Some Of The Coolest Affordable Watches Of 2023, So Far - Monochrome Watches
Very few of us watch nuts are fortunate enough to hunt down and acquire tourbillons, minute repeaters or perpetual calendar watches. There’s no denying the appeal of such complex mechanical marvels, but there’s just as much fun (if not more) to be found on the lower end of the spectrum. And while we’ve compiled many lists of this year’s best sports watches, calendar watches or complex chronographs in various instalments of our weekly Buying Guide, it’s now time to take a look at watches that don’t break the bank. So, we capped the budget at EUR 1,500 and go through a selection of watches from the first few months of the year to see what’s out there for you to consider adding to the collection!Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba GreenWhen it comes to value for money, the Swatch Group is home to several brands impossible to ignore, Hamilton being one of them. The new Khaki Navy Scuba in 43mm stainless steel case looks very attractive in this new gradient g

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar White Ceramic 26579CB.OO.1225CB.01 - Hands-On, Price
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and its iconic octagonal case and integrated bracelet need no introduction. It is one of the most iconic watches of the industry and the one that sparked the “Luxury Sports Watch” concept (and its subsequent fame). This watch has been revisited in hundreds of editions, complications and materials. Ceramic, a trendy and modern composite, also made it to the RO, in black. Recently, the brand introduced a new version of the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in white ceramic. Bold isn’t enough anymore to qualify this watch… Controversial for sure, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t desirable.Before we even start looking at this watch, it has to be said: this watch isn’t made for the masses. Not because of its high price or because of its scarcity, but because of its uncompromising looks. It won’t appeal to a large audience, it will probably be hated by some and on the other hand, it will be desired by a few. In a way, thi

Bell & Ross BR-X1 Skeleton Chronograph - Specs and Price - Monochrome-Watches
Bell & Ross fighting against Audemars-Piguet and Hublot? That’s exactly what Carlos Rosillo, one of the two founders of the brand, wants to achieve. While Bell & Ross was used to produce multiple editions of a same concept for years (countless versions of the BR-01), they are now coming with more complicated watches, with quite a strong design. After the B-Rocket presented in Baselworld 2014 (that we’ll review soon), the french brand introduces a limited edition with the ambition to fight in the heavyweight class, the?Bell & Ross BR-X1 Skeleton Chronograph.The Bell & Ross BR-X1 Skeleton Chronograph may represent the exact opposite of Hautlence with the Invictus Morphos in terms of marketing and strategy – remember that this timepiece will be Hautlence’s entry level – the technical specifications are however quite similar. Bell & Ross with its latest collection is raising standards to a complete other level. First, the design is stronger

First Look: The Updated IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide, The First IWC with a Silicon Hairspring
This year, IWC brings the emblematic Portugieser collection under the spotlight, introducing several stunning new additions to the collection, including the impressive Eternal Calendar and updates to several iconic models, such as the chronograph and the 7-day Automatic. On the occasion of Watches and Wonders Shanghai, the brand unveils a new version of its Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide. Now available in steel with an obsidian black dial, this sportier model debuts an updated movement featuring a silicon hairspring for the first time at IWC.Originally presented in 2020, the gold Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide introduced a complication that could not be more appropriate for the nautical-themed Yacht Club sub-collection. The original, specific functionality of the model relies on two sub-counters linked to moon phases and tide calculations.? Ad - Scroll to continue with article

Interview: An Encounter with Wizard Watchmaker Ludwig Oechslin, The Creator of the Ulysse Nardin Freak
Historian, archaeologist, mathematician, philosopher and watchmaker, Ludwig Oechslin is the perfect example of a polymath whose knowledge across different disciplines fuels his innovation and creativity. In the 1980s, his encounter with Rolf W. Schnyder turned Ulysse Nardin into one of the most innovative watch brands around. The presentation of a new Freak at Dubai Watch Week 2023 gave us the perfect opportunity to sit down with this wizard watchmaker.?Xavier Markl, MONOCHROME – What is your first horological memory, and how did you get hooked on watchmaking?Ludwig?Oechslin – When I was a kid at boarding school, the school bell used to ring every hour of the day. When I went to university, there were no more bells to let you know that a class was starting, and I figured I needed a watch to tell the time. But I was not a wristwatch fan. So, I started looking for a pocket watch. The first watch that I saw and wanted was a repeater. But it was out of my reach. I bought a less