The Colllector's Series - @Watchesbelike Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A
I guess at MONOCHROME we do not have to tell you about cultural differences; however, there’s one that stands out for people who are passionate about horology and wristwatches in particular. Watch collectors uniting in a club-like manor is something that did not happen, or hardly, in mainland Europe. Most European watch collectors prefer to fly under the radar and do not feel any urge to share their, often pretty expensive, collection with others. That is until Instagram came along and made it easy to meet like-minded collectors, in complete anonymity. And that’s how I got in touch with @Watchesbelike. He’s a 34-year old finance professional and watch collector who lives in Paris and can be found under this alias on Instagram. We exchanged quite a bit about watches in general, collecting and his love for his Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711A. Although he's been asked to, he would never sell it. He explains why.@Watchesbelike – In 2013, I said (…) that even for

Technical Perspective: All About Omegas Laboratoire de Precision, a new Chronometer Certification to compete with COSC
Omega is one of the largest luxury watchmakers on the market, carrying multiple emblematic models (Seamaster and Speedmaster, to name a few). However, one vital element of the brand’s success lies in its almost unique take on precision. Omega has long been a pioneer in this field, often ranking first in chronometry contests and introducing solutions such as the co-axial escapement, the Master Chronometer certification or, recently, the Spirate system. Over-engineering and utmost precision are at the heart of the brand, and the latest step in the field of chronometry is named Laboratoire de Precision. A new, officially authorised chronometer testing laboratory meant to be integrated into the Master Chronometer workflow, the Laboratoire de Precision is open to any brand that would like to use its services.I realise this announcement isn't entirely new; Omega introduced it a couple of days before Watches & Wonders. However, I've waited to have more time to dig into this topic to

Introducing The New Ulysse Nardin Blast Free Wheel Marquetry
During this year’s Geneva Watch Days, Ulysse Nardin unveiled the captivating and innovative Blast Free Wheel Marquetry. This creation showcases the artistic potential of silicon and features a familiar design reminiscent of the Executive Free Wheel Tourbillon, characterised by its captivating display of movement components. This latest horological composition echoes the recurring thematic of “floating” elements, encompassing a flying tourbillon, a poised gear train, and a power reserve indicator. Furthermore, this timepiece includes multi-coloured silicon marquetry, an artistry that had hitherto adorned the Freak X editions since 2019. This noteworthy revelation marks the inaugural integration of this artistic technique within the Blast collection. Let’s glance at this Ulysse Nardin Blast Free Wheel Marquetry timepiece.Presented in a 45mm white gold Blast case, the watch manifests an imposing presence, augmented by the deliberate omission of a conventional bezel

Oris 110 Years Limited Edition - Hands-On Review with Live photos, specs and price - Monochrome-Watches
Oris is a brand that you might especially know?for their affordable but really qualitative sports watches, including a bunch of interesting dive watches, like the Oris Aquis Depth Gauge, and several Pilot Watches, like the?Oris Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter. However, Oris is not just about creating rugged tools. Last year?the brand celebrated its 110th anniversary with something highly noticeable, a dress watch with the brand’s first in-house movement – and not the worst of them so to speak. It’s called the Oris 110 Years Limited Edition and here is our thoughts after a few days on the wrist.StoryDesigning, developing and crafting?high quality watches is already quite something. Oris, for many years, was known for that. They’ve been building a strong collection of qualitative watches with outsourced base movements (mainly ETA). We’ve absolutely no hard feelings toward that, especially in the case of tool watches, where legibility, quality of the constructio

Introducing: No More Diamonds, Meet The Unisex Piaget Polo Date 36mm
Not everybody likes their watches served on the rocks, and it’s evident that Piaget has been listening closely to market trends. With the return to more compact case sizes that swing it both ways, the Piaget Polo Date 36mm sheds its diamond-set indices and returns with a deep midnight blue dial and the relaxed sporty-chic charm that has always characterised this model.Equestrian glamourYves G. Piaget, the fourth generation of the Piaget dynasty, was the brainchild of the Polo. Harnessing the brand’s expertise in watchmaking and jewellery, the Polo was a sleek bracelet watch with a contemporary sporty-chic vibe. Introduced in 1979, the watch’s design was a continuous stream of solid sculpted gold bars that wrapped around the wrist. Fitted with Piaget’s ultra-thin quartz calibre 7P - considered to represent the height of technology in its day - the Polo accounted for almost one-third of the brand’s sales. Endorsed by celebrities of the day like Ursula Andres