Calendar watches come in a wide variety. Most of them are based on 31-day cycles and require a regular adjustment (5 times a year) to ensure that the correct date is displayed. An annual calendar automatically adjusts the indicated date, mechanically configured to display the different lengths of the months, and they require to be corrected manuall.................. 2017-12-02 More

Today is the opening of the Pre-SIHH season for IWC, meaning that some novelties are to be expected. The theme for this year will be the 150th anniversary of the Schaffhausen-based brand. A very special year indeed, which will be celebrated with no less than 27 limited-edition models. Among the 4 watches to be unveiled prior to the Geneva show is a.................. 2017-12-01 More

IWC is turning 150 next year. To mark the occasion, the Schaffhausen-based manufacturer is set to unveil a special Jubilee collection at SIHH, comprising 27 limited¨Cedition watches from different collections. Among these and a bit prior to the Geneva-Watch-Fair, the new Portugieser Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition 150 Years is the first IWC to com.................. 2017-12-01 More

If there’s one thing I love about my job is to discover new watch brands. I’m always stunned by the level of creativity infused by independent watchmakers, from the Sci-Fi creations of Urwerk or the ultra-classic propositions of Laurent Ferrier (who can do nice things together…) One brand we recently discovered at MONOCHROME cumul.................. 2017-11-30 More

At Baselworld this year, Patek Philippe once again introduced a surprising watch, a piece with a unique look and a clear vintage inspiration – without mentioning a case to die for. For a few years now, Patek?has accustomed us with a certain creativity, with watches that go out of the brand’s comfort zone (see for instance the controvers.................. 2017-11-30 More

A few weeks ago, Ulysse Nardin announced its Pre-SIHH 2018 watches, which include 2 very classical watches – the Marine Tourbillon Blue Enamel and the Classico Grand Feu – with all the DNA of the brand: enamel dial, nice in-house movement, Marine inspiration, elegance with a twist and relatively affordable price. A third watch was prese.................. 2017-11-28 More

Last weekend, just before the start of the final race of this year’s F1 season, IWC introduced a special edition Ingenieur Chronograph, to honour last year’s World Champion Nico Rosberg. While the available 23 pieces were probably sold out instantly, we love to share this with you for two reasons. First, this is the best looking new Ing.................. 2017-11-27 More

After welcoming David Beckham and Lady Gaga?as brand ambassadors and members of the #BornToDare campaign, followed by a partnership with world-famous rugby team the “All Blacks”, Tudor continues to expand its association in this direction, and today, in Monaco, the brand?announced a new agreement, this time with World Rugby, which inclu.................. 2017-11-26 More

Officine Panerai will shortly be opening its first stand-alone boutique in the UK and to celebrate, the company has created a unique bronze timepiece to be auctioned online by Sotheby's. All proceeds from the sale of the special Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Bronzo 47mm PAM00907 will be donated to the Royal Yachting Association to suppo.................. 2017-11-26 More

With their softly rounded square cases and inner round opening, cushion-shaped watches are a sure way to stylishly stand out from the crowd. Masculine and refined, here are 6 high-end cushion shaped watches released in 2017, for those who want to look original, yet stylish.Vacheron Constantin Historiques Americaine 1921 mid-sizeInspired by a model .................. 2017-11-25 More

The vast majority of people are comfortable with watches displaying hours and minutes. But for those on the move or doing business around the world, multiple time zone watches might just make a better wrist companion. A case in point is the luxurious yet functional Carl F. Bucherer Patravi TravelTec II, which displays not one, not two, but three ti.................. 2017-11-23 More

A few months ago, we told you about a young brand from Poland called Balticus. At the time, they were raising funds on Indiegogo for two new automatic bronze watches; the Big Wave and the Grey Seal. Today, we're getting hands-on with another two models from this young company, the descriptively named Star Dust and Black Dust. At once familiar and u.................. 2017-11-23 More

Innovation in the field of escapements and oscillators is the new frontier in technological breakthrough of mechanical watches, as evidenced by revolutionary concepts by Ulysse Nardin, Girard-Perregaux, Parmigiani Fleurier or more recently the Zenith Defy Lab and its mind-blowing oscillator. Among these, Dominique Renaud presented an impressive con.................. 2017-11-22 More

At Baselworld this year, Tudor introduced a new version of the Black Bay, dubbed Steel – or more precisely, the reference 79730. Immediately during the official presentation, I wondered to myself about the real purpose of this watch, which admittedly is a Tudor Black Bay. No question about it, this new version perfectly blends into the rest o.................. 2017-11-21 More

As we told you in a recent article, next year will be the 25th anniversary of a modern icon, a watch that simply created the trend for bold sports-luxury watches: the?Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore. In 1993, the brand impressed (or shocked) the industry with this watch, and to celebrate this, AP has some commemorative pieces to mark the occasio.................. 2017-11-20 More

Last year, for their first attendance at the Geneva watch fair (a.k.a. the SIHH), Ulysse Nardin surprised?guests and collectors with an impressive collection, which aimed to merge the classical style of the brand, with refined crafting techniques and very decent prices. One of the best examples of this strategy was the?Ulysse Nardin Marine Tourbill.................. 2017-11-20 More

One of the earliest metals known to man - bronze – refers to a wide range of copper alloys, usually with tin as the main additive. Because it is strong and tough, bronze is mostly used to craft tool watches. It was used in boat fittings – prior to stainless steel – because of its resistance to saltwater corrosion. It oxidizes but .................. 2017-11-18 More

It seems that Vacheron Constantin’s current favorite complication might well be the triple calendar (or full calendar, or complete calendar… which all refer to the same complication). Brought back to center stage with the stunning?Historiques Triple Calendrier 1942 in steel and its gold sibling, the?Triple Calendrier 1948, two superbly .................. 2017-11-17 More

This week, Vacheron Constantin is previewing one of the new additions it will be making to its popular Overseas collection in 2018, aptly named the Overseas Dual Time. Due to be officially launched at SIHH 2018, the Manufacture took the opportunity to get its new model in front of serious collectors from the Middle East (and further abroad) who att.................. 2017-11-17 More

Ferdinand Berthoud strips down its spectacular Chronometre FB1. After the recently introduced platinum edition, it's now the movement that evolves. Indeed, sapphire bridges now offer an unimpeded view on its killer inner workings, and this mechanical beauty is now housed in a titanium case (with 2 different dials available). Meet the Ferdinand Bert.................. 2017-11-16 More

Throughout its long history, Audemars Piguet has notched up many bold moves. Of course, we all remember the 1972 Royal Oak, a Genta-designed watch that simply revolutionized the concept of the luxury watch. Another of these bold moves should also not be forgotten. Back in 1993, Audemars Piguet presented an evolution of the Royal Oak, a highly-mascu.................. 2017-11-15 More

Much to our satisfaction, we have seen smaller watches re-emerged over the past few years. Even Panerai, known to be on the large side, has been downsizing its iconic design, with its 42mm Luminor Due, which is now offered for the first time in a handsome, light-weight titanium version. We go hands-on with the slender PAM00728 or Panerai Luminor Du.................. 2017-11-15 More

For the last few years, we've been hearing about the so-called “resurgence” of British watchmaking. Run by passionate Brits with a strong streak of defiance, these small independent brands are (very) slowly but surely gaining a foothold in the market and proving they have what it takes to stick around for a while. One such brand, which .................. 2017-11-14 More

The?Ulysse Nardin Classico Manufacture should be no stranger to you if you read MONOCHROME regularly. It is indeed a watch that we’ve covered several times, and on each occurrence, we loved it. It is, as you could guess by its name, a classic offering from the brand. Available in several materials (yet, mainly with steel cases recently) and w.................. 2017-11-13 More

Back in 2014, right after Jer?me Lambert was appointed CEO of the brand (and?who is now COO of almost all the Maisons at Richemont Group), Montblanc introduced the Heritage collection?– a line-up of classical, elegant watches with a clear vintage appeal, in both the design and the use of complications. There was some Minerva inspiration, yet .................. 2017-11-13 More

Today is the second day of the Geneva Watch Auction Six (GWA6) by Phillips. While there were some impressive lots (is that even a surprise from Aurel Bacs and Phillips…), with a Patek 2523 or an incredible Patek 2497 in white gold, the star of the show for us here, at MONOCHROME, certainly was the?Omega Tourbillon 30 I – a 1947 watch an.................. 2017-11-12 More

It's now time for our Year-End buying guides to gather 8 of the toughest watches launched in 2017. We have picked tool watches of various types, not excessively priced, but designed to hold up to outdoor activities, or constructed to tolerances for specific purposes. Perfect gifts for adventure seekers or simply for a rugged cool look for an aftern.................. 2017-11-11 More

After the record-breaker that was the unique Patek Philippe 5016a for Only Watch 2015, which sold for an astonishing CHF 7.3 Million – at that time, before the Steel Patek 1518 and Paul Newman’s Paul Newman, the most expensive wristwatch ever – today was another potential record breaking watch for sale, the unique titanium, Minute.................. 2017-11-11 More

We continue with Only Watch 2017 and the incredible prices that this charity auction is achieving. After the unique Patek Philippe 5208T sold for CHF 6.2 Million, what was under the hammer next was the unique?F.P.Journe Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante, a watch created especially for the occasion of the auction – and not only unique in i.................. 2017-11-11 More

In a predominantly male-dominated watch world, we have some women in top positions who are making a definitive mark. Eve's Watch aims to put the spotlight on those women, and on a choice of women's watches that have been awarded best in one of twelve categories. Additionally, there's a thirteenth award, chosen by the public. Last week, Aurelie Pica.................. 2017-11-10 More

Since a year, the Richemont Group is operating a deep internal restructuration. First of all, the group announced the appointment of both Lambert as Head of Operations and Kern as Head of Watchmaking, Marketing and Digital, followed by the “Big Reshuffle” at the head of several Maisons. Yet, this plan completely shattered on July 14th, .................. 2017-11-10 More

40 years, for some this feels like an eternity (I am only 33 years old) and for others it feels like next to nothing. Making it 40 years in life doesn't require too much effort if you have no serious challenges. But to make it 40 years in the grueling sport of Formula 1 takes skill, determination, luck, good judgment, a lot of money and a clear vis.................. 2017-11-10 More

A few months ago, we introduced you to a brand new, Malaysian-based brand called MING and their debut timepiece, the MING 17.01. Designed by famed watch photographer Ming Thein, this break-out watch sold out almost immediately (thanks in no small part to its US$900 price tag.) Impressively, just a few months later, Ming and his team have already un.................. 2017-11-09 More

Earlier this year, Ulysse Nardin launched a new watch that we here at MONOCHROME thought best represented the essence of the brand, the?Marine Torpilleur. Visually inspired by antique Marine Chronometers, powered by an in-house movement with silicon parts (UN were the first to equip a watch with that), this piece showed an overall pretty cool look .................. 2017-11-08 More

As you’ve probably seen through the live feed we provided to you, today was the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Geneve, also known as the Oscars of the Watchmaking Industry, celebrating the best watches (via 12 different categories, for 16 different prizes) of the year. While in 2016 the “Aiguille d’Or” (the prize for the b.................. 2017-11-08 More

Anonimo might not be the largest watch brand we know, but at least we can say is that they’ve had quite a productive year: a complete facelift of the Nautilo, some new sailing editions, some colourful versions of their dive watch, some new “bronze” watches and finally, new editions of the signature military chronographs. Why such .................. 2017-11-06 More

After going through some of the best dress watches of 2017 (part 1 and part 2), it is time for our year-end buying guides to pick 5 traditional complication watches from 2017, stressing value - because an expensive watch is not necessarily a better watch. All you need from a watch, without having to take out a new mortgage. This doesn't mean afford.................. 2017-11-04 More

This year, Jack Heuer, Honorary President of Tag Heuer and watch industry royalty, is celebrating his 85th birthday. To mark the occasion, Tag Heuer will unveil a limited edition of the iconic Heuer chronograph - the Autavia - specially designed by Mr. Heuer himself. In total 1,932 pieces will be produced - in reference to Mr. Heuer’s birth y.................. 2017-11-03 More

Today, Omega just unveiled their brand new eco-friendly premises designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban. Located next to the brand's historical building where the brand is headquartered, the new factory was inaugurated today (Editor's note: November 2, 2017) and it is an important step for the brand, allowing it to centralise its forces, hither.................. 2017-11-02 More

We often hear that blue is the new black… In recent years, we have seen dozens of watches evolving with the addition of blue dials, yet in sports watches, black is still pretty much the norm. Not for Oris! Just like they did recently with the Artelier Calibre 111, the brand introduces a blue version of its in-house version of the?Big Crown Pr.................. 2017-10-31 More