A new name on the independent watchmaking firmament arises, as Chinese watchmaker Neo Kung presents his Orienta. With experience working for the Seagull and Shanghai movement manufacturers, Neo Kung has a deep understanding of what it takes to build a movement. And by the looks of it, he knows what he’s doing! His Orienta has a movement based..................
2024-08-14 More
Omega, the official timekeeper of the Paris 2024 and 30 Olympic Games before that celebrated this year’s event with several Olympic-themed watches, like the Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope Paris 2024 and the Omega Paris 2024 Bronze Gold Edition. Among other new models that caught everyone’s – well, almost everyone’s attention ..................
2024-08-14 More
Montblanc celebrates the 100th anniversary of the iconic Meisterstuck - a fine writing instrument synonymous with the brand. Interestingly, initially, the cigar-shaped pen with the handcrafted nib was created by Montblanc artisans exclusively for their use before being made available to the public in 1924. To mark the milestone, Montblanc released ..................
2024-08-13 More
German watchmaker Stefan Kudoke fell in love with watchmaking as a young man and cut his teeth in the complications and prototypes department of Glashutte Original, followed by stints in the New York service departments of Breguet, Blancpain and Omega. Since branching out as an independent watchmaker on the outskirts of Dresden with his brand Kudok..................
2024-08-12 More
In 2021, Tissot introduced the PRX collection, a lineup that perfectly captured the essence of its 1970s inspiration with a barrel-shaped case, integrated bracelet, and quartz movement. A few months later, the design was reissued, featuring the Powermatic 80 movement. It quickly became clear that the series was perfectly in tune with the growing tr..................
2024-08-12 More
Vacheron Constantin taps into a more creative vein with the latest quartet of watches celebrating ancient Chinese culture. Emerging from Vacheron's Metiers d'Art atelier, the four models offer two different interpretations of the legendary Chinese motif known as the Seawater Cliff. The motif, which appeared in the 14th century, represents the sea c..................
2024-08-12 More
Summer is the time of year for fun in the sun, getting outdoors and simply enjoying life. So what better than to wear a suitable watch for whatever you’re doing? Swimming or scuba diving? Great, wear a dive watch! Travelling the globe? Awesome, wear a GMT watch? Heading into the mountains for a days-long trek? Cool, but what to wear? Field wa..................
2024-08-11 More
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Credor, a brand that began as Seiko‘s high-end line, offering timepieces crafted from precious metals. Today, Credor is renowned for its commitment to superior craftsmanship and aesthetic sensibility, which is evident in every aspect of its watches, from design to the intricate movements made up of coun..................
2024-08-09 More
Omega won the coveted contract to time the Los Angeles Olympics in 1932, the first Olympic event to introduce the three-level winner's podium, awarding athletes with gold, silver and bronze medals. Marking its 31st time at the rodeo this year as the Official Timekeeper of the Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games, Omega is in charge of timing all 329..................
2024-08-09 More
In the past, our friends at Hodinkee have collaborated with TAG Heuer to create exciting timepieces like the Carrera Skipper and Carrera Dato. This year, they present a fresh take on the iconic Abercrombie & Fitch Seafarer, which Heuer produced for the American retailer from the 1950s until the mid-1970s. We gladly present the new TAG Heuer Car..................
2024-08-09 More
The ref. 5236P, unveiled by Patek Philippe in 2021, is a veritable time capsule inspired by the linear perpetual calendar pocket watches of the 1950s and 1960s. Think of the ref. 725/4 with its American digital perpetual calendar or the ref. 699, which also boasted a minute repeater. The magic lies in its calendar display, nestled within a single, ..................
2024-08-08 More
With the 2024 Paris Olympics in full swing, and Omega being the official timing partner for the entire event, it’s impossible to ignore the brand. Especially when prior to and during the four weeks of epic sports on display, new watches are being released. Following the official 2024 Olympics edition of the Speedmaster Chronoscope and the lov..................
2024-08-07 More
There’s already plenty said about the Black Bay collection and its effect on Tudor as a brand. Yes, it’s a gargantuan success and yes it’s home to countless iterations by now, and more will likely come further down the line. From its humble beginnings in 2012 with the release of the Black Bay Burgundy 79220R to bronze, silver and ..................
2024-08-07 More
Initially introduced in 2022 as part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations of the Royal Oak, the Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Openworked was first released in steel (reference 16204ST), featuring a steel-grey skeletonized movement and contrasting pink gold hands and indices. Following this, the watch was also made available in pink, yell..................
2024-08-06 More
Returning to the scene in 2020 with Guillaume Laidet at the helm, Nivada Grenchen had plenty of tricks up its sleeve thanks to its rich repertoire of mid-20th-century tool watches. Reviving some of its most famous models –? the Chronomaster, the Depthmaster, or the Super Antarctic – Nivada Grenchen has gained a cult following among fans..................
2024-08-05 More
Grand Seiko's Heritage collection is often synonymous with wonderfully textured and subtly coloured dials, including Monochrome's all-time favourites, the Snowflake and the Shunbun. Reflecting the Japanese reverence for nature, many GS dials capture the colours and textures of natural landmarks and seasonal changes using time-honoured artisanal tec..................
2024-08-05 More
Summer is a time for adventures. For many of us, summer is synonymous with holidays, travels and sunshine. While basically every watch enthusiast will have his definition of the perfect summer watch, one style in particular makes a lot of sense; the functional, water-resistant sports watch with GMT function. Ready to cross borders, capable of a rec..................
2024-08-04 More
To celebrate their 24th anniversary, our colleagues at GMT Magazine are organising an exclusive watch experience for 24 lucky watch enthusiasts, from October 27 to November 1, 2024, in Switzerland. This meticulously curated tour will offer a behind-the-scenes look into the heart of Switzerland’s legendary watchmaking industry. From Geneva to ..................
2024-08-02 More
In our series on historically significant calibres, the best way to honour the El Primero calibre is by highlighting its qualities, functional characteristics, and pivotal role in shaping the watchmaking industry. While the tale of its salvation in 1976, along with that of Zenith as a company, by a courageous man defying the ill will of American ow..................
2024-08-02 More
When it comes to Panerai, we’ve seen the brand getting slightly out of track from time to time, with complex movements, smaller watches with low water-resistance and innovative materials that didn’t feel too convincing. So, when the brand introduces a nice-looking, straightforward model that does everything you want from a Panerai, we s..................
2024-08-02 More
Master watchmaker Svend Andersen has been a renowned figure on the independent watchmaking scene since 1980. The Danish watchmaker's ingenious and original approach to complications, including his sophisticated calendar watches and world timers, has captivated collectors and top-tier watch brands for years. To celebrate his 40th anniversary in watc..................
2024-07-31 More
Originally founded in 1845 by Ferdinand Adolph Lange in Glashutte, Germany, A. Lange & Sohne has become over the past years one of the most important watchmakers of the Saxon region. The story of Lange Uhren GmbH is, however, not as simple as it seems and despite subsequent generations of the family keeping the brand thriving, conflicts in Euro..................
2024-07-29 More
In the past few days, we’ve introduced a new (and really appealing) Bronze Gold CK 859 and reviewed the Paris 2024 Speedmaster Chronoscope… Which makes a lot of sense as we’re now right in the middle of the Olympics. But that’s not all for Omega, as we have more to introduce. Probably the brand’s most versatile and mos..................
2024-07-29 More
Certina is a go-to brand for resilient, well-designed, decently-priced sports watches. The latest model to join the Certina family is the DS Action Diver Chrono, which combines the solid diving specifications of the DS Action Diver with the functionality of a chronograph. Robust enough to fathom depths of 300 metres, the stylish two-tone golden san..................
2024-07-29 More
Have we lost the plot? Are we abandoning watches? No, of course not, but this time around the Petrolhead Corner is serving up something very special. Yet with us, watches are never far away as we will be going over the connection between Porsche, the car manufacturer and Porsche Design. How? By looking at two benchmark products as examples; the mad..................
2024-07-27 More
Ultra-thin watchmaking is a fascinating topic, one of our favourite areas of expertise here, at MONOCHROME. Ultra-thin watchmaking is horology at its purest, a no-compromise search for the slenderest movement that has to be considered a true complication. While high-watchmaking often seeks to bring as many complications as possible in a single move..................
2024-07-26 More
A deep dive watch from a brand with a name referring to Europe’s highest mountain, specialized in making high-end fountain pens…? Surprising, to say the least. Surely, there’s more to Montblanc than what I just described. Indeed, the brand has long been active in watchmaking, producing appealing dress watches and superb chronograp..................
2024-07-25 More
This coming Friday, on July 26th, the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will ignite a summer of sporting action in the heart of the French capital. For the 31st time since 1932, Omega will once again fulfil the role of Official Timekeeper, also extending to the Paralympic Games, where the brand has been Official Timekeeper since 1992. Besides the astonishin..................
2024-07-24 More
Horage truly stands apart in the watch industry with its start-up mentality, forward-thinking approach, and capacity to explore unconventional methods. This young Swiss watchmaking company, based in Biel, boasts a remarkable level of vertical integration despite its size. Led by Tsuyu Huang, Andi Felsl, and their dedicated team, Horage has introduc..................
2024-07-24 More
Following three consecutive record years for the watch industry in 2021, 2022 and 2023, recovering from a complex situation in 2020 due to the pandemic, the watch industry in 2024 is not sending the same positive signs. Pessimistic notes in brands and groups’ financial reports, contraction of prices on the secondary market, ambient morosity, ..................
2024-07-23 More
The 2024 Paris Olympics, which will start later this week, mark 92 years of Omega‘s legacy as the official timekeeper for the Games. Since 1932 and for the 31st time, the Omega Timing team, with its unparalleled expertise, extensive personnel, and tons of equipment, will support the competing athletes. To truly grasp the extent of Omega’..................
2024-07-23 More
When TAG Heuer released its Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon in 2016, it created a sensation on the watch market. It was not because of its double complications or its imposing 45mm case and skeletonised dial but because it featured an in-house integrated chronograph movement with a tourbillon regulator (Heuer 02T) and a hyper-aggressive price tag of..................
2024-07-22 More
Ninety years in the making, Audi has done something extremely cool! They’ve taken a concept that was never brought to life and finally built it. It’s called the Auto Union Type 52 Schnellsportwagen, and it’s basically the wildest Autobahn cruiser you can ever imagine! It’s a bit of an exaggeration saying it was ’90 yea..................
2024-07-20 More
Self-winding calibres are undeniably an advancement, especially those boasting extended autonomy. Yet, there is a timeless ritual, almost archaic, the deliberate act of winding a watch by thumb and forefinger, each click of the ratchet wheel a symphony for the discerning ear. This tactile dance, this connection to the mechanics, is a pleasure some ..................
2024-07-19 More
It wasn’t so long ago when LVMH, the French luxury powerhouse, announced shifts in top management positions. In January 2024, the group announced the creation of a new entity, LVMH Watches, as well as its CEO, Frederic Arnault, the son of the Group's owner Bernard Arnault and ex-CEO of TAG Heuer. As a consequence, Julien Tornare, ex-CEO of Ze..................
2024-07-18 More
Most days, you’ll catch me wearing a dive watch or a classic chronograph. This is what I most enjoy as a watch collector (yes, we are first and foremost watch fans at MONO). I like to wear watches that I don’t have to worry about, and I love a timepiece with some heft. Not necessarily a large watch (41mm would usually be my maximum), bu..................
2024-07-18 More
Today, for our latest in-depth video, we’re going technical. This is what MONOCHROME is all about, after all. Sharing the knowledge behind fine horology and understanding how our beloved mechanical watches actually work. Today’s topic is one dear to our hearts, as it combines everything we love in fine watchmaking: high-end finishing, m..................
2024-07-17 More
Following the announcement yesterday of decreasing sales for the Swatch Group, particularly impacted by the industry's challenging situation in China and South East Asia, it is time today for one of its main competitors, Richemont Group, to announce its sales for the first quarter ended 30 June 2024. Contrary to expectations, global sales are to be..................
2024-07-16 More
Co-founded by Swiss industrial designer Andrea Furlan and watch collector Hamad Al Marri, Furlan Marri launched on Kickstarter in 2021 with a beautifully designed vintage chronograph powered by a hybrid mecha-quartz engine. The next act, in 2022, was an equally handsome vintage black sector dial equipped with a mechanical movement that won over the..................
2024-07-16 More
In May of this year, we introduced Jiro Katayama, an independent watchmaker from Japan, and his brand Otsuka Lotec, which, despite its distribution being limited exclusively to his home country, has gained recognition across the continents. We had the pleasure of experiencing one of his models, the recently updated Otsuka Lotec ¡í 6, and here are ou..................
2024-07-16 More