Wilhelm Schmid, 10 Year at the Helm at A. Lange & Sohne - Monochrome Watches
Wilhelm Schmid has been ten years with the brand that ‘never stands still’. After a career at BMW, among others in South Africa, he arrived in Glashutte to be the new CEO at A. Lange & Sohne, the pinnacle of German watchmaking. With a background in sales and a strong passion for mechanics, it seemed like a match made in heaven. Wilhelm Schmid's past ten years at Lange were during a pretty turbulent period. It already started in the aftermath of the massive global recession that started in 2008, now the corona pandemic that has a huge influence on the watch industry, the opening of the new manufacture, and of course the sad passing of Walter Lange.?Frank Geelen, MONOCHROME Watches – How was it, ten years ago, to arrive in Glashutte at a watch company, after a long career at BMW in sunny South Africa? Ad - Scroll to continue with article Wilh

TAG HEUER introduces its New In-house Movement, Calibre 1969 - Monochrome Watches
Heuer had a great history in chronographs, especially with the Calibre 11, and seems to be moving towards a great future. After the presentation in 2009 of its first in-house movement since decades, the calibre 1887, TAG Heuer comes back with a very interesting offer in the market of in-house, self-winding chronograph movements. After all the debates around the calibre 11, and after the discussions about the calibre 1887 and whether or not it is a proper in-house movement, this 1969 could be the one to bring everyone into agreement. Let's see why.?We here at Monochrome are big chronograph enthusiasts, whether vintage or modern, like the Omega Speedmaster for its historical importance, or the Lange & Sohne Double Split for its perfection (we reviewed it for you here). The announcement a few days ago by TAG Heuer of a new movement had, of course, attracted our curiosity. And let's be clear about it; we’re looking at an impressive engine compared to TAG's previous standards. But

Weekly Watch Photo - Cartier Santos 100 Carbon Watch - Monochrome Watches
The big WOW factor hit me when I saw this photo. Made by Cartier connoisseur (and ambassador) GEO of the Cartier Santos 100 Carbon Watch. In 1904, Alberto Santos Dumont, a Brazilian aviation pioneer, asked his friend Louis Cartier to design a timepiece that would be handier than a pocket watch during his flights.?This is how the Cartier Santos wristwatch was created and it made the Cartier Santos Dumont the first mens wristwatches! A fact not many watch aficionados know. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Santos, Cartier launched the Santos 100 in 2004. Ad - Scroll to continue with article A few years later Cartier launched the Santos 100 Carbon Watch in two sizes; above is the large size which measures 38.3 mm without the crown by 51 mm (lug to lug). The stainless?steel case is black ADLC (Amorphous Diamond Like Carbon) coated and features a satin finish

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue Edition (Specs & Price)
Customized, special editions sold only through a single (branch of) boutiques is a common thing, but few do it as regularly as Bucherer. The Swiss watch retail house has introduced several striking collaborations – no less than 25 in total with 14 different brands. To name just a few, the Tudor Black Bay Bronze, the IWC ?Portugieser Chronograph Classic?or the H. Moser & Cie. Venturer Small Second,?for instance. All received the “Bucherer Blue” makeover and next in line is the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue Edition.A Bucherer Blue Edition is always (spoiler alert) blue – and the retailer's take on the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe is no exception. The colour fits the overall concept behind the watch well, considering the unique tone used in the watch is a Bucherer signature and blue echoes the maritime background of Blancpain. The Fifty Fathoms is, of course, the iconic dive watch introduced by Blancpain in 1953, at a time when dive w

TAG Heuer Formula 1 Calibre 16 Max Verstappen Special Edition 2019 - Introducing, Price
After three years of quartz watches for Max Verstappen, covered here, here and here, his TAG Heuer special edition has now come of age. And despite the autumn rain and a very disappointing race last weekend for the Dutchman, spirits were high during the presentation of a watch that will most likely be sold out even before it hits the shelves. Meet the new TAG Heuer chronograph Max Verstappen Special Edition 2019 (finally mechanical).It doesn't really matter anymore how well Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen performs; people will line up to catch a glimpse of him everywhere he goes. Especially in his home country, the Netherlands, where he lightened up the quintessentially Dutch autumn weather with a flash visit to present his latest watch, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Calibre 16 Max Verstappen Special Edition 2019. Ad - Scroll to continue with article During the last F