The New Bulgari Octo l'Originale Solotempo in full Titanium - Monochrome Watches
Bulgari made quite an impact last year when it unveiled its record-breaking, ultra-thin Octo Finissimo Automatic. In total, the sand-blasted titanium case measured just 5.15mm thick, an incredible achievement and one that in my opinion, looks absolutely superb on the wrist. Others, however, found it either too thin or too expensive. Fortunately for those detractors, Bulgari's new Octo l’Originale Solotempo Titanium offers a very similar aesthetic, in a slightly thicker case and at a more wallet-friendly price.Bulgari is introducing several new models into its popular Octo collection this year, and we've already gotten hands-on with two of them; the Octo l'Originale Velocissimo chronograph in full titanium and the Octo Tourbillon Sapphire in Black DLC. The third model we are looking at is the Solotempo, a stylish three-hander with date presented in the brand's trademark multi-layer octagonal case with 110 facets. Ad - Scroll to continue with article

The Online Watch Market - Toby Bateman, Managing Director at MR PORTER (Exclusive) - Monochrome Watches
Following up with our series of interviews with major actors of the online watch market – including watch media such as Hodinkee and Revolution, which not only cover watches but also sell watches - we now get to look at one of the largest and most convincing online platforms, MR PORTER. Unique and luxurious, this successful online retailer has been integrated under the Richemont umbrella in 2018, opening new perspectives to this young company. This is why we wanted to have a chat with Toby Bateman, Managing Director at MR PORTER.Can you give us a quick history of MR PORTER?MR PORTER launched globally in February 2011 with 80 brands, positioning ourselves as the global destination for men's style, and offering a considered edit of the best in product and a fresh eye to content. We are now the leading, award-winning global destination for men's style, with over 500 of world's best menswear and lifestyle brands, including our own labels Mr P. and Kingsman, with categories as vast as

Review New Panerai Luminor Perpetual Calendar Platinumtech PAM00715
When you think Panerai, you’ll probably have in mind a cushion-shaped watch with diving capacities, an oversized case, a sandwich dial and a relatively simple yet powerful movement, with barely any complications to display. And rightfully so, as this is the basic concept of the brand, found under the classic Luminor or Radiomir collections. Yet, the Florentine brand has demonstrated in past years that it could also go into complications, such as chronographs, the always-questionable equation of time or even tourbillons. One complication that the brand has barely even touched through its history (I say barely because there’s one example to be found) is the perpetual calendar, otherwise a classic for the industry. Surprisingly, it’s only in 2021 that this will come in the collection, with the new Panerai Luminor Perpetual Calendar Platinumtech PAM00715 we have here, and its new in-house movement.?You can search deep into the brand’s history and you’ll only f

Frank and his MIH Watch developed by Ludwig Oechslin and Paul Gerber - Monochrome Watches
Fly under the radar: this could be the motto of the first generation MIH Watch that was developed by none other than Ludwig Oechslin and Paul Gerber. Christian Gafner, an industrial designer who never before designed a watch, has to be credited for the ‘fly-under-the-radar’ design that goes together so well with what’s under the ‘hood’. The MIH Watch served as a fundraiser for the Musee International d’Horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, where Ludwig Oechslin was the conservator and was sold in a newspaper!?Ludwig Oechslin signed the newspaper before he handed it over to me.Today I'm interviewing Frank Geelen, the founder and editor-in-chief of MONOCHROME, and we talk about his MIH Watch that he bought ten years ago. Although we’ve talked about many of his watches, the MIH Watch recently popped up in conversation and since it’s such a unique watch, that was born from a unique motivation and executed in such a unique way, we both

First Look: The new TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green
Racing green… Probably one of the most emblematic colours in motorsport. We have to remember that, in the early days of car racing, colours were not just decorative, but racing drivers competed with liveries representing their country – Italian red, German silver, French blue (featured in last year’s limited edition) and, of course, British racing green. This iconic colour now adorns one of the most emblematic watches associated with motorsport, the Monaco. Following its Racing Blue peer from 2023, TAG Heuer now introduces the Monaco Chronograph Racing Green Calibre 11 in Titanium.?Born in 1969, the oddly cool Monaco has always been associated with racing and motorsport. This square chronograph gained popularity when the King of Cool, Steve McQueen, wore it in the cult movie Le Mans in 1971. Since then, the Monaco has been one of the most emblematic watches of the brand, only rivalled by the enduring Carrera collection – which, in its own more classic style, als