MONOCHROME Wishes You a Splendid 2021 - Monochrome Watches
2020… What a year… what a year! Both on a professional as well as on a personal level this was a bizarre year, and not only due to that nasty Corona pandemic that is terrorizing humankind. Politics also reared its most ugly head on various sides of the globe and Baselworld, an old watch institution, fell apart. And let’s not forget the extreme fires that raged in Australia at the beginning of the year. What a year…?Usually when looking back at a year, it’s easy to focus on the best, coolest, most novel and most interesting watches that we’ve seen in a year. But this year is different. Of course, MONOCHROME is here to entertain you with news, reviews and in-depth stories from the world of watches. We, or actually I, cannot look at this year only from that perspective. 2020 started in the midst of the extreme bushfires that raged through Australia and we, like most of our online colleagues and many watch brands, supported the Watch & Act! Auction t

Introducing The Unique Tudor Prince Chronograph One, With Big Block Vibe and New Manufacture Chrono Movement
Looking at the entire lineup of unique watches for the Only Watch 2023 charity auction, you can see that some are not just an evolution of existing models but unprecedented creations… And, among the 62 watches presented, what Tudor has prepared has drawn our attention. Dare I say, it had us hooked! Visually, it marks the return of a beloved design, a watch inspired by Tudor’s first automatic chronograph, the 1976 Prince Oysterdate Big Block. But there’s more, and this can be seen under the solid caseback: a new manufacture automatic chronograph movement that could well replace the Breitling-based calibres. All in all, it somehow feels like we already know what to expect at Watches & Wonders 2024… Let’s have a closer look at this Tudor Prince Chronograph One.?For now, chronographs at Tudor have been either powered by a Valjoux (FastRider Chrono), an ETA with Dubois-Depraz module (Heritage Chrono) or, more recently, by movements produced by Breitling (Bl

Introducing The New IWC Portofino Automatic Pointer Date
Introduced in 1984, the Portofino is IWC's interpretation of a classical, stylish yet understated unisex watch collection. The minimalist round case design of the Portofino family can trace its lineage to the 1970s when IWC made a pocket watch based on a large Lepine movement. Combined with clean, uncluttered dials, the Portofino has earned the much sought-after distinction of being timeless. Today, IWC introduces a new 39mm stainless steel model with a date complication displayed in a sub-dial at 6 o'clock. Meet the Portofino Automatic Pointer Date.Although it might not be as iconic as IWC's Portugieser or Pilot’s watch collections, the Portofino has a distinct set of design features that consolidate its attractive personality. The simple round cases and straight, thin lugs are certainly one feature, but so are the more recently introduced elongated Roman numerals combined with classic indices and elegant leaf-shaped hands that give the dial its purity. Following the introductio

Introducing: The Enigmatic Ulysse Nardin Blast x Amoureuxpeintre
In what might be considered a surprising change of course, Ulysse Nardin announces its collaboration with Amoureuxpeintre, an edgy urban fashion designer who has been invited to reinterpret the Blast Skeleton X. Adopting the stark minimalism associated with Amoureuxpeintre's design philosophy, the grey monochromatic suit and blurry, frosted windows of the Blast Skeleton X give the watch an enigmatic, now-you-see-me now-you-don’t presence.This collaboration should not come as a surprise since Ulysse Nardin has always had its finger on the pulse of contemporary technology and trends. While its past as a purveyor of precision marine chronometers might be regarded as something relegated to the dusty annals of history, marine chronometers represented the height of technology in the mid-19th century. Moving into the 21st century, the brand's revolutionary Freak using silicon components marked a before and after in horology. Ad - Scroll to continue with article

Buying Guide - Five watches with uniquely animated dials
The vast majority of wristwatches, mechanical or quartz, offers information on a flat 2D level. Sure, hands can be suspended a little bit above the dial, and you can even include some recessed or elevated indications for a chronograph or calendar complication, but that’s still on a horizontal plane. If you’re looking for a more dramatic and creative display of displaying time or any additional indications, you narrow it down to just a handful of brands. Sure, the inclusion of a tourbillon escapement visible on the dial side already changes things up, especially when it rotates on multiple axes. But what if you’re looking for even more than that? What if you want a watch with 3D animated displays and/or complications? Well, you’re in luck as these five watches might provide exactly what you’re looking for!Trilobe Une Folle JourneeWhen Trilobe first burst upon the independent watchmaking scene, it made some noise because of its unusual and captivating contin