F.H. Bennahmias, CEO of Audemars Piguet, about coming classical collection and integrated chronograph - Exclusive video interview for Monochrome - Monochrome Watches
When it comes to interview CEOs of brands, usually, we end up with a lot of nice words and some marketing speeches. Telling the truth and giving proper insights on the state of the watchmaking industry or on what a brand is about to launch, what are the coming developments, is not the rule. However, the interview?you’re about to look at is slightly different. One thing is sure; Fran?ois-Henry?Bennahmias isn’t shy to tell the truth and to give us some very interesting clues on what Audemars Piguet is working on for the coming years. New classical line of watches, new integrated chronograph movement and coming trends. Here are the subject exposed in this exclusive video interview with?Fran?ois-Henry?Bennahmias,?CEO of Audemars Piguet, during the SIHH 2016.What are the things to keep in mind here? First of all, what we were expecting is going to happen. Audemars Piguet is actually working on a new classical line, dressier watches that will both look at future – with a co

First Look: Hublot Unveils Magic Ceramic, Claimed to be the World's First Multicoloured Ceramic
When it comes to ceramic watches, Hublot has, over the years, managed to be one of the most creative brands by achieving cases and parts in the brightest possible colours imaginable (green, orange, light blue, yellow, sand…) Obtaining strong colours on ceramic is more difficult than many imagine, the base material – ZrO2 Zirconium Oxide – is white and must be combined with metallic oxides to reveal its colour – and often, colours become pale. For over 10 years, after mastering monochromatic tones, Hublot has been working internally on the next phase, which will be associated with the 20th anniversary of the Big Bang; multi-coloured ceramic, as a solid, homogeneous material, which is claimed by the brand to be a world’s first. It’s named Magic Ceramic and it’s released in a 20-piece Big Bang Unico limited edition.?The famous two-tone “Pepsi” bezel of on the GMT-Master II, with two colours on the ceramic insertBefore we look at what

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 Santos de Cartier Chronograph (SIHH 2019, Specs & Price)
Having given the Santos new wings in 2018, Cartier expands the bestselling men’s collection in 2019 with the addition of a chronograph.? Thicker, wider and infinitely sportier, the new Santos de Cartier Chronograph has found an elegant solution to replace the classic two-pusher chronograph configuration with a modified version of its automatic 1904-CH MC calibre. Presented in three versions - solid 18k pink gold, steel and yellow gold bezel, and steel with a black ADLC bezel - we have selected the stylish pink gold model for our hands-on review.GenesisWhen Brazilian aviator Santos-Dumont commissioned a watch from his friend Louis Cartier in 1904 that he could wear while piloting his plane – and not have to lift his hand from the controls – little did either of these gentlemen suspect that the result would become one of the most popular and enduring Cartier icons of all time. Characterised by a square case with visible screws, a shape that flew in the face of the fashi

Hands-On - The Surprisingly Affordable Longines Master Collection Annual Calendar (Specs & Price)
If you want to dip your toe into the world of sophisticated complications, it usually comes at a price. A tourbillon, for example, can easily add CHF 20,000 or more to the price of a watch. The Longines Master Collection has been around since 2005 and serves as a contemporary alternative to its revered Heritage Collection (with more traditional designs). The Master Collection has a wide variety of complications, from power reserve displays to calendar chronographs with moon phase and more, but these new models are the first for Longines to have an annual calendar. The Longines Master Collection Annual Calendar not only offers a more sophisticated calendar complication than the norm but does so at an impressively affordable price.What exactly is an annual calendar? Well, there are several ways for a mechanical watch to display calendar information. First is a date complication, or a simple numerical day of the month. Then there's a day-date complication that displays both days of the we