Hands-On With The Steel Code 11.59 Audemars Piguet Collection
Launched in 2019, the controversial?Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 collection has seen some drastic evolutions in the past years. Without even talking about the addition of all possible complications, the classic models – time-and-date and chronograph – have been improved already by the addition of new smoked/gradient dials. But as of now, the collection was available primarily in white or pink gold, with or without ceramic accents. Not anymore, as we now have stainless steel Code 11.59 watches, available in three-hand and chrono, with a new dial pattern and colours that make them sportier, and more casual. 6 references in total, including 2 bolder ones with gradient colour and ceramic elements. Let’s have a closer look.The first year of the Code 11.59 was tough… The launch wasn’t the expected success, and the reception of the watches wasn’t highly enthusiastic. The reason might be the rather sleek dials that were offered in the inaugural models. Still,

Your Definitive Guide to Watches & Wonders Geneva 2023 and The Watch Week Geneva
This is it… the most exciting time of the year for watch aficionados, retailers and journalists is just around the corner. Watches and Wonders Geneva 2023 will open its doors on March 27th for the most important watch industry event of the year and a full week of watch madness. With the multiple events and presentations organized around the main event, dozens of brands are gearing up to showcase their latest creations. And here’s everything there is to see next week in the centre of gravity of the watchmaking industry.?MONOCHROME will, of course, be present in Geneva and will bring you live coverage of the event, as well as presenting the new watches introduced during the week. Independent brands have even started to pre-release selected models to whet our appetite ahead of the fair (the largest Watches and Wonders brands have a communication embargo until the show opens). So, stay tuned, as there's a lot coming your way. And if you are in Geneva during the week, here's a g

Fortis sends its manufacture calibre Werk 17 into the stratosphere
Field-testing is something we talk about regularly, but we rarely test a watch beyond normal, everyday use. Sure, on occasion, we send a dive watch into the depths of the ocean on the wrist of our resident diver, but that's about it. The (sad) reality is that most testing takes place in boring, sterile laboratories under very specific conditions. Yet, there's something immensely cool about pushing a watch, or movement for that matter, to the extreme in a real-world situation. Case in point, the Werk 17 manufacture chronograph calibre developed by Fortis. Closely tied to aviation and space in its own right, the brand has now sent a batch of this new manufacture movement into the stratosphere to see how the watches hold up.November 2021, Kiruna, Sweden. This location is home to the Esrange Space Centre, a facility used by the Swedish Space Corporation. Initially dedicated to scientific research on the Aurora Borealis phenomenon, it is now also used to launch helium balloons, rockets and

Interview - Raymond Loretan, President Of The GPHG
The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Geneve celebrated its 20th-anniversary last year. In two decades, the GPHG has gained a formidable reputation and is often referred to as the “Oscars of Watchmaking.” Raymond Loretan has been at the helm of the foundation, organising the event for five years now. A few weeks before the 2022 ceremony, we interviewed him to discuss the main changes introduced to the event and what could be next for the Grand Prix.Xavier Markl, MONOCHROME – You have been at the head of the GPHG foundation for five years now - what brought you there? Ad - Scroll to continue with article Raymond Loretan, President of the GPHG –?I had a personal relationship with Carlo Lamprecht, who was the historical figure of GPHG; he convinced me to take over. As a former Ambassador of Switzerland, I have an international background. How

Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity - Full Review with live photos, specs and price - Monochrome-Watches
It's not often we cover Maurice Lacroix on Monochrome, but over the past few years we've seen a number of interesting watches being introduced by this manufacture. We showed you the Masterpiece Gravity as a Baselworld 2014 introduction, but now we bring share our extensive review just prior to Baselworld 2015, in anticipation of the novelties to come.Founded in 1976, the Swiss brand of Maurice Lacroix is upping their game since 2006 by bringing in-house developed components and movements to their line-up. The introduction of a square and clover-leaf wheel, intriguingly placed on the dial-side of the watch and doubling as an indicator for the seconds or a seemingly floating seconds hand are two of the noteworthy visible characteristics of their work. For the Gravity, an in-house silicon escapement receives a prominent place on the front of the watch. I'd say on the dial but there really isn't one except for the small, off-center one. Ad - Scroll to continue with article