In the 1990s, the legendary McLaren F1 went up against the equally iconic Ferrari F40 and Porsche 959. In the early 2010s, the P1 took on the Ferrari LaFerrari and Porsche 918 Spyder. Now though, for the time being at least, McLaren has the playing field all to its own, as it just launched the all-new W1, the first entry in the upcoming revamp of t..................
2024-10-12 More
With the PRX collection, Tissot has found a proverbial sweet spot between style, mechanics and affordability. At the height of the boom of luxury sports watches, in comes Tissot with the PRX, offering tremendous value for money! In just a couple of short years, Tissot has made the PRX the hottest-selling watch in its collection, by a country mile! ..................
2024-10-11 More
TAG Heuer, Porsche, and the Carrera Panamericana are the names that strike a chord with many, whether they’re motorsport or watch enthusiasts. The rich history connecting these three continues to unfold, and this year brings an exciting new chapter. TAG Heuer has just revealed the limited edition Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon x Porsche Panam..................
2024-10-10 More
Founded in 1934, Airain was well known for its Type 20 flyback chronographs in the mid-20th century, supplying the French military along with brands like Breguet and Mathey Tissot. These chronographs could be instantly reset to zero by pressing the 4 o'clock pusher via the flyback function and had specific requirements like a bidirectional 12-hour ..................
2024-10-09 More
Vacheron Constantin celebrates the 20th anniversary of its Patrimony collection with a special edition produced in collaboration with French designer Ito Morabito, more widely known as Ora ?to. The understated soul of the Patrimony is inspired by Vacheron’s slim men’s dress watches of the 1950s, a formula applied across the board to all..................
2024-10-09 More
Bucherer, the world’s leading watch retailer that recently made headlines when acquired it, has a history of collaborating with various brands to release exclusive editions, and one signature colour has consistently defined these partnerships – Bucherer Blue. Last year, this theme was showcased in a trio of remarkable timepieces from ..................
2024-10-08 More
As the year progresses, we’re all bombarded with tons of watches from countless brands and manufacturers. And I don’t know about you, but even for me, working inside the industry, it can be a real challenge keeping up with things. From affordable to very expensive, and from just a new dial colour to a complete revamp, there’s alwa..................
2024-10-06 More
If you’re into watches, then the name Gubelin should sound familiar –? you’ll probably first think about double-signed vintage Patek Philippe watches, once retailed by this house. Indeed, Gubelin is, first and foremost, a jeweller and watch retailer which has been in the business for over 150 years in Switzerland. Today, Gubelin r..................
2024-10-04 More
In 1957, the Flagship collection was advertised as a perfect alliance of technical skill and classic design. More than six decades later, Longines keeps the spirit accurate. The Longines Flagship Heritage line is part of the brand’s classic collection. It falls into the Heritage Classic category and is presented as an homage to the innovative..................
2024-10-03 More
Without a doubt,?one of the most iconic chronographs ever produced by the Swiss watchmaking industry is the Omega Speedmaster,?born in 1957 (as part of a trilogy of Master watches). However, the Speedmaster shot to notoriety in 1969 when the watch landed on the Moon as part of the Apollo 11 mission – earning its title as the Moonwatch. Howeve..................
2024-10-03 More
The current watch market is polarized and most often highlighted by the major and mainstream brands on one hand, and let’s say, all the rest on the other hand. Among the latter, on the fringes of the groups and a few independent and historical brands, a swarm of new brands has emerged in recent years to shake up what can be sometimes seen as ..................
2024-10-02 More
While rumours had circulated for some time, the confirmation has now been made. As Formula 1 gears up to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2025, there's major news shaking up its sponsorship landscape. LVMH, the world's largest luxury conglomerate, has officially signed on as a Global Partner of Formula 1 in a groundbreaking 10-year deal, with what..................
2024-10-02 More
Unquestionably one of the best-selling models at Oris, the Divers Sixty-Five resurfaced after a period of dormancy in 2015 with its vintage appeal and ancestor's traits practically intact. A year later, Oris revisited its Divers Sixty-Five in a limited edition with a larger 42mm diameter and a bronze case dedicated to Carl Brashear with a dial that..................
2024-10-01 More
Named after the famous British explorer, Rado's 1962 Captain Cook was the brand's first dive watch with an impressive depth rating of 220 metres. Produced in very low numbers, the Captain Cook drifted off the map in 1968. With its consolidated reputation for high-tech streamlined ceramic watches, Rado took a surprising tack in 2017 by reintroducing..................
2024-09-30 More
When launched just a couple of short years ago, the Tissot PRX pretty much became an overnight sensation. Its sleek design, robust mechanical movement and above all its very modest sticker price skyrocketed the PRX to become one of the best-selling watches not only for Tissot but in the whole industry for years. Pretty much everywhere you go, you s..................
2024-09-29 More
When the Big Bang exploded on the watch scene in 2005, it was the paragon of an oversized, high-octane, octagonal sports watch flaunting an unusual fusion of materials. A decade later, the Spirit of Big Bang joined the lineup of Hublot. Embracing a similar concept, the Spirit proposed a more complex case with a tonneau-shaped, cambered profile, lat..................
2024-09-27 More
Last year, Certina ventured into the popular 1970s-inspired integrated-bracelet sports watch category. In this space, fellow Swatch Group brand Tissot has made waves with its highly successful and accessible PRX series. While the 2023 Certina DS-7 Powermatic 80 models offer a simple time-and-date functionality, they bring a more contemporary, slimm..................
2024-09-27 More
Integrated sports watches have been a hit since the 1970s when the Royal Oak and Nautilus changed everything, and affordable options are all the rage today. Look no further than Tissot's PRX Powermatic 80 as an example. Maurice Lacroix's Aikon Automatic perhaps does it best with a masterful combination of luxury and attainability. Usually comprised..................
2024-09-26 More
Bulgari's personality is intrinsically shaped by Rome, incorporating elements of the city's magnificent imperial architecture into its fabulous jewellery and watches. The iconic Octo family, which includes the invincible legion of ultra-thin, record-breaking Octo Finissimo models, welcomes the new Octo Roma Striking 8 Days. If the watch looks famil..................
2024-09-25 More
Himself a watchmaker and at one time the co-owner of Patek, Philippe & Cie, the name Edouard Koehn (1839-1908) resurfaced in the modern watchmaking scene in 2020 thanks to Bernard F. Fleury, a seasoned veteran in the industry known for his work as the CEO of Vulcain in the early 2000s. The latest Edouard Koehn watch we reviewed at MONOCHROME wa..................
2024-09-25 More
ART IN TIME was founded in Monaco by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele in 2019, Co-President of Chopard and President of Chronometrie Ferdinand Berthoud. The gallery was established with the vision of creating a unique platform for watch aficionados, curating a select group of brands representing the pinnacle of independent watchmaking. To celebrate the 5th..................
2024-09-24 More
The brainchild of the prolific Yvan Arpa, independent brand ArtyA has carved a unique niche in the watch industry, thanks to its bold creativity and willingness to break away from convention. Among its many avant-garde creations, the Purity collection stands out for its relatively more understated aesthetic, featuring elegantly skeletonized movemen..................
2024-09-23 More
If there’s one thing to be said about luxury sports watches, is that if done right they will stay on your wrist for a very long time. The undeniable appeal of such watches comes down to the shaped cases, integrated bracelets and often textured dials. Mostly crafted from robust stainless steel, there are those that pull off a full gold look ju..................
2024-09-22 More
With its ultra-contemporary design, the Royal Oak Concept collection has always been a vessel for innovation at AP, and that since its creation in 2002. First with a cobalt-based super-alloy (Alacrite 602), the Audemars Piguet ROC collection has used some of the brand’s most complex movements, daring designs or advanced materials. Now, itR..................
2024-09-20 More
How do a pair of manually wound, time-only, pocket watch-sized, potentially outdated movements introduced in the 1950s earn a place in our series on significant calibres, alongside the well-known El Primero and Valjoux 7750 chronograph calibre and the omnipresent automatic ETA 2824 and 2892? Several factors contribute to their importance. Despite s..................
2024-09-20 More
For more than a decade, Bell & Ross has been mostly associated with its emblematic instrument collection, a “circle within a square” design inspired by dashboard instruments. Conscious that it was not sustainable, the brand decided in 2019 to become more urban, while staying true to its roots, unveiling the BR-05 collection. This co..................
2024-09-20 More
It’s not often we venture into the world of watch accessories, so when we do, you can be assured it’s a product we stand by. A couple of months ago we were approached by a man called Peter B¨¢lint Sinka, who started a company called Stripa Strap. With the clue being somewhat hidden in plain sight given the name, we are looking at yet ano..................
2024-09-20 More
Racing green… Probably one of the most emblematic colours in motorsport. We have to remember that, in the early days of car racing, colours were not just decorative, but racing drivers competed with liveries representing their country – Italian red, German silver, French blue (featured in last year’s limited edition) and, of cours..................
2024-09-19 More
The news has been kicking around for several weeks but is now official. The watch industry's largest fair, Watches & Wonders, is growing again as it will welcome Bulgari and six other independent brands for its 2025 edition. This marks an important step for the Salon. As you might imagine, such decisions have been discussed at the top level amo..................
2024-09-17 More
It’s been several years since we last saw an update to the Aquis Chronograph, making the recent release anticipated. Oris?introduced the previous 500m water-resistant version back in 2018, featuring a 45.5mm case and a 6-9-12 sub-register layout. Since then, the model has remained unchanged except for the 2019 Blue Whale, which was part of th..................
2024-09-17 More
Last week’s selection of novelties from Geneva Watch Days were our personal picks from everything new we’ve seen during our stay in the Swiss capital. Looking back at the list, we stand by our choices, but one thing stood out: all but one watch cost tens of thousands of euros, if not more. While that’s all fine, of course, it̵..................
2024-09-15 More
Omega‘s involvement in sailing and regattas, whether as official timekeeper or provider of dedicated timepieces, isn’t to be demonstrated anymore. The brand backs entire crews, such as Emirates Team New Zealand, and times historic events such as the America's Cup – for which it has recently announced the renewal of its role as the..................
2024-09-14 More
The independent watchmaking scene is quite widespread, yet there are several key players who always seem to be in everyone’s spotlight and others who are not. One of the brands that, to me at least, operates a bit under the radar is Zeitwinkel. I’ve always had a soft spot for the brand’s contemporary designs paired with German Sil..................
2024-09-13 More
The Gumball 3000 is no ordinary car rally. Known for its high-octane blend of luxury, adventure and extravagance, the Gumball has captivated automotive enthusiasts since 1999. This iconic road rally, featuring supercars and celebrities, is an annual celebration of breaking boundaries and living life in the fast lane over a 3,000-mile journey. To co..................
2024-09-13 More
Over the past few years, Swiss watchmaker Formex has managed to build quite a solid reputation by delivering impressive horological content for a fair price. While some focus on complications, Formex decided to create watches that are solid, resistant and mostly, packed with practicality. A very pragmatic approach centred around the user. This idea..................
2024-09-12 More
Rado is renowned for its pioneering use of scratch-resistant materials, starting with its 1962 DiaStar watch with a tungsten carbide case and culminating with its extensive use of high-tech ceramic since 1986. The brand is also synonymous with contemporary design-led watches like the True Square family launched in 2020 with its square high-tech cer..................
2024-09-12 More
Seiko’s involvement in chronographs is far more prominent than many would imagine. While the brand’s significance regarding dive watches is indisputable, Seiko has also left its mark on stopwatches. Remember that in 1969, it was part of a trio that presented the first automatic chronograph movements with a watch named the Speedtimer. La..................
2024-09-11 More
Montblanc pays tribute to Italian alpinist Reinhold Messner, one of the world's greatest high-altitude mountaineers. As the first person to summit all the 14 eight-thousanders, Montblanc celebrates the legendary alpinist's 80th birthday with a limited edition of the 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen. Offering world time and chronograph functions,..................
2024-09-10 More
Possibly the most classic and timeless range of Longines, the Master Collection has long been slightly overlooked since its inception in 2005, maybe due to a rather shy design. Yet, in 2022 to mark the brand’s 190th anniversary, Longines gave this collection a highly appealing twist, with grained dials and engraved Breguet-like numerals, elev..................
2024-09-09 More
This year’s Geneva Watch Days was perhaps the hottest edition to date, both in actual daytime temperatures and in watches. With the thermometer hitting 30¡ã Celius pretty much the entire week, we were impressed by the amount of genuinely innovative and creative watchmaking on display. From a skeletonized ultra-thin version of the Speake Marin ..................
2024-09-08 More