Antiquorum Auctions Patek Nautilus 5711 Green EUR 320000
Most watch enthusiasts are certainly aware of the current situation in the luxury sports watch field, with the most emblematic models of the category – namely the Nautilus and the Royal Oak Jumbo – reaching incredibly high prices on the second-hand market. As for the topic of the day, we’ll be talking about a unicorn, the recently introduced and already ultra-coveted Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A-014, with its desirable olive green dial. A watch that is almost impossible to obtain from retailers and boutiques, and that is already undergoing extreme speculation. And as yet another proof of this insane situation, Antiquorum has just auctioned such a Green Nautilus 5711, reaching a price of EUR 320,000 (before fees).?A model introduced in 2006 for the 30th anniversary of the model, and the most classic version of this icon of the luxury sports watch with a time-and-date automatic movement and blue dial, the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 is undergoing impressive speculat

Buying Guide - Best of Independent Watchmaking in 2022
At MONOCHROME, we love watches, watchmaking and the watchmaking industry as a whole. However, we can’t hide our passion for watches manufactured by small ateliers by watchmakers who create watches with their hands and soul. Known as “independent watchmaking“, these creative hubs provide a breath of fresh air to established brands. We continue our recap of the best watches launched in 2022, following the best chronographs, the best pilot’s watches and the best accessible timepieces. It is now time to take a look at what we think were the most impressive models released by indie watchmakers this year… And believe us, it wasn’t easy to come up with this selection!Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance New GenerationThe concept of resonance has long been the dream of watchmakers and physicists, which has proven to be extremely difficult to materialise. Many have tried to introduce resonance inside a clock, pocket watch or wristwatch, with irregular results

A Guide to the Evolution of the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch, Reference by Reference
No other watch on Earth can boast the space credentials of the Speedmaster, the one and only watch worn on the Moon. The curious fact about the Speedmaster is that it wasn't designed to go to the Moon. Nobody at Omega could have foreseen that the Speedmaster would soon be orbiting out of the Earth's atmosphere to join man on the greatest adventure of all. Born in 1957 as part of a trilogy of instrument watches, the Speedmaster was originally designed for car racers or anybody interested in measuring elapsed times with 1/5th of a second accuracy. The first chronograph of its kind to feature a tachymetre scale on the external bezel, the Speedmaster responded to an internal mandate for a sturdy, precise, waterproof watch that was reliable, legible and easy to manipulate. Today we are going to dig in deep with the Speedmaster and provide you with a compilation of the most iconic' references - and therefore the ones most coveted by collectors – that marked the evolution of this extrao

Interview: Florian Brossard, Managing Director of Schwarz Etienne, on the Brands Future
Founded in 1902 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Schwarz Etienne is an independent watchmaking brand that often flies under the radar yet holds incredible potential. In particular, it boasts a surprisingly high level of vertical integration, producing not only its own watches but also cases or movements. As Watches & Wonders 2025 and its parallel events approach, we sat down with the brand's newly appointed Managing Director, Florian Brossard, to discuss his vision for Schwarz Etienne and a few words about what to expect for the next collection of Schwarz Etienne.Xavier Markl, MONOCHROME - Florian, thanks for having us. You have been named Managing Director of Schwarz Etienne in July 2024. Can you share a bit about your background before joining the brand?Florian Brossard, Managing Director of Schwarz Etienne – While my parents were already in the watch industry, I initially took an independent path. I first studied to become a medtech engineer but soon realized I wanted something more

Buying Guide: Compass Bezel Adventure Watches
Summer is the time of year for fun in the sun, getting outdoors and simply enjoying life. So what better than to wear a suitable watch for whatever you’re doing? Swimming or scuba diving? Great, wear a dive watch! Travelling the globe? Awesome, wear a GMT watch? Heading into the mountains for a days-long trek? Cool, but what to wear? Field watches immediately come to mind, but I can do you one better; a field watch fitted with a compass bezel! So with that in mind, here’s a quartet of field watches that will guide you to where North, East, South or West are in case you end up lost on your adventures!Before we strap up and head out into the open world, it’s perhaps a good idea to prepare a little. If you’re stranded in the middle of nowhere, and have no idea where you have to go, a watch with a compass bezel can be a literal lifesaver. But how does it work? How do you navigate with it? You have to start by pointing the hour hand in the direction of the sun. Then