In-Depth - The Story of Gunter Blumlein, His Role at IWC, Jaeger & Lange
The watchmaking industry, before being a story of products, is first and foremost the story of women and men devoted to conceiving and producing some of the most delicate and yet unnecessary objects we can imagine. If all must be considered, some names resonate stronger, mostly for the impact they have had on this industry. You can, for example, think about A.L. Breguet and his influence on mechanical watchmaking. Or about Nicolas G. Hayek and how he’s been instrumental in staging the comeback of “Swiss-made” watchmaking. One of the names you can add to this list is, without a doubt, Gunter Blumlein, a man who has done tremendous work to bring mechanical watchmaking back to the forefront, to restore watchmaking to the town of Glashutte and to shape the industry as it is today. And since Mr Blumlein passed away exactly 20 years ago, on 1 October 2001, it is the perfect time to remember one of the industry’s giants.Remembering Mr BlumleinThe story of Gunter Blumle

7 Women Industry Insiders Pick Top Watches For Under $1,000 (for both genders) - Monochrome Watches
Just in time for the holidays, we bring you seven great watches - for men and women - under USD1,000, as selected by women insiders in the watch industry. This article was initially conceived of in response to the male-insiders-only article written in the New York Times just over a week ago. For that article, entitled A Watch With Snob Appeal for Under $1,000? Six Watch Insiders Offer Picks the author opted to inquire about top watches under $1,000 as selected by 6 different men, including our Founder, Frank Geelen. We, at MONOCHROME, wanted to hear what women have to say on that topic too. Additionally, we can bring some choices for both men and women as well - something the men really can't do.Each of the women insiders weighing in here has been covering the watch industry for anywhere from 10 to 34 years - writing for some of the most prestigious watch?and consumer magazines in the world – making each a true industry insider. It should be noted that we understand that watches

Omega Speedmaster Tokyo 2020 Olympics Limited Editions (Specs & Price)
As the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games, Omega always presents limited editions dedicated to this major sports event. With Tokyo 2020 on its way, we expected some new watches to be introduced. And here they are, the new?Omega Speedmaster Tokyo 2020 Olympics Collection (to give credit where credit is due, thank you?Fratellowatches and Instagram users for spreading the news…) Don’t look for these watches on your local Omega website, unless you live in Japan. These are Japan-only editions – but in today’s world, this won’t be an impediment to somebody who really wants to get their hands on these watches…Japan has always been an important market for the Speedmaster – and the recent?Speedy Tuesday/Ultraman limited edition, with its Japanese inspiration, won’t change the rule. But instead of the release of special Seamaster watches dedicated to the Olympics, Omega has decided that for Tokyo 2020, the Speedmaster would be the perfect can

Oris Big Crown Pointer Date D.26 286 HB-RAG Limited Edition With Green Dial (Specs & Price)
The link between Oris and aviation needs no further introduction. The company's links with flying go back to the dawn of flight in the early 1910s when it produced its first aviation-inspired watch. Oris's first pilot's wristwatch followed soon after and is celebrated a century later with this year's 1917 Limited Edition. Today, the brand introduces a new limited edition, based on the signature Big Crown collection, the?Pointer Date D.26 286 HB-RAG with super-cool green dial… and it’s not the only feature that is iconic in this watch.Alongside the aviation roots, it has to be noted that this watch has something special, a sort of signature feature that makes it an icon in the collection. Before I wrote?this piece, Frank told me that in the Netherlands, during the 1990s, if you could spot a luxury watch on the wrist of someone, there were high chances that it would either be a TAG Heuer, an Omega or a specific Oris model, the Pointer Date. This display, a centre-mounted cale

Introducing the 2014 edition of the Oris Aquis Depth Gauge (specs and price) - Monochrome-Watches
Oris is known for its rugged, sporty tool-watches. The Aquis is famous into?the community?of divers – a collection that includes some interesting, technical, well finished but affordable tools to be used under the deep salty waters.?One is?particularly noticeable because it includes a clever mechanical depth gauge. Here is the?updated edition of the Oris Aquis Depth Gauge.The Oris Aquis Depth Gauge was hailed as one of the most innovative diving watches when it was launched in 2013. It answered the challenge of how to build a depth gauge into a mechanical watch. It had a pioneering depth gauge function, developed and patented by Oris. Even if we,?at Monochrome-Watches, mainly focus on high-end watches, we recognized that this Oris Aquis Depth Gauge was truly interesting when it was unveiled. And somehow, with its mechanical system to indicate depth, we found it really special – and we love special watches! Ad - Scroll to continue with article