Buying Guide - Some of the Coolest Character Watches Recently Launched
A cartoon or comic book character on the dial of a high-end luxury watch? Why not? Watches don’t have to be serious. Pop culture icons are increasingly in vogue, and luxury watch brands are now resurrecting a concept that has long been forgotten by traditional, relatively serious or technical watchmaking. But recently, even the most high-end watch manufacturers have been surfing the wave of comic or cartoon-themed timepieces. Also known as character watches, they have made a comeback and here are six models we spotted in 2021.Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Black Panther Flying TourbillonAudemars Piguet announced its partnership with Marvel Entertainment a few months ago. The first model paying tribute to Marvel’s inspirational superheroes and powerful universe was a Royal Oak Concept in titanium featuring a hand-painted white gold 3D Black Panther character and a tourbillon movement. During the online presentation event, a one-of-a-kind white gold version of the watch wa

First Look: New Gold Versions of the AP Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked 37mm
Openworked or skeletonised watches are treats for the more mechanical-minded admirers of watchmaking, and the more complex the movement, the better. In 2016, Audemars Piguet increased the viewing pleasure two-fold when it unveiled its Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked ref. 15407. As its name indicates, the movement was equipped with two balance wheels, one exposed on the dial of the 41mm watch. The latest duet to join the collection are two models with 37mm diameters in white or pink gold powered by the in-house calibre 3132. However, the novelty here is the tone-on-tone palette that matches the colour of the case material with the movement.The two is better than one premise behind the RO Double Balance Wheel Openworked, explained in this video, features two balance wheels to increase chronometric performance and stability. However, to access and regulate each balance spring individually, AP's watchmakers placed the two balance wheels and two hairsprings on a single axis but se

Hands-On: Impressions about the Omega Speedmaster Pilot Flight Qualified
About a month ago, out of the blue, Omega released a new, rather polarizing and unique-looking version of its emblematic chronograph, the Speedmaster Pilot Flight Qualified.?Well, it wasn’t really out of the blue, but we’ll come back on that in a few. Colourful, tool-oriented and with a dial full of references to the world of aviation, it is a watch with a completely different style from what we’ve come to expect from the streamlined Moonwatch – it’s also very different technically. We had the chance to get our hands on one of these Speedmaster Pilot watches and I’m going to share some of my impressions… Is it oddly cool or just odd? Let’s find out.BackgroundThe Speedmaster started life in 1957 as a racing chronograph to measure average speeds and also introduced the concept of the external bezel with a? tachymeter scale, hence its name, to the watchmaking world. However, it quickly changed vocation during the 1960s to become the watch of

Porsche Design Chronograph 1 - 1972 Limited Edition
Mostly known for the design of one of the most iconic cars ever created, a line that is extremely enduring (yes, we’re talking about the Porsche 911), Ferdinand Alexander “Butzi” Porsche was a genius, a visionary, and a talented designer of all things. As the founder of the?Porsche Design studio, we should keep in mind that the first product created under this umbrella was a wristwatch. And an important one, being the first black-coated watch ever commercialised, and a watch that has defined the entire style of the studio for the years to come. This timepiece, the Chronograph 1, was released in 1972 and thus celebrates its 50th anniversary this year… And as you’ve guessed, Porsche Design pays tribute to this model by releasing a special model, the new Chronograph 1 – 1972 Limited Edition.The first of its kind, the 1972 Porsche Design Chronograph 1The first-ever product to be launched by Porsche Design was a wristwatch and one that broke new grounds.

Oris & Audi - The Oris Audi Sport III Limited Edition at WEC 6 Hours of Nurburgring - Monochrome Watches
For returning readers it is a known fact most members of team Monochrome are car-guys to some extent. Obviously, both watchmaking and the automotive industry are intertwined extensively, so when Oris gave us the chance to attend the FIA World Endurance Championship 6 Hours of Nurburgring race, I jumped on the occasion! 6 hours of the fastest prototypes and road-car-based racers on the planet, blasting around an historical track sounds like a good way to spend a weekend! Oh, and there was a new watch. Quite a cool, special watch, to be handed to the drivers of Audi Sport: the Oris Audi Sport III Limited Edition.Most people might know the brand to be focused on dive watches but that doesn't do them justice, as they are capable of so much more! They have brought us the world's first automatic altimeter for the wrist, or a watch with in-house movement featuring a single barrel storing up to 100 hours of power, neither of these are in the diving collection. And to top that, Oris has had a s