Watches NEWS
Just Because: It's February 29th... What Exactly is a Leap Year? And What Does it Means For Watches?
If you’re one of the lucky few to own a perpetual calendar watch (or even rarer, a secular calendar watch), this is the day you have to wear this watch. It’s not even an option, it’s an order. Why? Because your movement is going to perform a mechanical ballet that only occurs every four years – well, almost… more on that in a few – and your dial will be showing a day and date combination that only occurs every 1,460 days. Indeed, today is February 29th, and 2024 is a leap year. But what exactly is a leap year? Why does it even exist? Why make things so complicated? And how does this translate in terms of watchmaking and calendar watches? We tell you all.?Horology and mechanical watchmaking are children of astronomy. The entire system of measuring time, days or seasons is based on the observation of our planet and its position in the Solar system. Time and calendars are, however, conventions created by men. They are systems, a standardisation that all
Retailers Need to Take the Personal Approach if They Are to Survive - Monochrome Watches
Even though the promise of a vaccine strikes a positive note in the current COVID-19 misery, the pandemic still holds everyone, and especially retailers, in a firm grip. However, this situation may also prove to be an opportunity for small and medium-sized jewellers and watch retailers to rethink the way they market their offer. Besides an impeccable online presence, both creativity and establishing a personal connection are essential.The world has already done its digital shift. Online advertising, social media posts and online magazines are now the rule, especially in periods of confinement. Advantages for retailers seem clear: their online information can be uploaded and updated at all times and its effects can be measured. Online marketing and developing new ways to connect digitally with customers can still be fine-tuned, however. Customers have discovered the many advantages of online browsing, so it had better be an unforgettable experience.?Having the freedom to shop around to
Breitling to Leave Baselworld 2020, Tudor to Have its Own Booth - Monochrome Watches
Baselworld has been through difficult times recently, drawing criticism and seeing more than half of the exhibiting brands leaving the show. The main announcement was, of course, when Nick Hayek decided that the whole Swatch Group was leaving the 2019 Edition – which we now know to be a definitive decision. While the 2019 edition was certainly better than some expected, the situation remains uncertain for the show, which sees yet another big brand leaving Baselworld 2020: Breitling.In a press release sent earlier this morning, Breitling, in the words of its CEO Georges Kern, explains that the brand will “concentrate on (its) global Summit format with subsequent local roadshows in 2020“. The main reason for leaving Baselworld has to do with the new timing of the show, which will now occur just after the SIHH, from 30 April to 5 May 2020 – dates that “cannot be reconciled with our scheduling,” says Kern. The new format allows for more flexibility and p
The Colllector's Series - @Watchesbelike Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A
I guess at MONOCHROME we do not have to tell you about cultural differences; however, there’s one that stands out for people who are passionate about horology and wristwatches in particular. Watch collectors uniting in a club-like manor is something that did not happen, or hardly, in mainland Europe. Most European watch collectors prefer to fly under the radar and do not feel any urge to share their, often pretty expensive, collection with others. That is until Instagram came along and made it easy to meet like-minded collectors, in complete anonymity. And that’s how I got in touch with @Watchesbelike. He’s a 34-year old finance professional and watch collector who lives in Paris and can be found under this alias on Instagram. We exchanged quite a bit about watches in general, collecting and his love for his Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711A. Although he's been asked to, he would never sell it. He explains why.@Watchesbelike – In 2013, I said (…) that even for
SIHH 2019 - Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar (Hands-On, Specs & Price)
Here’s a very special one. The new Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar comes with a normal power reserve of 4 days, however, when put in so-called “Standby Mode” and the movement switches to a lower frequency, the power reserve is jacked up to no less than 65 days! That’s a great feature for when you want to store your perpetual calendar without having to set all indications all over again, when you decide to wear it after a couple of weeks or even up to two months. Let’s have a closer look at this spectacular timepiece that incorporates two gear trains, two regulators, and a perpetual calendar, and all that in a relatively small 42mm case.?Vacheron Constantin plans to make five pieces this year and there has been no mention yet if there will be more…Maybe you own a manually wound perpetual calendar and you’re familiar with the issue of setting the calendar indications after it has been in storage for some time. It&#
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