In-Depth with Audemars Piguet's First Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon - Monochrome Watches
We all know Audemars Piguet for the legendary Royal Oak that was introduced in 1972. This iconic watch was followed by two other important launches. In 1992, the brand reinvented its luxury sports watch in a robust, more masculine version, the Royal Oak Offshore. Thirty?years after the introduction of the inaugural Royal Oak, in 2002, Audemars Piguet introduced a new line in the family, the Royal Oak Concept, with a newly shaped case and no dial to expose the movement.The Royal Oak Concept has always been a showcase for innovation and research at Audemars Piguet. Innovative materials, complex shapes, new complications – for instance the first SuperSonnerie or the LapTimer – and above all, a predilection for audacious, bold designs characterise the Concept watches. Earlier this year, Audemars Piguet introduced a?new flying architecture for the tourbillon, and the first ladies’ (but not strictly made for women) Royal Oak Concept watch.Today we’re pleased to presen

A Visit to The Hour Glass Malmaison Boutique in Singapore - Monochrome Watches
Singapore has a host of attractions to lure business and leisure travelers. Boasting a population that is virtually 100% watch enthusiasts, the city-state can claim a boutique that takes luxury living to the next level!?Over the Chinese New Year's holiday I was in Singapore with my family. ANY trip to Singapore necessitates at least one jaunt to Orchard Road to look for my two vices, watches and fountain pens. It was on that jaunt that I came across Malmaison. The fa?ade and window display had enough to lure me in: several high-end brands of watches and a large sign signifying that it was part of the Hour Glass group of stores. Ad - Scroll to continue with article (For those of you who do not know the Hour Glass, they are the top retailer of luxury watches in Singapore, and have outlets throughout Southeast Asia.)Walking in you are greeted by familiar faces': Hu

Industry Massive Shakeups at Richemont, Abolishes CEO Role, IWC's Kern Head of Watchmaking and Montblanc's Lambert Head of Operations - Monochrome Watches
Telling you that the watchmaking industry is now facing some troubles won’t be the biggest piece of news you’ll have today. It is now known; the Swiss industry is in tough period, sales are decreasing, profits are lower and stocks are massively increasing at retailers. This situation seemed to be quite a secret for a year or so, but now, large groups – mainly those listed and that must report to shareholders – are making things clearer and?the situation really becomes public. As a proof, yesterday Richmont Group, the second largest actor in the field of luxury watchmaking (owner of Cartier, IWC, Jaeger, Montblanc and more)?announced declining results,?abolished?CEO Role and?unveiled a major?sweeping management overhaul – as?IWC’s Kern will become Head of Watchmaking and Montblanc’s Lambert Head of Operations.As reported by Bloomberg here, massive changes are about to come at Richmont Group. As a reminder, Richemont Group, a Swiss Group listed a

Review: Love at First Sight, The Chopard L.U.C XPS Forest Green
Most days, you’ll catch me wearing a dive watch or a classic chronograph. This is what I most enjoy as a watch collector (yes, we are first and foremost watch fans at MONO). I like to wear watches that I don’t have to worry about, and I love a timepiece with some heft. Not necessarily a large watch (41mm would usually be my maximum), but a watch with a feeling of robustness, most of the time on a metal bracelet. With this in mind, you can imagine that the classic, thin dress watch isn’t an object that I often strap around my wrist. I enjoy seeing them worn, but not on my wrist. Except that, I might just have found the one watch that changes everything.?When: Watches and Wonders 2024, 9 April 2024. Where: Chopard’s booth, press room. What: the freshly presented Chopard L.U.C XPS Forest Green. Reaction: wow, just wow. I know it sounds like one of those lines to generate enthusiasm. Well, it’s not. What I’m relating here is a genuine moment of excitemen

First Look: The new Louis Erard Regulateur Grave Noir
Sector dials, with their unique segmented layouts designed over a century ago for improved readability, have a lasting appeal that continues to inspire modern watchmakers. Today, many brands incorporate sector dial watches into their collections, and Louis Erard – founded in 1929 during the peak of this design’s popularity – is no exception. Its Excellence Petite Seconde series offers a variety of colourful models, including the lovely Petite Seconde Terracotta, as a fresh interpretation of this classic style. Louis Erard’s latest release, Le Regulateur Grave Noir, builds on the sector dial’s clarity and legibility, blending it with the brand’s signature regulator layout for a new look.The new Louis Erard Regulateur Grave joins the brand’s Noirmont Metiers d’Art collection as a permanent addition alongside the Regulator with the Grand Feu Enamel dial introduced earlier this year as a limited edition; the two watches share the same case de