Today we’re starting with a new gave-away action and again the rules are simple. Fill out the form, answer a few question, register to the newsletter and your name can be drawn from all participants to be the winner. For the coming two weeks you will have the chance to win Panerai’s new book (introduced last year) that comes in a hard p.................. 2016-04-26 More

When?I first laid eyes on the Vacheron Constantin Quai de l’Ile, when it?was first introduced in 2007, I didn’t exactly know how to position it. This watch, or better these watches, were a tad more sporty / casual than the average classic dress watch, and also a bit more chic than the average sports watch. Maybe a perfect allrounder? Th.................. 2016-04-26 More

It’s strange for me to realise it has been 10 years since I installed the database and other files necessary for a WordPress blog on my own domain. And it has also been 10 years since I posted the first words on Monochrome. What started as a personal blog to keep friends and family up to date of what kept me busy, soon evolved into lyrical mu.................. 2016-04-25 More

The regulating organ of a watch is certainly amongst the most important parts. It is what defines the speed at which the watch will run – and because time is defined by rules, this speed has to be controlled with great care, in order to have the most accurate watch possible. The?regulating organ can take several forms, it can use several mate.................. 2016-04-22 More

In this day and age the worldtimer is likely to be one of the most useful complications to be found in a mechanical timepiece. When?Marshall McLuhan, a Canadian professor and philosopher of?communication theory,?wrote ‘The Gutenberg Galaxy: The Making of Typographic Man’ in 1962, not many could have foreseen how McLuhan’s descript.................. 2016-04-21 More

When you think MeisterSinger, you certainly have to think single-hand / mono-aiguille kind of watches – ?only one?single hand that displays the time, in a slow and not-so-precise way, which actually brings a certain?charm to these watches. This is what?MeisterSinger is good at – besides being an interesting and affordable proposition fo.................. 2016-04-21 More

Each year, IWC selects?one of its newest timepieces and fits it with a beautiful blue dial and a special engraved caseback… and there’s a good reason for that, a reason called charity, to be precise to fund the?Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Thus, this year, IWC comes with one of these blue dial watches, and for the first time in 10.................. 2016-04-20 More

Marine Chronometers are a major part of the DNA of Ulysse Nardin. 100 years ago already, UN was already one of the leaders in the market for deck chronometers (marine chronometers to be used on boats deck) and since then, this spirit has been kept alive by the brand as a motto. This year, Ulysse Nardin is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Mar.................. 2016-04-20 More

It happened. Although, quite frankly, I am rather ashamed to admit it, as it simply shouldn’t have taken so long. This week, it gives me great pleasure to welcome our first female collector, Lara Berry and her glorious vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso to the Collector's Series.In a previous life, Lara worked for Experian in the finance data i.................. 2016-04-19 More

Earlier this year, we introduced you to what was certainly one of the coolest ideas the watch industry had for a long time. TAG Heuer wanted to reintroduce the famous Autavia in 2017.?What was totally?new and unique with the Autavia Cup?was?that readers, collectors, followers… were?able to vote to know which vintage Heuer Autavia was about to.................. 2016-04-19 More

Paris, 1867 – The Rouquayrol-Denayrouze diving apparatus wins a gold medal at the Universal exhibition. Among the visitors of the international exhibition was Jules Verne. A few months later, he incorporated this diving apparatus in his novel 20000 Leagues Under The Sea, as part of the equipment of the Nautilus divers. At that time, watches w.................. 2016-04-15 More

Among the classical watchmaking complications, the perpetual calendar is certainly one of the most desirable, as being a strong technical achievement. Because of what it does (being able to have a watch correctly adjusted for the coming 100 years…), it is sought after by collectors and can be seen as a sort of achievement in a collection. How.................. 2016-04-14 More

This year, as Baselworld 2016, Zenith Watches introduced?several novelties but mainly, the brand showed the new strategic direction chose for the design and the positioning of the collections – considering that Zenith is part of the LVMH Group, alongside TAG Heuer and Hublot, a clear differentiation was required. As of now, Zenith will have a.................. 2016-04-14 More

Compiling complications in?a small space like the movement of a mechanical wristwatch, which usually measures 25mm to 30mm diameter and can include up to 500 parts (or even more), isn’t an easy task, especially when it comes to chronographs, minute repeaters or automatons. Miniaturization has always been on of the greatest challenges of watch.................. 2016-04-13 More

This week on the Collector’s Series allowed me to go hands on with personal favourite watch of mine. It's a world timer and it comes from one of the most underrated (in my opinion) manufactures out there.?Joseph McKenzie is a business owner, watch collector and friend. He runs Xupes.com with his Father in the UK. A family run, online luxury b.................. 2016-04-12 More

When you say Chopard and chronograph, you certainly have in mind the Mille Miglia or the Superfast collections, sporty and race-oriented luxury watches – but not high-end, haute horlogerie pieces. What Chopard launched this year at Baselworld 2016 is a tiny bit different – to say the least. The brand came to the international watch fair.................. 2016-04-11 More

Here, at Monochrome-Watches, we always loved the?Arnold and Son UTTE (see our hands-on here) – and for several reasons. First, it is an extremely elegant watch. Second, it is complicated (long power reserve – tourbillon). Third, it is super slim. Finally, it is a real in-house watch. So, when at Baselworld, we’ve been introduced t.................. 2016-04-11 More

The chronograph is, without doubt, one of the most popular complications. It's also one of the complications that can be used on a daily basis, however, what most people do not realise, is that the chronograph mechanism is among the most complex mechanisms to design and manufacture. For horology connoisseurs, there aren't many experiences that are .................. 2016-04-08 More

Ever wonder how watch brands?got their name? Some are pretty straight forward; some others are more obscure. With hundreds of past and present watch companies, what?has been the inspiration from watchmakers to find names? Some simply follow the name of their founder, other went for anagrams, and some for hidden meanings Here is a (non-exhaustive) h.................. 2016-04-07 More

For those who think?that Porsche Design is a brand focused on leather jackets and sunglasses, you’d be wrong, as for the first time this year, the brand exposed in the Hall 1.0 of Baselworld, where all the major brands have their booth – thus confirming that Porsche Design is also a credible watchmaker, something we already told you aft.................. 2016-04-07 More

Taking the opportunity of his forthcoming 70th birthday, Mr. Stephen Urquhart, actual President of Omega Watches?(since 2000), is about to retire and to leave his?seat to a younger man, Mr.?Raynald Aeschlimann. Starting his new role on 1 June 2016,?Aeschlimann will have the responsibility to guide one of the largest watch company around the world, .................. 2016-04-06 More

Montblanc is celebrating this year 110 years of fine craftsmanship, as the company was created in 1906, in Hamburg, Germany. Even if the story started with pens, it is now a major brand with multiple fields of action, including watches – and some extremely nice timepieces manufactured by the Villeret workshop, previously known as Minerva. In .................. 2016-04-06 More

Some of you probably shared a strong enthusiasm last year, when Oris introduced what was?certainly the coolest watch of Baselworld 2015, mixing a superb vintage-inspired design, a nice execution?and a very acceptable price: the now famous Oris Divers Sixty Five?– and I must confess that it is a personal favorite too. Well, this was not a one-.................. 2016-04-06 More

I love divers watches and I have a special place in my heart for Doxa. Therefore, sooner or later, it was?inevitable to meet with Marco. Recently, I received an email from Frank, referring enthusiastically to his meeting with a great guy and collector, who had a few special dive watches and was interested to present them through Monochrome. When th.................. 2016-04-05 More

In a recent survey, we asked you what you wanted to see on Monochrome-Watches. The answer was clear: more technical explanations (and our solution is the Technical Perspective) and more affordable watches. However, we’re selective and we’re not going to show all the?watches priced under 1,000 EUR / USD. However, this one is a Monochrome.................. 2016-04-05 More

If you’re a long time reader of Monochrome-Watches, you probably know that I have a soft-spot for the pilot-watches manufactured by Breguet. It’s something I extensively explained in a review of my personal Type XX and later in an instalment of the Collector’s Series. I know that these watches, whether we talk about the Type XX, t.................. 2016-04-04 More

Sartorialism:?From sartorial, itself from New Latin sartorius ?(pertaining to a tailor), from Late Latin sartor ?(tailor), from Latin sarcire ?(to patch, mend),?an interest in matters of or relating to the tailoring of clothing. Meaning, an adoration?for hand-crafted and fine clothing dedicated to men. This is exactly what the Old Maison Vacheron C.................. 2016-04-04 More

The avant-garde mind needed to design the complex inner workings of a watch fascinates all but a selective few of us, mere mortals. The Promethean ambition to master time has inspired inventive minds for centuries; with the hands of talented craftsmen bringing exquisite horological art to life. Beyond the intricacies of the mechanics of time, the r.................. 2016-04-01 More

After Robin and Brice?shared their personal Top 5 watches from?Baselworld 2016, it's time for my Top 5 of the most impressive watches from this year's edition of Baselworld. My choices of watches are?not exclusively focused on the most expensive or most complicated timepieces; sometimes all it takes to make a strong impression is a great looking wa.................. 2016-04-01 More

Just as the heavy-hitters of the Swiss Watch Industry were about to throw in the towel and to all convert to smart watch line-ups, the master of industrial disruption, Apple, call it quits with their Apple Watch product, due to pressure engaged by Swiss Watch Industry. War is over, the Apple Watch is cancelled.The technophiles in Cupertino have aba.................. 2016-04-01 More

We told you, we had to take some time to properly think about our favorite watches of Baselworld 2016. We’ve seen over 1,000 new watches each and if most don’t deserve to be in our personal wish-list, some?could potentially enter our “hall of fame”. We had to digest Baselworld 2016 but it’s now time to look at what imp.................. 2016-03-31 More

Recently at?the 74th edition of the Goodwood Member Meeting (#74MM) IWC introduced three new versions of the Ingenieur. The new models are inspired on the iconic vintage Ingenieur ref. 666 and features similar lines and design cues. The new Ingenieur Chronograph Classic models all feature a brand new in-house movement and of course we want to know .................. 2016-03-31 More

In September 2015, in order to celebrate its 260th anniversary, the old and respectful Maison Vacheron Constantin unveiled what was the most complicated watch ever created with 57 complications, the Super-Complication, known under the ref. 57260. A question that came to our minds at that time concerned the deployment of some of the features used in.................. 2016-03-30 More

Mr. Kunal Patel is a seasoned entrepreneur and watch lover. Having studied at UCL in London, his first successful venture was in real estate management some years ago. He he is currently Chairman of LATEP Holdings whose interests and investments span across financial services, retail, security, technology and real estate. He also happens to wear a .................. 2016-03-29 More

The vast majority of people are comfortable with watches simply displaying hours and minutes but for globetrotters, frequent travellers and those doing business around the world, multiple time-zone watches are highly practical and purposeful for their daily travelling needs. Here is an in-depth look at an important category, the Travel Watches.Back.................. 2016-03-25 More

There is probably no other country in the world other than England that is able to combine class, camaraderie and community in one event with a relaxed and friendly setting. From 1949 to 1966, Goodwood Members' Meetings were run more than once a year over the 3.8km circuit at Goodwood House, the estate of Lord March, near the south coast of England.................. 2016-03-24 More

When you think Tudor watches, you immediately think cool timepieces, with a sporty look and a superb price/quality ratio (e.g. the Heritage Black Bay Black). You might also have in mind a certain size – which we believe to be the right one, with cases measuring, for most references, in-between 40mm and 42mm. On the other hand, Tudor showed th.................. 2016-03-21 More

We’re not going to ask you if you are aware of Hublot as a brand and of one of their specialties: partnerships (like for example with football teams or?Italian car maker). We bet you’re aware of this. For the 2016 edition of Baselworld, this is not going to change. However, their latest collaboration made a huge impression on us, first .................. 2016-03-20 More

The 74th edition of the Goodwood Member Meeting marks the rebirth of the classic Ingenieur design in three special editions of the Ingenieur Chronograph. The new IWC Ingenieur Chronograph features?the new in-house calibre 69370, and will be launched at the 74th edition of the Goodwood Member Meeting.ENGINEERS OF TIME”The history of the IWC In.................. 2016-03-19 More

In 2013 Omega introduced the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m GMT and that was the first Seamaster Planet Ocean with a second time zone. That’s eight years after the introduction of the Seamaster Planet Ocean collection. This could well be your perfect traveller watch as is has the additional function of the second time zone; something that comes .................. 2016-03-17 More