First Look: The new Sand Gold AP Code 11.59 Flying Tourbillon 38mm
Marking a first for the recently introduced 38mm iteration of Code 11.59, Audemars Piguet equips its most compact reference with an automatic flying tourbillon. Not just any tourbillon, mind you, but AP's ultra-thin calibre 2968, aka RD#3. Representing the best of both worlds, the new Code 11.59 Tourbillon fuses a state-of-the-art movement with a graceful sand gold case sparkling with diamonds.Tourbillon complications were relatively rare in Audemars Piguet's historical repertoire until 1986 when it launched the calibre 2870, the world's first automatic serially produced tourbillon. One of the lightest of its kind thanks to its titanium cage, calibre 2870 weighed just 0.123g and was also one of the thinnest (4.8mm) until it was surpassed by Bulgari's Octo Finissimo in 2018.The 2023 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Extra-Thin RD#3, fitted with the calibre 2968Celebrating the Royal Oak's 50th anniversary in 2022, AP produced an automatic flying tourbillon to fit in

Hands-On: The New IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 Is Back To Genta's Integrated Design
I’d like to start this article with one word; finally.?Yes, the IWC Ingenieur is finally back to its emblematic 1970s, Genta-designed integrated look. And in fact, looking at?previous versions of this watch, it’s never been so close to the original. And while the story of the Ingenieur started before Gerald Genta and its vision of an IWC luxury sports watch with an integrated bracelet, this 1976 version is certainly the one most of us associate with the Ingenieur name. So, no more small talk and teasing, let’s have a closer look at the brand-new IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 reference IW3289, the comeback of Genta’s design and the integrated look, which we’ve been able to film ahead of its launch, in a video that you’ll discover on top of this article.Quick recap – The Ingenieur watches of the pastThe story of the Ingenieur collection starts, as often back in the old but good days of mechanical watchmaking, with a watch to answer a specific need.

Sequent Supercharger, the first self-winding smartwatch
Smartwatches; what to do with them? Embrace them? Bann them entirely? Or, perhaps, if you are positive, try and adapt it into your (haute) horology lifestyle? If you have been following us for the last few years, you might recall that we have always been highly skeptical towards the smart revolution in watchmaking. We have yet to stumble upon a project that truly wins us over. We, at Monochrome, have a sort of love-hate relationship with them. But, in all fairness, we keep our eyes open to those that might tick all boxes, like this next Kickstarter project: The Sequent Supercharger, the first self-winding / self-charging / cable-free smartwatch.First off, it is free of cables and that is the biggest thing that held us back in other smartwatches. Connectivity was limitless in marketing terms, but most (if not all) smartwatches remain connected in one way or another. Take the first-gen Apple watch for instance, with a battery life of just 18 hours At the end of the day, you are somehow s

The New Worldtimer Watches of Patek Philippe for 2022 - Monochrome Watches
With a history spanning over 80 years (and the famous Cottier watches), Worldtimers?are among?Patek Philippe's most popular complications. Patek was the brand to bring back this type of watches in 2000 with the launch of the 5110. The 5110 was replaced in 2006 by the 5130, itself replaced by the 5230 in 2016. On the occasion of Watches and Wonders 2022, the travel watch collection welcomes three new interpretations of existing models. The Blue Guilloche Platinum 5230P-001For the first time, Patek Philippe is interpreting the emblematic 5230 in a platinum case combined with a blue dial and strap. The dial center is adorned with a new circular hand-guilloche motif. Inside the watch is the fine and well-known Calibre 240HU (HU= Heure Universelle). This 27.50mm automatic movement features an off-center 22K gold micro-rotor, allowing a height below 3.9mm. It runs at 3Hz with 48 hours of power reserve. Ad - Scroll to continue with article

Introducing: Compact and Colourful Versions of the Rado Diastar
Born in 1962, the Rado Diastar marked the brand's incursion into the exciting territory of innovative materials. Combining carbide tungsten, hard metal and faceted sapphire crystal with a retro-futuristic case, the Diastar was the first step in Rado’s journey into the world of high-tech ceramics and other exciting materials. Celebrating its 60th birthday in 2022, the Diastar appeared in a shiny 38mm Ceramos suit. Following the latest market trends for smaller dimensions and colourful dials, the Diastar is back in a petite 30mm case with three attractive dial colours.The?Diastar was a child of the 1960s with its futuristic flying saucer case and round porthole over the dial. Almost like a helmet, the sloping flanks of the case were enormous and gave the watch its distinctive personality. Marketed as the first scratch-resistant watch, the name Diastar was derived from the brief to be as tough as a diamond and shine like a star. Ad - Scroll to continue with article