For 2025, TAG Heuer feels it’s time for a massive overhaul of its racing-inspired Formula 1 collection, and here we are. Plus, it’s a timely refresh as well, as it has been just announced that TAG Heuer, as part of the LVMH Group, is the official timekeeper for the FIA Formula 1 World Championship again! The first watch, or watches rath..................
2025-01-21 More
A Chopard L.U.C watch offering a perpetual calendar complication with a tourbillon regulator is not new to the series. In 2013, Chopard presented its L.U.C Perpetual T model, which was then followed by two extraordinary unique pieces in 2018, the “La Santa Muerte” decorated with the Mexican motifs and “Spirit of the Chinese Zodiac..................
2025-01-20 More
The L.U.C Lunar One was Chopard's first calendar and astronomy complication. Unveiled in 2005, the model combines a perpetual calendar and a precision orbital moon phase display in a rotating aperture. Twenty years later, Chopard revisits its L.U.C Lunar One with a more compact basin-style case, a trimmer, more legible dial decorated with hand-guil..................
2025-01-20 More
It’s often said the watchmaking industry is a conservative business, and for the most part that’s quite true. Traditional techniques are still at the heart of the vast majority of mechanical watches, but there are those who dare to push back boundaries and venture into the unknown. This can result in innovative materials, new designs an..................
2025-01-19 More
Well, as far as we know Flamingos aren’t blue. As far as we know, the previous hit of Tudor was pink, and yet it wasn’t named Flamingo… Try to understand. Or simply just enjoy yet another unconventional and fun watch by Tudor. Following the highly-discussed and sought-after Black Bay Chrono Pink last year, which somehow matched Da..................
2025-01-17 More
It is widely known that the watch market, and most luxury markers for that matter, are facing a relatively difficult situation. According to Bain & Company Luxury Study, the global personal luxury goods market is likely to dip by 2% in 2024 – not a dramatic situation, but not a positive one nevertheless. While jewellery?was the most resil..................
2025-01-16 More
A moon phase complication on a watch that went to the Moon and is named, at least for some of the editions, the Moonwatch… Add to that a glass of moonshine and a slice of mooncake, and you’ll be over the Moon. I allow you to blame me in the comments for this lame introduction, which doesn’t feel like asking for the Moon… May..................
2025-01-15 More
While we won’t do the entire story of the Speedmaster once again here (look here for that), we can quickly talk about a complication that first appeared on this watch in 1985; the moonphase display… For a watch that went on the Moon and that is named the Moonwatch, it’s quite appropriate, don’t you think? There have been mul..................
2025-01-14 More
Following the latest Divers Date from late 2024, Oris is looking back at its original dive watch from 1965 and a remake in 2015 with a distinctive dial design and retro vibe. The new Divers Sixty-Five 60th Anniversary Edition is a sequel of sorts to the 2015 50th Anniversary Divers Sixty-Five that became a best-selling series. The two share a lot o..................
2025-01-14 More
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is on everyone’s lips. It’s a topic that divides and generates strong opinions (pros or cons), and it will, in the future, become increasingly important, whether you like it or not. These tools, at least the tools that we, the public, can use (image or text generators such as ChatGPT), are becoming better..................
2025-01-13 More
First presented for the 222nd anniversary of the venerable watchmaker Vacheron Constantin, the 222 was the brand’s answer to the then-growing demand for luxury sports watches with integrated bracelets. The third member of the iconic Holy Trinity of luxury sports watches, next to the Royal Oak and the Nautilus, all three sharing the same base ..................
2025-01-13 More
A week ago, we covered?some of the best watches coming from the Netherlands for the simple reason that both our founder Frank and myself are Dutch. However, part of the team comes from France, and as such, I thought it would be fun to have a look at French watches this time around! And when I’m talking about French watchmaking, the spotlight ..................
2025-01-12 More
Longines is known to tread carefully in developing new watches, often delving into its hugely impressive archives to find inspiration for tons of fine heritage-related watches. It’s also a brand that doesn’t jump in unexpected directions, resulting in strange and inexplicable choices and subsequent releases.?So it’s fair to say th..................
2025-01-10 More
Lately, it seems that Tissot can do little wrong. Release after release shows an impressive sense of style, historical inspiration and solid mechanics, all the while remaining true to the brand’s relatively affordable pricing strategy. Following the immense success of the PRX Powermatic 80 and subsequent PRX Chronograph collections, Tissot is..................
2025-01-10 More
Panerai starts the new year by releasing a watch that perfectly encapsulates the brand¡äs philosophy and style – staying true to its storied watchmaking heritage blended with modern construction. The latest Luminor reference delivers everything loyal Panerai enthusiasts anticipate while incorporating subtle design updates to set it apart from ..................
2025-01-09 More
In 2023, the Tissot Le Locle collection marked its 20th anniversary, and with the addition of the two new models, it now comprises 30 references. Renowned for its classic yet engaging design, the collection offers elegant, timeless elements and practical features, appealing to those seeking a refined, understated timepiece with an exceptional price..................
2025-01-09 More
I’m very fortunate (and spoilt, in a way) to handle hundreds of watches every year working for MONOCHROME Watches. To the point that I almost have to admit it’s not that easy to be impressed anymore, but it does happen from time to time. Of course, it’s not that difficult to be amazed by very complex and exquisitely finished watch..................
2025-01-09 More
When you think of split-second or rattrapante chronographs, you immediately picture high-end watches from Vacheron Constantin or Patek Philippe. Finding an accessible rattrapante chronograph, at least new on the market, is not an easy task, especially if you consider Swiss or European watch manufacturers. But something from the other side of the wo..................
2025-01-08 More
After the Dragon, it will soon be time to celebrate another important animal of the Chinese Zodiac, the snake, an animal associated with wisdom, charm and transformation. Since 2016, Hublot has been commemorating the Chinese New Year with artfully rendered special editions of the Spirit of Big Bang – such as the Dragon-themed model of last ye..................
2025-01-08 More
It’s only January, and yet the upcoming 2025 Formula One season is already in the starting blocks. We had the recent announcement of a new official timekeeper, and there are watch-related things to be expected on this side soon. But the first to kick off the F1 watch game this year is IWC, which presents a watch that unsurprisingly looks fami..................
2025-01-08 More
2024 was all about the Portugieser at IWC, the brand’s most classic and elegant collection. Of course, the star of the show was the Portugieser Eternal Calendar, a secular calendar watch that made it to our list of the best watches of the year. There were many more updated versions of this emblematic watch launched at W&W 2024, including ..................
2025-01-07 More
The English phrase pigs might fly is used to express the impossibility of something happening. Well, Oris has just given wings to one of the most famous pigs in popular culture with its new ProPilot X Miss Piggy. Combining the sharp looks of the ProPilot X Collection in a reduced 34mm steel case with a hot pink dial, the new watch would have provok..................
2025-01-07 More
About a month ago, out of the blue, Omega released a new, rather polarizing and unique-looking version of its emblematic chronograph, the Speedmaster Pilot Flight Qualified.?Well, it wasn’t really out of the blue, but we’ll come back on that in a few. Colourful, tool-oriented and with a dial full of references to the world of aviation, ..................
2025-01-06 More
The Chinese Lunar New Year is just around the corner, and on the 29th of January, the Chinese zodiac welcomes the Year of the Snake. To celebrate the event, Longines unveils a 2,025-piece limited edition of its Conquest Heritage with a rich red gradient dial and a special engraving on the caseback of a snake designed by renowned Chinese artist Wu J..................
2025-01-06 More
In an unexpected move and with great noise, LVMH officialised a partnership that was rumoured to be closed for several weeks in October last year. Indeed, LVMH, the world's largest luxury conglomerate, officially signed on as a Global Partner of Formula 1 in a groundbreaking 10-year deal, with what was certainly one of the most important sports spo..................
2025-01-06 More
Very surreptitiously, Omega released a pair of Aqua Terra models just before Christmas that really caught our eye. As Omega's everyday all-rounder capable of tackling most environments and still look classy, the new turquoise models are descendants of the more colourful and dressier Aqua Terra 150m Shades sub-collection – no texture on the di..................
2025-01-02 More
Everyone is familiar with Zenith's high-frequency El Primero automatic chronograph movement, released in 1969. However, not everybody is familiar with the world's first high-frequency diver. The laurels, in this case, go to Longines with its 1968 Ultra-Chron ref. 7970 with a 5Hz frequency and a depth rating of 200m. Reintroduced in 2022, the Ultra-..................
2025-01-01 More
This is it… Here’s the last retrospective article of the year, retracing 2024 through the best watches per category. Following the best chronographs, the best dive watches or the best dress watches, we’re now unleashing the beasts. What if money was not an issue? What if there was no limit to either watchmakers’ creativity o..................
2024-12-31 More
Talking about calendar watches is a vast topic, which can range from fairly simple mechanisms to some of the most complex movements watchmakers have invented. Indeed, this category ranges from the classic triple calendar (mechanically, an evolution of the date complication with no self-adjustment of the length of the months) to the finest version, ..................
2024-12-30 More
While the industry might not be in its best shape (all things considered…), 2024 was nevertheless a highly prolific year in terms of new models, with brands once again showing creativity and mechanical ingenuity. As far as things go for us here, at MONOCHROME, and specifically regarding our video production. Over the entire 2024 year, we have..................
2024-12-29 More
A trend that started in the early 2010s, vintage-inspired watches have been one of the main focuses of the watch industry ever since. And, to our biggest surprise, the trend is not over. It might have slowed down a bit compared to the late 2010s, but we’re still seeing dozens of “heritage”, “retro”, or “vintage r..................
2024-12-27 More
While we tend to be amazed by highly complicated, luxurious watches, the fact of the matter is that the vast majority of enthusiasts are generally shopping for watches with a much more down-to-earth budget. And it turns out people looking to spend their money sensibly were in for a treat this year and genuinely spoilt for choice. From captivating v..................
2024-12-27 More
Watches with an integrated design, elegant sports watches, luxury sports watches… Call them what you want, but we’re talking about one thing precisely: watches that play on the vibe created by the AP Royal Oak in 1972, watches with integrated bracelets and a combination of sporty elements and elegance. We're all well aware that the luxu..................
2024-12-26 More
The Pilot’s Watch has always been one of the most popular types of watches, and for good reason. The utilitarian nature of the aviator watch lends itself perfectly to everyday life, thanks to excellent legibility (often), striking looks and robust construction. This year is no exception, as plenty of very cool new pilot watches entered the ma..................
2024-12-26 More
There’s hardly a category of watches that is as disputed as the diver. Every year, in all price ranges and all possible styles, we’re seeing hundreds of new dive watches released by watchmakers from all over the world. Choosing the best models in this segment of the watch industry is not an easy task and is always subject to long intern..................
2024-12-25 More
Towards the end of the year, the MONOCHROME editorial team gets into Santa Claus mode by “making a list and checking it twice, and gonna find out who’s naughty and nice”, referring to watches, of course, As we all have our individual preferences and don’t get our hands on every single watch, some get all the attention, where..................
2024-12-23 More
As the end of the year draws nigh, the festive season kicks off with Christmas parties, New Year's Eve celebrations and gatherings that dominate our agendas. In short, it is the perfect time of the year to suit up. And that means having the right watch to match your fancy attire, pairing it with your cocktail dress or tuxedo. And yes, the classic d..................
2024-12-23 More
They say the face of a watch can be regarded as a canvas. A canvas to display time first and foremost, but in some watches, it is also a backdrop for a discerning and mesmerising complication like a tourbillon or a perpetual calendar indication. But what if you would take the dial as a canvas more literally? What if you actually use it as a blank c..................
2024-12-22 More
Mercedes-Benz and racing go hand-in-hand. After all, it’s one of the most successful manufacturers in both pre-war Grand Prix, post-war Formula 1 and Endurance Racing, birthing many legendary cars. From the very early days of motor racing, the brand has been active in all sorts of categories. It won the 1914 French Grand Prix with the Blitzen..................
2024-12-21 More
Swiss watchmakers are ushering in Chinese New Year with exclusive limited-edition models inspired by zodiac animals and Asian cultural traditions. To celebrate the year 2025, which is believed to bring personal growth, strategic planning and embrace transformation, Oris releases a special Year of the Snake timepiece, a modern, highly technical 44mm..................
2024-12-18 More