Introducing the A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia Boutique Edition, now with Grey Dial and back at 37mm (specs & price) - Monochrome-Watches
For Watches & Wonders 2015, A. Lange and Sohne adds two new models to their entry level watch, the Saxonia. This watch, even if not the hottest?of the collection (compared to the Datograph or the Zeitwerk) remains one of the best deals possible when it comes to elegant, discreet, dress-watches – even more since the new design introduced at the SIHH 2015. Previsouly available only with a classical sliver dial, the?A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia can now be ordered in a Boutique Edition with a dark grey dial – oh wait, there’s more… It’s back at 37mm.For 20 years now, the Saxonia had been the traditional offer from?A. Lange & Sohne, a timeless watch with a highly classical design and no other goal?than the most important one: displaying time with elegance. This collection was renewed during the 2015 edition of the SIHH, with a new design (for the hand-wound, the automatic and the dual time editions) and mainly smaller diameters, something we clearly app

Collector's Series - HighendTime's AP RO Offshore Sincere Tantalum Edition
Gaurav, alias @HighendTime on Instagram, is a 45-year old banker from Hong Kong. Although he has managed to complete the holy trinity of watches, understand the classic Royal Oak Jumbo, the Patek Nautilus and the Vacheron Overseas, we won't be talking about these ultra-coveted watches. Instead, Gaurav will share something far bolder and quite rare, to say the least. In our latest instalment of The Collector's Series, we look at his Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Sincere Tantalum Limited Edition, a watch that is one of his most desirable pieces. Ad - Scroll to continue with article Frank Geelen, MONOCHROME – Do you remember when you first heard about Audemars Piguet?Gaurav, alias @HighendTime – In watch collector’s terms, I'm considered an OG, having participated in online watch communities since their inception in the early 2000s. These wer

The Battle of Elegant Time-Only Watches Part 3 - Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat vs. Grand Seiko SBWG231 - The Verdict - Monochrome Watches
There are moments in life that call for an elegant, time-only watch. Situations in which a strapping tool watch with protruding pushers and a glowing dial won't look quite right. If you are in the market for a handsome, straightforward time-only watch we have two very interesting candidates as different in looks as their cultural backgrounds. The Drive de Cartier is a tres French take on elegance and refinement; the Grand Seiko SBGW231 is also a very elegant and refined watch but interpreted from a Japanese aesthetic. Let's put them side by side and gauge the strengths and weaknesses of each watch before we formulate a verdict. Case size and presence on the wristThe Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat has a diameter of 39mm and a case height of 6.6mm, proportions that categorically affirm its status as a dress watch. The cushion-shaped case of the Drive spells Cartier over and over again and seems to have been a member of Cartier's renowned family of shaped watches forev

Baume et Mercier Clifton Baumatic (non-COSC version, Ref. 10400, Steel Bracelet) - Specs & Price
Baume & Mercier has changed tack radically after introducing its first proprietary movement – Baumatic?-? during the SIHH in January 2018. Greeted with positive reactions, the Baumatic? has been housed in the Clifton line of watches, Baume & Mercier's all-rounder collection that includes the sporty Clifton Club series, clearly targeted at younger men. But above all, the Clifton Baumatic marks a new direction for the brand with its high-performance chronometer-grade movement, a diligent and admirable step up from third-party sourced movements that were the mainstay of the brand. Presented in a COSC-certified version – the Clifton Baumatic Chronometer – and three non-COSC versions with the same engine under the bonnet, this model on a steel bracelet is a casual verging on elegant watch, a perfect watch to introduce young men into the world of mechanical movements. Unassuming but handsome, well-endowed mechanically but not bulky, the Clifton Baumatic is Baume &am

Tissot Seastar 2000 Professional Powermatic 80 Dive Watch Hands-On
Accessible dive watches are anything but rare. There are dozens of options to choose from, with highly respectable models all around. Most of them are more or less built around the same specifications, with 40-42mm cases and 200 to 300m water-resistance. All in all, great summer or weekend watches for recreational diving. But what if you’re looking for a real professional deep diver, at an accessible price? In this instance, we’re looking at a much narrower selection of models. Except that Tissot, a brand known for making great watches at fair prices, has something new in this field. It’s ultra-robust, it’s a proper certified dive watch, it is equipped with everything you’d expect and more, and it is made from high-tech materials. Let’s have a closer look at the new Tissot Seastar 2000 Professional Powermatic 80.?Tissot has a solid reputation for making well-built watches, fully equipped and yet at competitive prices. Being part of the Swatch Group a