Industry 2021 Marks Record Levels for Swiss Watch Exports
2020 was a very difficult year for the Swiss watch industry with a historic fall of 21.8%, the steepest decline since 2009. Following this sharp contraction of the global watch market, 2021 has seen a recovery from the pandemic and a return to growth, to the point of recording its best year ever! The FHS, the Federation Horlogere Suisse (or the Swiss Watch Federation), has just released export statistics for 2021. At CHF 22,297 million, exports were 31.2% higher than 2020, 2.7% higher than 2009 and 0.2% higher than the highest ever recorded by the industry, in 2014.Following the big hit taken during the pandemic, the watch industry bounced back to growth. Of course, the past two years have been a period of profound changes and the situation differs from one brand to the other. But top players like , Patek Philippe or Audemars Piguet seem to be immune to crisis and are stronger than ever; the surge of independent watchmaking has been remarkable over the past few months; Conglomerates R

Omega Starts New Chronometer Certification Process with METAS, the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology - Monochrome Watches
Omega has just announced this morning that they will certify their Master Co-Axial chronometers with a new partner, being METAS, the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology. As of mid-2015 Omega will test all the Master Co-Axial movements. These tests will be performed in-house (!!) and on encased movements. That also means that good ol’ COSC (Contr?le Officiel Suisse des Chronometres) won’t be testing these movements, which represent 10-15% of Omega’s annual production.This is quite something. When you look at all aspects of this change of policy, we’re talking about more than just a change of certification partner. It means that THE name in chronometer certification, COSC, is no longer doing their tests on the new Omega Master Co-Axial movements. The Master Co-Axial movements are developed and manufactured in-house, can withstand magnetics up to 15,000 Gauss. During Baselworld, earlier this year, we already announced that these movement were being introduced into

First Look: The New, Customizable Ferdinand Berthoud FB RES
In 2015, Ferdinand Berthoud, a brand with a historical name resurrected by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Chopard’s co-president, unveiled the Chronometre Ferdinand Berthoud FB1. Since then, we’ve witnessed the successful launch of numerous references in the FB1, FB2, and FB3 collections. These releases have showcased groundbreaking engineering innovations and distinguished themselves with their exceptional design, setting them apart from today’s other ultra-complicated masterpieces.The Chronometre FB RES marks a significant evolution from its predecessor, the Chronometre FB 2RE. Unveiled in 2020, the FB 2RE broke ground as the brand’s first round-cased, non-tourbillon-regulated watch, with all three hands in the centre. It featured an FB movement equipped with the fusee-and-chain transmission and a remontoire. Now, the Chronometre FB RES (Remontoir d'egalite Squelette) takes this innovation further, offering an insight into its inner workings with customizable finis

Bremont Watches, go see them! - Monochrome Watches
Bremont Watches is a relatively new watch brand from the UK. Yes indeed, a British watch brand. And it’s a very interesting brand. Last year a friend told me about a new and very nice watch brand. After looking at some photos of their watches, i was interested but could not fully relate to his immense enthusiasm. The photos showed nice ‘aviation’ watches, more or less like the IWC pilot series. He said… you gotto see them ‘in the metal’, than you’ll understand.Bremont ALT1-Z/DGAt Baselworld this year i had the chance to meet both men behind Bremont Watches and see the entire collection. And now i could fully relate to my friend’s immense enthusiasm! The finish, the details… impressive, yet all so subtle. Very British in fact… Ad - Scroll to continue with article Nick and Giles English started the Bremon

Linde Werdelin test - part 1 - Monochrome Watches
Finding a perfect vacation watch is a subject that has kept me busy for some years. When Linde Werdelin heard about my vacation plans they immediately?asked me to test their 2-Timer. Is?this the perfect vacation watch?During the month of January i’m on vacation in India. No luxurious vacation, a basic backpacking trip that starts in Goa for?a few days of pure relaxation!?Linde Werdelin was so bold to lend me a 2-Timer so i could put it to the test. Last year i wrote a few times about my search for the ideal vacation watch on Monochrome and on Worldtempus.com. At the end of this month i will post a complete review and my conclusions about the watch Linde Werdelin so kindly lend me for this vacation.For now i will try to share a few impressions of the first days of my journey…. the Linde Werdelin 2-Timer on my wrist during the flight from Amsterdam to Mumbai. Ad - Scroll to continue with article