When it comes to high-end complications, the Grande Sonnerie is king, and his successor is the princely Minute Repeater. When it comes to ingenious interpretations of these complications, Fran?ois-Paul Journe is the man of the hour. Six years in the making and protected by ten patents, F.P. Journe's 2005 chiming masterpiece, the Sonnerie Souveraine.................. 2021-10-08 More

The concept of customized watches is far from new and has been around for years – remember Karl Lagerfeld and his blackened RO in the 1970s… But beyond the easy task of applying a PVD coating on a case or adding diamonds on a bezel, some workshops have created more advanced programs to offer an exclusive service of watch modification fo.................. 2021-10-08 More

It takes a certain amount of bravado for a fledgling independent brand to illustrate a press release with a photograph of the movement side of a new product. But there again, we are talking about the brand formed by Ga?l Petermann and Florian Bedat, the dynamic duo of talented young watchmakers who took home the Horological Revelation Prize at the .................. 2021-10-07 More

Not everything in Silicon Valley revolves around high-tech consumer electronics. There are plenty of affluent techies out there who have been seduced by the beauty of good old mechanical watches. To cater to their passion, a club of watch enthusiasts based in Silicon Valley appeared on the scene in 2018. Known as Collective, the club’s first .................. 2021-10-07 More

Baltic, the young and fresh indie watchmaker from France, has managed in a few years to make a name for itself with a collection of superbly designed, neo-retro watches with relatively accessible prices. It all started with a duo of 1940s-inspired watches with a slightly elegant touch. Then, the brand moved into sportier territories with several ed.................. 2021-10-07 More

The Carrera, like other collections by Heuer/TAG Heuer, is named after a prolific motorsport event or venue. Legendary names like Monaco, Monza, Silverstone, or Formula 1. All strong names inspired by the world of motorsports. The TAG Heuer Carrera, of course, takes its names from the Carrera Panamericana, a gruelling border-to-border road-racing e.................. 2021-10-07 More

For those who've wondered if there are tourbillon-regulated dive watches on the market, the simple answer is; yes! But, they are only a few of them and naming some from the top of one's mind can be a challenge. Fear not, however, Angelus have just launched a new watch in its bold U50 collection, so the number of tourbillon dive watches currently av.................. 2021-10-06 More

Imagine yourself travelling through Germany, in your beloved sports car, and heading to an event you've been looking forward to for months, years even. The past two years travelling has been very challenging, sometimes downright impossible, and you are glad the world is opening up again. You find yourself in one of the sections of the German Autoba.................. 2021-10-05 More

While you're certainly aware of the fact that the sports watch with integrated bracelet is all the rage these days – with the classic icons of the genre being the most sought-after watches on the market – the genre, which started with almost exclusively high-end watches, is now enlarging with new contenders in the accessible luxury rang.................. 2021-10-05 More

There are many watches that we’ve named ‘iconic’ or ’emblematic’ over the years, but few modern timepieces can rival the status of the Lange 1 when it comes to high-end, elegant and finely manufactured watches. A watch that has defined the brand since its resurrection in 1994 – thanks to the joint work of Walter .................. 2021-10-04 More

A couple of weeks ago, we presented Omega’s?latest chronograph creation, a surprising take on the most famous of the brand’s timepieces, a complex, visually different edition of the Speedmaster named Chronoscope. While we extensively covered the reasons behind the name and all the specifications surrounding the six stainless steel editi.................. 2021-10-04 More

We’ve said it repeatedly over and over here, at MONOCHROME… The sports watch with integrated bracelet is simply the hottest, most desirable and most (commercially) successful watch category these days. Without surprise, we’ve seen dozens of brands entering the genre, from accessible luxury powerhouses to small independent watchmak.................. 2021-10-03 More

The watchmaking industry, before being a story of products, is first and foremost the story of women and men devoted to conceiving and producing some of the most delicate and yet unnecessary objects we can imagine. If all must be considered, some names resonate stronger, mostly for the impact they have had on this industry. You can, for example, th.................. 2021-10-01 More

Pilot watches and Oris go hand in hand. The latest Big Crown ProPilot model is dedicated to an aeromedical rescue organisation operating out of Botswana known as the Okavango Air Rescue. Following in the footsteps of the Rega Fleet and the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia limited editions, Oris wants to raise awareness of this exemplary and.................. 2021-10-01 More

Single-hand watches are nothing new, albeit still something of a rarity. MeisterSinger is undoubtedly the best-known brand to embrace the style, but many others have toyed with the concept. SNGLRTY has devoted its entire portfolio to single-hand watches, but all display both the hour and minutes via a clever, patented design. A common way to do thi.................. 2021-09-30 More

In light of the ninth edition of the Only Watch charity event, where exceptional one-off watches are donated and auctioned to raise funds in the fight against Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, TAG Heuer presents a rather remarkable watch. It’s astounding not only because of its looks, channelling a historical and highly sought-after vintage Heuer M.................. 2021-09-29 More

While most of us have in mind Seiko‘s impressive background in the field of watches made for divers, the Japanese brand has far more to offer, especially when it comes to chronographs. I’m sure we don’t need to remind you that Seiko was one of the earliest manufacturers to build an automatic chronograph?in 1969. And it was also th.................. 2021-09-29 More

Sensual Latin atmospheres, gorgeous scenery, high-quality rum in one hand, and a Robusto cigar in the other. A picture that couldn't be more at home when it comes to the Caribbean island of Cuba. It was also one of the favorite travel destinations of Winston Churchill, the British politician who was always pictured smoking a cigar, preferably those.................. 2021-09-28 More

Our friends from Fratello Watches are at it again, with another very interesting collaboration. This time Fratello has teamed up with independent German watchmaker Nomos and created a limited edition of one of the brand’s most original and sought-after models, the Zurich Weltzeit. Like other limited edition collaborative projects, the watches.................. 2021-09-28 More

With Les Cabinotiers, its special-order department, Vacheron Constantin keeps the tradition of offering clients the opportunity to create made-to-measure watches alive. While confidentiality surrounds the majority of these special requests, we managed to get permission from the client to take a look at a recent, major bespoke creation. And at a tim.................. 2021-09-27 More

Our mind likes to put labels on things, categorize items and events and determine if something is a risk or not. Stemming from millennia of evolution, this is still instinctive behaviour to us and subconsciously applied on a daily basis. Using the specifications and features of a watch, we categorize watches and like to distinguish a dive watch fro.................. 2021-09-26 More

The principality of Monaco, nestled on the Mediterranean coast between France and Italy, has always been an attractive venue for the rich and famous. Whether it is the world-famous Casino, the longstanding Monaco Grand Prix, or the luxurious Monaco Yacht Show, it’s a playboy’s playground. And, of course, where maritime activities are co.................. 2021-09-25 More

Almost every time we write about Bvlgari, it’s breaking news about another impressive ultra-thin world record Octo Finissimo. Although it does belong to the iconic ultra-thin Octo Finissimo family and bears a lean manual-winding movement, the news today concerns a very effective colour update to an existing Octo Finissimo Skeleton model. Init.................. 2021-09-24 More

The luxury sports watch with integrated bracelet is all the rage at the moment. The Alpine Eagle, Chopard's take on the genre, is a modern, state-of-the-art reinterpretation of the 1980s Saint-Moritz. Unveiled two years ago, the model is now released in a 250-piece limited edition powered by a high-tech 8Hz high-frequency automatic movement. Here's.................. 2021-09-24 More

The go-to material for the majority of microbrands is stainless steel as it’s plentiful, durable, and relatively easy to work with. RZE has bucked the trend with an affordable diver and field watch dressed in full titanium, both at accessible prices. Of course, titanium isn’t a new material for watches, but it’s usually reserved f.................. 2021-09-23 More

Following numerous new models in the Speedmaster collection this year already (incl. the brand new Moonwatch), Omega is adding a new version to the range. A new Speedmaster? Yes, but this one is actually quite special; it comes with many unprecedented features and reintroduces a name that is dear to the brand. So, let’s go straight to the poi.................. 2021-09-23 More

If you’re a recurring reader of MONOCHROME, you might know that we have a soft spot for independent and bold watchmaking. We enjoy watches made by small teams, watches that break the norm and display the creativity and soul of the people behind these timepieces. So when such a new watchmaker surfaces, we jump at the chance to look at it with .................. 2021-09-22 More

Except if you’ve been living in a cave for the past three or four years, you might well be aware that the hottest watch category these days is the so-called luxury sports watch. Based on 1970s inspirations, equipped with an integrated bracelet, mixing daily capacities with refined mechanics, they’ve become something of a necessity for a.................. 2021-09-21 More

Developed and produced by the manufacture established in Fleurier in 1996, the first Chopard L.U.C Haute Horlogerie watches were released in the late 1990s. Over the following twenty years, the manufacture created a dozen or so calibres with countless variations and, most importantly, a collection of refined watches with a distinctive flair. As the.................. 2021-09-21 More

Oris is, without doubt, a highly productive brand with many models in collection focussed on aquatic activities. From the classic Aquis watches in multiple sizes and colours, and even with an in-house movement, to the ultra-robust Prodive, there’s basically a watch for everyone. And if you’re looking for a cool, vintage-oriented sports .................. 2021-09-20 More

Since 2016 and its introduction at the Geneva watch fair, the Overseas has been an almost infinite playground for Vacheron Constantin, in the oh-so-important luxury sports watch market. Offered in dozens of variations, in multiple colours, with simple displays or complex movements, there’s not much that can be said about the Vacheron Constant.................. 2021-09-20 More

Some watches shine brighter than others; we all know that. And that doesn't necessarily have to be attributed to copious amounts of gems or a superbly polished case. It can also be the result of the amount and application of luminescent material. And this, quite literally, can make a watch shine brighter than any diamond, especially at night! Here'.................. 2021-09-19 More

We, at MONOCHROME, see hundreds of watches a year, and I'm no exception to the rule. And of course, we all have our preferences regarding which watches we believe are special. Case in point today, as I had been eager to be able to get my hands on this new L.U.C watch since it was announced during the 2021 edition of Watches & Wonders. The Chopa.................. 2021-09-17 More

Out of the 53 lots up for auction by Only Watch 2021 in a couple of weeks, there are four that cannot be worn on the wrist. While we tend to focus primarily on wrist-worn timing devices, only mechanical of course, it doesn't hurt to pay homage to the origins of watchmaking and feature a funky or complex clock or other timing instruments every now a.................. 2021-09-17 More

Space can be an intimidating yet inspiring place. With centuries of gazing up at the stars, it seems we're closer than ever to expanding our horizon through advanced space exploration and colonisation. Of course, this is probably decades away, but we can begin to fantasise about stepping out of our homes on the Moon, or better yet, Mars. While this.................. 2021-09-17 More

Just over a decade after the launch of the Royal Oak, Audemars Piguet introduced the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar. A leader in the field of QP complications, Audemars Piguet combined Gerald Genta's iconoclastic design of 1972 with the thinnest automatic QP movement of the day to produce the hugely successful Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar (Ref. 5554).................. 2021-09-16 More

Sometimes in life, one has to get lucky… like really lucky! Let me explain. Since 2012, A. Lange & So?hne has been a partner of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. And not content enough to be participating in one of the most prestigious Concours d’Elegance around the world, the winner in the Best of Show category is presented wit.................. 2021-09-15 More

It might not have been the most complicated model in the 2019 inaugural line-up of Code 11.59, but it was certainly the most dramatic. With its openworked movement and contemporary architecture, Audemars Piguet's Tourbillon Openworked made its debut in pink gold with black bridges and plates followed by a two-tone pink and white gold model for the .................. 2021-09-15 More

The Captain Cook is probably one of Rado's most iconic models. Named after the British explorer, it was originally released in 1962. The 37mm, 200m water-resistant timepiece was a solid attempt from Rado to tap into the trend for dive watches. Since it was relaunched in 2017, several vintage-inspired Captain Cooks have been released. However, in 20.................. 2021-09-15 More

While the “Royal Oak” part of this watch is something that might feel familiar to most of you, there’s another part of the name of this impressive Audemars Piguet that will certainly need some more explanations, and that is the “Supersonnerie” part… The 2.0 version of the minute repeater, a watch that carries 3 p.................. 2021-09-13 More