If the chronograph is one of the most revered complications, the rattrapante (or split-seconds) function takes it to a whole new level. The word rattrapante translates from the French “to catch up”. Rattrapante chronographs feature two superimposed seconds hands that time two events of different lengths simultaneously. One hand (the rat.................. 2022-07-17 More

There’s no denying that?the new TAG Heuer Monaco Purple Dial is bold and polarising. It creates strong and partial emotions. It’s far from making unanimity, it’s far from the classic codes of sports watches. It is pretty special, period. We introduced the watch about a week ago, and when our editor Erik wrote his article, he remai.................. 2022-07-15 More

Pain, passion, glory The Tour de France is widely considered the most prestigious and most difficult cycling race. 3,350 kilometres are being raced in 2022, split up over 21 days of racing. Every detail counts in this challenging competition between 176 riders, and, against time. Cycling fans all remember the 1989 Greg LeMond victory over Laurent F.................. 2022-07-15 More

The rattrapante chronograph, also known as split-seconds or Doppel chronograph, is often regarded as one of the most sophisticated horological complications, and a must-have in high-end watch collections. As a top-tier watchmaker, A. Lange & Sohne isn’t only familiar with the complication, it somehow masters it, with a double-rattrapante .................. 2022-07-14 More

Swiss watch giant Swatch Group has just issued its 2022 half-year sales report, for the period January 1st – June 30th. At CHF 3,612 million, net sales are up 7.4% compared to the previous year at constant exchange rates, or 6.5% at current rates. The operating profit is up 25.1% at CHF 503 million.The Group reports double-digit growth for ma.................. 2022-07-14 More

Just yesterday, Tissot introduced a lovely and affordable vintage-inspired chronograph, the Telemeter 1938. The watch’s bi-compax layout comes courtesy of a legendary chronograph calibre, one of the most widely-used movements in the industry, the ETA-Valjoux 7750. This precise, tried-and-tested workhorse was created in the early 1970s. In its.................. 2022-07-12 More

If the brand has been under everybody’s radar recently after the launch of the PRX collection (and rightfully so), Tissot is a watchmaker with a deep history. Born in 1853, the brand has long been involved in sports timing and chronograph watches. And with this in mind, the brand has released multiple accessible and attractive “Heritage.................. 2022-07-11 More

Rado has long been associated with ceramic watches, even before it became a staple material for bezel inserts for instance. The brand pioneered the use of highly scratch-resistant material more than 30 years ago, but Rado's dedication to the craft goes back even further than that. Labelling itself as The Master of Materials, we recently had the cha.................. 2022-07-11 More

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo and the Patek Philippe Nautilus seem just unobtainable these days… the luxury sports watch is one of the most sought-after categories today if not the hottest. The archetype is straightforward: match a sporty but clearly expensively-crafted steel watch with an integrated bracelet and an automatic, ultra-thi.................. 2022-07-10 More

While most of us might know Tudor (at least its modern side) for the countless editions of the Black Bay, the brand has far more to offer… And that, for its historical or modern collections. If you recall, in 2014 Tudor paid tribute to its involvement into exploration, by bringing back an important model, the Ranger. A robust, no-nonsense ins.................. 2022-07-08 More

If anybody thought the main contenders in the battle for ultra-thin mechanical watches were Bulgari and Piaget, today's news is going to come as a big surprise. Just months after Bulgari's launch of the Octo Finissimo Ultra, the previous world's thinnest mechanical watch with a 1.80mm profile, Richard Mille steps on the accelerator and steals pole .................. 2022-07-06 More

TAG Heuer's Monaco series needs no introduction. Among the brand's most iconic collections, it was born in 1969 and given a legendary marketing boost in 1971 when Steve McQueen wore one in the movie, Le Mans. A younger generation probably recognises it from the series Breaking Bad, where Walter White received a Monaco Calibre 12 (ref. CAW2111. FC61.................. 2022-07-06 More

Here’s a new IWC… Well, we’re a bit exaggerating the “novelty” effect since this watch, a new and bold edition of the Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar in Ceratanium with a smoked sapphire dial revealing parts of the movement and Petronas Green accents, isn’t really available anymore. Surprisingly, IWC starts to commu.................. 2022-07-05 More

Imagine the soundtrack of the Royal Oak‘s debut in 1972 as Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water” and Don McLean’s “American Pie” drifted across the radio waves. Fast-forward to 1993 with the launch of the Royal Oak Offshore and folks were rapping along to the urban sounds of Snoop Dogg, et al. Watches, like mu.................. 2022-07-04 More

Some names will resonate in the minds of collectors, for their influence on watchmaking. While the industry was facing its most difficult crisis ever during the 1970s and 1980s, one man had faith in mechanical watches. In 1983, a certain Gerd-Rudiger Lang registered the name Chronoswiss, becoming a pioneer for what’s now known as contemporary.................. 2022-07-04 More

Dive watches, pilot’s watches, automotive-inspired watches, traveller’s watches… These might well be the categories of watches we most often cover on MONOCHROME. There’s one style of watch, inspired by the antique concept of the Marine Chronometer, that is somehow a bit more niche, but nevertheless often comes with a cool, s.................. 2022-07-03 More

It might come as a surprise to newcomers to the watch scene, but the Girard-Perregaux Laureato was one of the precursors of the luxury sports watch and appeared in 1975, just three years after Audemars Piguet's trailblazing Royal Oak. With its raised octagonal bezel, sleek lines, hobnail dial and integrated bracelet, the Laureato was Girard-Perrega.................. 2022-07-01 More

We've all come to this point where we see a watch, like a watch, but have that little tiny detail that somehow feels a bit out of place, or that we would have imagined differently Today, it's the story of a man and his tendency to always challenge the existing, to come and ask the brands if there's a way to change that little detail, to make the wa.................. 2022-07-01 More

It takes a lot of pluck to establish a watch brand on one design alone. There again, if the design is by Gerald Genta, one of the most acclaimed and prolific watch designers of our time, things are a little different. Just think about Audemars Piguet's success riding on the back of Genta's indestructible 1972 design for the Royal Oak or Patek Phili.................. 2022-06-30 More

Move over big-name watch brands, indie watchmakers are the new idols on the scene. Attracting more and more interest by the hour, indies have caught the eye of collectors' groups which are engaging with talented watchmakers to create unique pieces or limited editions for their members. The idea of owning something only a few individuals will be abl.................. 2022-06-30 More

There’s no avoiding green. While silver/white and black used to be the norm, later followed by an array of blue watches in the 2010s, green seems to be THE colour of the 2020s. It’s not a trend anymore; it’s becoming a necessity for brands to have a green edition of classic models. And we can’t blame them, because when it.................. 2022-06-30 More

If the real Big Pilot, the oversized 46mm watch, is still IWC’s flagship pilot’s watch, the recent introduction of the BP43 somewhat redistributed the cards. This slightly more compact, easier, simpler, more focused version is fast becoming the cornerstone of the collection. Following the initial black and blue versions in steel, weR.................. 2022-06-29 More

I know… The title is voluntarily a bit provocative. In the world of watches, it’ll be hard to forget about the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch. It simply is one of the most emblematic and historically-important watches ever made by Omega, and by extension, the whole industry. And the latest version of the Moonwatch, the Master Chrono.................. 2022-06-29 More

Stefan Kudoke, German watchmaker and founder of the eponymous independent brand Kudoke, is a name that most indie watch enthusiasts should know. In fact, he’s no longer flying under the radar anymore since his watch won the Petite Aiguille category at the GPHG in 2019. The watch in question, the Kudoke 2 (and thus his second creation), has al.................. 2022-06-28 More

Watchmaker Oris has been championing environmental projects around the world under its “Change for the Better” umbrella, always revolving around the theme of water. From whale and dolphin conservation to cleaning up the world's lakes?and rivers and saving coral reefs, Oris has struck upon another original project involving bivalve mollu.................. 2022-06-28 More

Tool watches can be divided into three basic categories (dive watches, field watches and pilot’s watches), even though some might overlap into multiple groups. The robust, utilitarian nature of tool watches is what a lot of people look for in a daily, care-free watch. In today’s Buying Guide we take a closer look at one specific categor.................. 2022-06-26 More

In one of our earlier articles in The Collector's Corner, we dove into Breguet's illustrious history, focusing on the rebirth of the brand during the midst of the quartz crisis, by looking at the elegant and high-end hand-wound Chronographs of the Roth era. Today, we revisit Breguet, albeit at a slightly later point in the company's history, namely.................. 2022-06-24 More

As some of you might know, A Collected Man is an online platform dedicated to curating and selling some of the most desirable watches on hand. Based in London, ACM and its founder Silas Walton have gained an impressive reputation among the collecting community, offering a selection of rare watches from high-end brands as well as superb pieces made .................. 2022-06-22 More

There is a good reason why we run the Petrolhead Corner column every Saturday on MONOCHROME. Petrolheads are very often attracted to?watches and watch aficionados usually have a thing for cars too. This is simply the result of a fascination for all things mechanical. In this respect, it comes as no surprise that automotive-inspired watches are legi.................. 2022-06-22 More

Although skeletonised watches and dive watches seem to be poles apart, Ulysse Nardin fuses these unlikely bedfellows by borrowing features from two collections. The result is an eye-catching study in technical skeletonisation with a robust, sporty presence capable of fathoming depths of 200 metres. To celebrate UN's partnership with retailer Seddiq.................. 2022-06-22 More

It is no secret that a large part of the watch industry is currently facing a rise in popularity, with a demand often surpassing the production capacity. While some have the ability to release more watches on the market, it's tempting for a few companies to benefit from this situation and to cap production and increase desirability. And for some, t.................. 2022-06-21 More

The launch of the Legacy Machine FlyingT in 2019 was something of a space oddity in the brand's trajectory, marking the first MB&F watch designed for women. True to Max Busser's mission of creating complex kinetic timepieces, the ladies' LM FlyingT features a flying tourbillon rising dramatically above the dial plate, an intriguing dial perched.................. 2022-06-21 More

Long before Switzerland became the epicentre of traditional watchmaking, the Brits were leading the industry basically. Horological greats such as John Arnold, Robert Hooke, John Harrison, Thomas Mudge, and others have all contributed to the craft within the United Kingdom, and beyond. Each of these men was responsible for moving the watchmaking fo.................. 2022-06-20 More

There are dozens of watch-related projects launched on Kickstarter and other crowdfunding platforms every month, with more or less interest. Sometimes, we stumble across something cool, nicely executed and with a captivating background, something like this; Elka Watches. A new brand built on a historic, defunct name, the idea of its founder was to .................. 2022-06-20 More

If orange dive watches have been rather popular for their funky 1970s vibe, the colour was originally selected for visibility reasons. Doxa is often said to have been among the first to use orange, which has become a signature colour for the brand. Back in the late 1960s, Doxa tested different dial colours in Lake Neuchatel and thought it was the b.................. 2022-06-19 More

There's something truly fascinating and intriguing with the idea of having something unique, something that you've designed together with the manufacturer's team Bespoke watchmaking isn't such a common practice and we're always rather curious to hear the stories behind the creation of a bold, highly personal watch. Something like this Czapek, which.................. 2022-06-17 More

Released in 2021, the Hermes H08 collection has been a rather good surprise. Here, at MONOCHROME, we tend to focus on true watchmaking brands, and Hermes, a luxury powerhouse offering multiple product ranges, isn’t necessarily our primary topic. Still, the H08 watch caught our attention with its mix of fluid design, multiple textures and spor.................. 2022-06-17 More

The concept of the sporty-chic watch, also named luxury sports watch – that of the integrated steel watch of the 1970s made popular by AP and Genta with the Royal Oak – is hotter than ever, with interpretations found in all segments of the industry. Recently, we’ve seen serious entry-level brands entering the race, with Tissot and.................. 2022-06-17 More

What was once just an unconfirmed?rumour is now official. Fran?ois-Henry?Bennahmias, the charismatic CEO of Audemars Piguet, will leave the brand at the end of 2023. The news was announced in an interview together with Jasmine Audemars, released in Le Temps?today.Fran?ois-Henry?Bennahmias joined Audemars Piguet some 30 years ago and has been at the.................. 2022-06-16 More

The launch of the Bulgari Aluminio in 1998 created quite a stir. Its unusual combination of black rubber and lightweight aluminium resulted in an unconventional but highly attractive, eye-catching sports watch with a slick Italian soul. In 2020, Bulgari staged a much-anticipated comeback of the Aluminium with automatic movements and an increased wa.................. 2022-06-15 More