultre announces The Collectibles, a programme covering watches from a ca
TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 France Edition CAW211S.FC6375 (Specs & Price)
What we have here is nothing especially new or highly innovative… However, it certainly is one very cool edition of one of the most iconic racing chronographs ever: the TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 – you know, the watch worn by the “King of Cool”, Steve McQueen, in movie?Le Mans. Made especially for the French market (without a single reference to France in its design), very limited in production, and with a dial that recalls a certain “Dark Lord”, here is the?TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 France Edition.What we have here is a sort of mix between several watches from the current catalogue (the Heritage-inspired Monaco?CAW211P and the Monza 40th anniversary) together with some elements of a precise vintage watch, the highly coveted and rare Monaco “Black Lord” (the one with a black-coated case and a black dial with orange accents). In short, a mix that could either be 1. quite dangerous and unbalanced, or?2,?a watch that can talk to vintage a