The Collector's Series - William S. Lerner, a Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Atalante Flyback Chronograph and the perfect car to match... - Monochrome Watches
Collaborations between luxury goods companies is nothing new. This is particularly true when it comes to the watch world. From a marketing standpoint, you can see the obvious collaborative opportunity between a watchmaker and a class-leading automotive company. When the opportunity came up to discuss (among other things) why a collector valued the partnership between Parmigiani Fleurier and Bugatti, I jumped at the opportunity to find out more. And the result is a meeting of our friend William S. Lerner, a Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Atalante Flyback Chronograph and well, the right car to match, a Bugatti Veyron.For those of you unaware, Ettore Bugatti was the Italian founder of the brand that bears his name. The company was launched in 1909 and produced its cars in Molsheim, Alsace (East of France). One key factor when it comes to brand partnerships, is that the product ultimately has to echo the design sentiments of both brands. Looking back, Parmigiani Fleurier and Bugatti have shar

First Look: Bulgari Drops a new Octo Finissimo Automatic Sketch Dial for its 140th Anniversary
Introduced over 10 years ago (time flies…), Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo collection has become one of the most successful sagas in recent watchmaking history. Not only did these watches break one record for thinness after another, but they also redefined the concept of the ultra-thin watch with a contemporary design and a casual attire. For the 10th anniversary of this collection, Bulgari released an ultra-cool pair of models fitted with a sketch dial. One of the most acclaimed styles in this collection, the Octo Finissimo Automatic Sketch Dial is coming back this time to celebrate the brand’s 140th anniversary.?Bulgari was founded in 1884 by Greek silversmith Sotirio Bulgari, in the city of Rome – where the brand still has its headquarters. One of the most prolific watchmakers/jewellers on the scene, the brand made a name for itself with its daring designs, such as the all-time emblematic Serpenti – both watches and jewellery. A mix between the Italian flair

A Week in Japan with Grand Seiko Reveals Secrets of the Brand's Unique Craftsmanship
Stating that Grand Seiko is Japanese is like saying that the Eiffel Tower belongs to Paris. It seems so obvious at first that you might forget that France’s most famous monument wasn’t meant to become a permanent fixture. With Grand Seiko, the Japaneseness of the brand isn’t just about the location. It’s not about making watches in Japan; it’s about making watches the Japanese way, something the brand calls Dou (µÀ) or The Way. A couple of months ago, I had the opportunity to spend a week in Japan and my goal was, besides visiting several key locations for the brand, to understand what makes Grand Seiko unique. To discover what makes it intrinsically, deeply, brilliantly Japanese.?When I received an invitation from Grand Seiko in the late summer to finally visit Japan and the brand’s manufactures and other important locations (I say finally because this trip was initially planned for spring 2020…), I couldn’t hide a certain excitement. I h

Introducing the edgy Oris ProPilot X Calibre 400 (Specs & Price)
Oris has a long history in the field of pilot’s watches, starting with the Oris Big Crown, introduced in 1938. Even today, Oris produces classically styled pilot’s watches based on the original Big Crown, and more modern interpretations in the Big Crown ProPilot collection. We’ve seen a myriad of these robust, highly legible watches introduced in the ProPilot line, including the bold 2019 ProPilot X, which now receives the brand’s latest generation of in-house made movements. This is the Oris ProPilot X Calibre 400.The ProPilot X style has a much edgier, more angular and contemporary look and feel compared to the regular ProPilot. The full titanium case measures 39mm in diameter and has a sharp, faceted shape. This style was first introduced in the Oris ProPilot X Calibre 115, with a skeletonized dial and movement. The case has a distinct knurled bezel and an oversized screw-down crown with crown guards. The dial is protected by a domed sapphire crystal with ant

First Look: The Olive-Green Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton
With its Captain Cook, Rado, a brand part of the Swatch Group, is merging two important sides of its history. First, this watch collection revived one of the brand’s greatest watches of the past, a 1960s dive watch with a rather peculiar yet attractive design. Second, it is used as a vessel to showcase the company’s leading know-how in high-tech materials (the brand labels itself as The Master of Materials), in particular ceramics. This skilful blend of retro vibes and high-tech materials has recently been demonstrated with the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton, which is now available in an unexpectedly cool mix of olive-green ceramic and PVD rose gold accents.?The Rado Captain Cook started its life as a classic take on the dive watch, yet with a slightly original design. Born in 1962, it was revamped in 2017 as a limited edition, then followed in 2019 by yet another 37mm limited edition – both watches faithful to the original concept and design, made out of sta