Seiko Mechanical Automatic (SARB033) Fully Reviewed - Monochrome Watches
Affordable luxury… An oxymoron? Probably so, but we here at Monochrome know very well that such things exist.?Seiko has become the champion of this supposedly “made-up” category. Capability-wise, we all know the folks at Seikosha can easily rival their Swiss counterparts, and the Grand Seiko is a testament to that. But to make a timepiece equally good, without the price premium that comes with it… Impossible…? Let’s find out!?The dream timepiece for us collectors will always be the very best the industry could offer. The problem is…. that changes with every purchase, or sometimes every passing week. The phrase “you know you want it” kept plaguing our minds, a syndrome that we watch nerds cannot escape from. But what if our paradigms were to shift just as mine did? What if instead of looking for the very best, I look for a timepiece that hits the sweet spot and strikes the balance between quality and price? A piece that can be worn o

Video - Hands-On with the The Ulysse Nardin Blast Tourbillon
A couple of weeks ago, the MONOCHROME team visited Geneva Watch Days, which will probably be the only major watch fair for Europe this year. On this occasion, we visited brands, talked with their teams and, of course, saw some of the models recently introduced in the metal – and yes, after months of digital-only presentations, this really made a difference. And of course, some watches made quite an impression on us, such as the new Ulysse Nardin Blast Tourbillon, a bold, radical and modern take on the brand’s new design codes. And with our latest video, you can also discover this watch in motion.To explain this new high-end, complex and striking watch, we talk to Ulysse Nardin’s Chief Product Officer, Jean-Christophe Sabatier, giving us the full story on how the brand developed this new movement, how the watch was designed and how – something quite rare – both elements have been, from the very beginning, imagined jointly, and not as separate parts. In fact

A Panerai for all ocassions - the Radiomir Black Seal 3-Day Automatic - Monochrome Watches
It always has been a love-hate relationship among collectors with regard to Panerai timepieces: the use of Unitas and ETA movements had been frowned upon by many. Yet Panerai enthusiasts, or Paneristi as we like to call them, praise the brand for its uniqueness, heritage and no nonsense look. As such, there is only one direction for a brand that is so revered and reviled at the same time, and that direction is up, here's why.Panerai timepieces were always built like a tank, built in such a way that it is supposed to be worn outdoors by adventurers and thrill seekers alike. With all the fuss of its Luminor as the quintessential Panerai that every Paneristi should have, people tend to forget that Panerai's first ever piece was not a Luminor, but rather a Radiomir. Ad - Scroll to continue with article The Radiomir was a true classic of a piece that remained unchang

Introducing the Andreas Strehler Papillon d'Or - Monochrome-Watches
In the world of independent watchmaking, there are the big names, such as MB&F, Richard Mille or Urwerk and there are the confidential manufactures, like Kari Voutilainen, Gronefeld or Sarpaneva. One of them has to be seen as extremely exclusive, first because of the very limited production figures?but also because of the unique beauty of his watches. His name is Andreas Strehler and?his latest creation is the?Papillon d’Or.Andreas Strehler is?a name that only a few?of you might know. Only a very limited number of hardcore collectors are aware of his own brand and creations. However, his work is also known from a larger audience, as he is responsible for the development of several superb timepieces, such as the Harry Winston Opus 7, the Maurice Lacroix Chronograph with an in-house calibre, the Maitre du Temps Chapter Three?or several H. Moser & Cie movements – he participated to the development of the H. Moser & Cie Perpetual Calendar. Ad - Scroll to

Hands-on TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer-01 Full Black Matt Ceramic - Monochrome Watches
Earlier this year we told you about the TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer-01 Full Black Matt Ceramic, which made its debut at the 2017 edition of the Geneva Watch Fair. Now that the madness of the first half of the year is starting to subside, we thought this a perfect time to come back and give this watch a proper hands-on review.The first thing you notice when you strap the sizable case of the Carrera Heuer-01 Full Black Matt Ceramic to your wrist is just how light it feels. The second thing you notice is just how dark it looks. The reason why is the same for both; the 45mm matte black ceramic case. Arguably one of the most stealth looking watches produced by TAG?Heuer, the matt black case absorbs all the light around it, which ironically makes the watch really pop on the wrist – even though there is effectively almost no contrasting color on the dial. Ad - Scroll to continue with article