Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Aquanaut in 2017, Patek Philippe presented the Jumbo Ref. 5168G in white gold with a larger diameter of 42.2mm, the most Jumbo size of this family to date and the first one to be housed in a white gold case. The fashionable blue dial of the 2017 model now has a sibling with a cool khaki green dial and matchin.................. 2019-08-02 More

In our modern age of smartphones and wearable tech, it's easy to forget just how indispensable the humble mechanical wristwatch once was. Yet even a brief foray into the world of military watches is enough to provide a vivid reminder. Rugged, reliable and entirely fit-for-purpose, these simple timekeepers have played a critical role in the successf.................. 2019-08-01 More

The TAG Heuer Carrera is one of the best-known watches of the industry and the modern editions are sporty, bold or can even be cool, but they don’t fly under the radar – this one, with the previous design, is a good example. The brand has, however, decided to add a new iteration with a more casual, slightly redesigned case and dial. Mee.................. 2019-08-01 More

Having reviewed both Lange’s and Ferrier’s annual calendars in the previous days, today it's time for a face-off, a chance for these two mid-weight complication champs to engage in a mock battle. The two contestants are clearly very beautiful watches, perfectly matched in functionality and mechanical integrity, so please take a ringside.................. 2019-07-31 More

The 1815 Annual Calendar is the second complication of this genre in A. Lange & Sohne‘s current line-up. Following the launch of the Saxonia Annual Calendar in 2010 with an automatic movement and outsized date window, Lange came out with the 1815 manual-winding/analogue date Annual Calendar at the beginning of 2017. Two years might have p.................. 2019-07-29 More

On one side you have IWC and its signature, classic chronograph, the Portugieser 3714. This watch, as we’ve explained in this in-depth review, is a modern icon, practically unchanged since its introduction in the late-1990s. A perfect definition of a classic. On the other side, you have Bucherer, possibly the world’s largest watch retai.................. 2019-07-29 More

In 1969, Heuer (which would become TAG Heuer) revolutionized the watch industry with two great introductions… First is, of course, the launch of the calibre 11, one of three first automatic chronograph movements ever created. Second was the introduction of a watch that would later become an icon (but that wasn’t that successful back the.................. 2019-07-28 More

Saturday means another kind of mechanics here, at MONOCHROME. As every week, we share with you our second passion: cars (like real cars, those that smell and make some noise). This week’s Petrolhead Corner is a “best of the web”, with some of the coolest stories we found. One of the most legendary engines explained, the fun of the.................. 2019-07-27 More

Operating somewhat anonymously within the watch industry, this company keeps its impressive client list confidential. Yet, if you are into watches, there's a good chance the name Dubois-Depraz will be familiar. That's because it is one of the most prominent suppliers in the industry. The company has made a name for itself manufacturing parts and ad.................. 2019-07-26 More

The introduction of the Aikon collection has been a very good surprise, back in 2018. The pleasure of a good luxury sports watch, without the waiting list or the 5-digit price tag. While the first version of the Aikon was a versatile, retrained model, Maurice Lacroix has decided to introduce a second, bolder, sportier iteration, with nautical/adven.................. 2019-07-26 More

Some names might not ring a bell with a broader audience, but can still be well-known and highly respected in some collectors’ communities. Ollech & Wajs, a Swiss brand born in 1956 and specialized in tool watches, is a case in point. It took more than 10 years to convince Albert Wajs to pass on his brand… but Ollech & Wajs (OW).................. 2019-07-25 More

After the announcement by Swatch Group of declining sales for the first half of 2019, followed by Richemont Group showing solid double-digit growth over the first quarter, and mild results for Swiss watch exports (with a bad month of June 2019), it is now time for the world's leading luxury products group, LVMH, to put its cards on the table. The F.................. 2019-07-25 More

Since I began MONOCHROME in 2006, the information that brands disclosed about their watches has improved significantly. Diameter and height are now in pretty much every press release, and so is the actual movement. However, lately, we are often asked about the lug-to-lug size. Something that brands do not communicate about and neither do we. Here&#.................. 2019-07-25 More

1994-2019 – A. Lange & Sohne’s most iconic watch is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. For the occasion, the Saxon brand has created a series of 10 limited edition pieces, each based on a specific model in the Lange 1 collection (recap just below). Today, it’s time for the Grand Lange 1, the modernized, slightly bolde.................. 2019-07-24 More

Phillips Watches recently announced that on 10 December 2019, at the Game Changers Thematic Watch Auction, ?yet another iconic and long-lost watch will go under the hammer: the famous bezel-less GMT Master worn by Marlon Brando playing Colonel Walter E. Kurtz in Francis Ford Coppola's film, Apocalypse Now. But this isn’t the only watch belo.................. 2019-07-24 More

Omega and the Olympic Games share a long-lasting love story. The Biel-based brand first provided its timing instruments to the games back in 1932, in Los Angeles. Since then, Omega has been the official timekeeper of both Summer and Winter Games, having participated in 29 editions. After the introduction last year of a collection of five Tokyo 2020.................. 2019-07-24 More

We know all about the Omega Speedmaster ‘Moonwatch’, as the first wristwatch on the Moon, which cemented its place in the history when the Apollo 11 mission successfully landed on the Lunar surface on the wrist of Buzz Aldrin. But there’s a little-known Heuer stopwatch that played a small but very important role when Neil Armstron.................. 2019-07-22 More

Tissot has solid ties with racing. Swiss driver Loris Kessel wore a Navigator chronograph in the 1970s and was officially sponsored by Tissot in the 1976 Formula 1 Grand Prix. The brand is once again working with Kessel Racing, this time with Ronnie Kessel (son of Loris) to launch the limited edition Heritage 1973. The watch has been updated a bit .................. 2019-07-22 More

Exactly 50 years ago, mankind accomplished an impressive journey. For the first time in history, a human being walked on soil that wasn’t Earth, on an astronomical body that wasn’t its natural habitat. On July 20th 1969, two men walked on the Moon. Their names: Armstrong and Aldrin. Their mission: Apollo 11. On their wrists, a watch tha.................. 2019-07-21 More

The wait is over! On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing, we now know which watch is featuring the re-edition of the iconic movement Omega 321 – a movement as legendary as the Moonwatch itself. Announced earlier this year, this movement is going to equip one of the most high-end Speedy models ever. Meet the Omega Speedmas.................. 2019-07-21 More

Exactly 50 years ago, mankind accomplished an impressive journey. For the first time in history, a human being walked on soil that wasn’t Earth, on an astronomical body that wasn’t its natural habitat. On July 20th 1969, two men walked on the Moon. Their names: Armstrong and Aldrin. Their mission: Apollo 11. On their wrists, a watch tha.................. 2019-07-21 More

Recently, Girard-Perregaux, which is now managed by the same man as sister-brand Ulysse Nardin, has undergone a bold evolution, with sportier designs and modernity in the construction of its movements. One of the pillars of the collection remains the elegant 1966 watch. Formerly regarded as a somewhat ‘restrained’ dress piece incorporat.................. 2019-07-19 More

While yesterday Swatch Group announced mild results with declining sales, it is now time for its main competitor, Richemont Group, to publish its financial results for the first quarter ended 30 June 2019 (note: Richemont’s financial year starts on April 1st). And the report is overall positive, with certain exceptions on some regions and act.................. 2019-07-18 More

An international multi-brand watch club aimed at anyone with an interest in luxury mechanical watches, the Fine Watch Club - which we already introduced here - just kicked off its sales activities with a Bvlgari Octo Finissimo special edition. Perfect timing to talk with the Fine Watch Club's Managing Director, Julien Haenny, and understand what is.................. 2019-07-17 More

Swatch Group has just announced its first half-year report 2019 and the results aren’t positive. Both sales and profitability have been impacted, after a positive year 2018. However, the Swatch Group anticipates full-year revenue growth.At just over CHF 4 million, the group’s net sales are down 3.7% at constant exchange rates and down 4.................. 2019-07-17 More

Most people over the weekend were watching Wimbledon for the Men's and Women's championship matches in addition to the 2019 Cricket World Cup. The 2019 Formula One British Grand Prix at Silverstone was slightly overshadowed by these two events. But for those who watched it, Daniel Craig, who plays James Bond and is currently filming parts of the up.................. 2019-07-16 More

If you are a recurring reader of MONOCHROME or simply into independent watchmaking, you are probably familiar with Armin Strom and their innovative Resonance concept. Launched with the Mirrored Force Resonance in 2016, later used to regulate a dual-time watch, the brand's first Masterpiece, the second chapter in this ultra-complex series of watches.................. 2019-07-16 More

Panerai watches and their military roots need no introduction anymore. The brand, founded in Florence, Italy, supplied military forces only for more than half a century. This background is part of the brand’s DNA and most of the design elements have been created with military requirements in mind. Today, the brand pays tribute to its history .................. 2019-07-15 More

July 1969 – July 2019. In?a week, the world will celebrate one of mankind’s greatest achievements: walking on the Moon. On July 20th 1969 (or July 21st depending on where you are on Earth), 3 men, onboard a not-so-safe rocket named Saturn V, travelled to our nearest satellite and?2 of them (Aldrin and Armstrong) step foot on the Moon. S.................. 2019-07-14 More

Sylvester Stallone, an American actor, director and producer, needs no introduction anymore. He is best known to people worldwide for creating and playing the character Rocky Balboa, the underdog boxer in the Rocky film series and portraying the fictional special forces solider, John Rambo. This year will see the release of the final film in the Ra.................. 2019-07-13 More

As Bernie Ecclestone already taught us with his infamous black-eyed Hublot-advertisements, owning very desirable watches does come with some risks. Giuliano Mazzuoli knows that better than anyone else. UnfortunatelyFrom a robbery to Crowe's and Sheeran's wristsWhen Giuliano Mazzuoli entered his workshops on the early morning on Sunday, May 12, the .................. 2019-07-12 More

The never-ending birthday party of the Lange 1 receives its sixth celebratory watch, the Lange 1 Moon Phase 25th Anniversary. As the ambassador of the Saxon brand, the Lange 1 is being regaled with ten very special watches, unveiled one by one on a monthly basis until October 2019. Gift-wrapped in the same silver and blue colour scheme as the five .................. 2019-07-11 More

Today in New York, TAG Heuer just presented the third of five limited-edition timepieces to mark the Heuer Monaco’s 50th anniversary. We could have expected the brand to come with faithful vintage re-editions, but instead, TAG Heuer will create 5 watches inspired by 5 different decades. After a funky 1970s Green version and a bold, fiery red .................. 2019-07-11 More

Do we even need to introduce the IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph anymore…? This watch certainly is amongst the most iconic pieces manufactured by the Schaffhausen-based brand and, in its modern version, sums up years of slow evolution of the Pilot’s Watch concept at IWC. Usually seen in black with a utilitarian look (under the ref. IW3777.................. 2019-07-10 More

The bi-annual Only Watch charity auction is upon us once again. We've shared the entire list of entries for this year's auction, and covered a few pieces separately so far. Next up from the ever-impressive list of unique pieces is a surprising collaboration between Singer Reimagined and GoS Watches. A collaboration that was sparked during our tradi.................. 2019-07-10 More

Making a name in the watch industry when you’re not Swiss and don’t have a 150-year pedigree isn’t an easy task. Apart from the usual quality and price aspects, the key is differentiation – which can lead to making things in an exaggerated way. Finding the balance between this need for being different and beautiful, elegant .................. 2019-07-09 More

As the largest watch retailer in Europe (if not worldwide), Bucherer has the power to ask brands to be a bit flexible and create specifically designed watches. Those are named the “Bucherer Blue Editions” and, as you’ve probably guessed (or already know), they all share the same theme: blue details. One of the latest models in thi.................. 2019-07-08 More

On July 16th, 1969 started one of the most incredible journeys of mankind. Onboard the Apollo 11 spacecraft were 3 men – Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins. On July 21st, 1969, the Apollo Lunar Module landed on the Moon. A few hours later, 2 of these men will make history, as stepping onto the lunar surface. What was on the wrists of these astrona.................. 2019-07-07 More

Goodwood FoS “Festival of Speed”… If you’re into cars, you probably know that this event has become one of the major car-related events of the year. But on the contrary to the cold halls of the Paris “Mondial de l’Auto” or the Geneva International Motor Show, Goodwood FoS is all about smoking tyres, noise, .................. 2019-07-06 More

An icon among icons… This is how we would sum up the Doxa SUB300. Recently, the brand has revived its most legendary model in multiple editions, starting with an almost 1-to-1 re-edition for the 50th anniversary, followed by specific “Aqualung” branded models in orange, silver or black – the so-called “Sharkhunter̶.................. 2019-07-05 More