Recap - The 5 Highlights of the Watchmaking Industry in 2017 - Monochrome Watches
As 2017 is coming to an end, and before the new horological season starts with the SIHH (as of January 15th, 2018), we thought it was important for you to understand what happened this year in the watchmaking industry. The idea here isn’t to focus on watches, we’ll have another recap article for that.?In all fairness, 2017 has been an eventful year. From the?game of musical chairs at Richemont to the return to growth, let’s take a look back to the highlights of the watchmaking industry in 2017.The industry is back to growth and profits (and apparently this will last…)2015 and 2016 have been difficult years for the Swiss watchmaking industry – relatively speaking of course, as in all fairness, major groups such as Richemont, Swatch or LVMH were still generating quite healthy profits. Yet, we’ve seen sales dropping quite dramatically month after month. The monthly report for exports of watches was becoming a recurrent dosage of bad news. The high Swiss

Video The IWC Big Pilot 43 Racing Green IW329306
For almost 20 years, the name Big Pilot at IWC meant one thing: a 46mm, oversized, almost provocative watch inspired by 1940s B-Uhr, powered by a massive automatic movement with a 7-day power reserve and a dial so large that you could use the watch as a nightstand clock And it also meant a display with a power reserve indicator and date. But things changed in 2021 with the launch of the Big Pilot 43 watch. It was smaller, sleeker, less complex mechanically and more mainstream. This not-so-big Big Pilot is now available with a striking racing green dial, and we take a closer look at it now in our latest video review.?If the real Big Pilot, the oversized 46mm watch, is still IWC’s flagship pilot watch, the recent introduction of the BP 43 somewhat redistributed the cards. This slightly more compact, more straightforward and focused version is fast becoming the cornerstone of the collection, with many variations around the concept. This launch raised a few questions, mainly about th

Lug-to-Lug Size and Why We Don't Rely on It - Letter from the Editor
Since I began MONOCHROME in 2006, the information that brands disclosed about their watches has improved significantly. Diameter and height are now in pretty much every press release, and so is the actual movement. However, lately, we are often asked about the lug-to-lug size. Something that brands do not communicate about and neither do we. Here’s why.A good example of a watch that is rather big on paper, the Omega Speedmaster Professional, with a 42mm diameter and a 47mm lug-to-lug size. However, once on the wrist, the watch feels much more compact (and that’s something numbers don’t express).Over the past decade, communication about watches has improved significantly. Diameter, height and honest information about the movement are now available. Until a few years ago, we were confronted with too many ‘invented’ calibre names, while the movement was often supplied by ETA, Sellita or another third party and subsequently adorned by the brand's name on the r

New 2022 Editions of Fortis Marinemaster M-44 - Hands-On, Specs, Price
A Swiss brand specialised (mostly) in rugged watches meant to be used onboard planes or in outer space, Fortis continues its restructuring and revamping its collections. Last year, the brand relaunched one of its most important watches, which for once isn’t made for the air, but for exploration of planet Earth, on land and underwater. A typical all-rounder for adventure, the Fortis Marinemaster was revamped with two editions, a compact 40mm version and its bigger, bolder brother, the manufacture-powered Marinemaster M-44. Previously only available in orange, this action-ready watch now comes in 4 new colours, including a rather surprising Limited Edition.The name Marinemaster originates from the 1950s and has since been used to indicate the brand's highly waterproof watches. During the years the name has adorned watches with the intention to be used in aquatic life, but not necessarily ultra-focused dive watches. It could include complications such as a chronograph, or an alarm.

Pre-SIHH 2019 - Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Grande Complication Phoenix
With SIHH 2019 fast approaching, brands are pre-releasing selected models to whet our appetites. Vacheron Constantin has?released the first images of two unique pieces, Les Cabinotiers Grande Complication Phoenix and Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon Sky chart, which we will introduce in a separate article. But for now, let's look at the first model, a complex watch with no fewer than 15 complications.The Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Grande Complication Phoenix is a one-of-a-kind creation combining an ultra-complicated movement and ancestral crafts - Metiers d'Art are deeply ingrained in Vacheron Constantin's tradition. The collection name Les Cabinotiers is a reference to the watchmakers who used to work on the top floors of the brand’s historic Geneva building. Ad - Scroll to continue with article The Grande Complication Phoenix packs 15