Top 10 Dive Watches of 2020 by MONOCHROME - Buying Guide
Dive watches… are not even a style or a category of watches anymore, but a proper market with its own codes, its icons, its contenders, its specifications and its aficionados. Needless to say that a well-built and nicely designed dive watch is almost a necessity for accessible or luxury watch brands, with only a minority not having its own take on the aquatic timepiece. And I’d go as far as saying that a dive watch is a must in every collection. With this in mind, we couldn’t make our lists of favourite 2020 watches without taking a look at diving-oriented models. From accessible to high-end, from all-time-classics to original takes, from modern to vintage-oriented, here are the 10 dive watches that we think stole the show in 2020.Note: this list is based on our own preferences. Feel free to share your favourite dive watches introduced this year in the comment box at the end of this article.Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day Date Desert EditionBlancpain and the d

Back from Basel - Monochrome Watches
I just got back from Basel where Robert-Jan (Fratellowatches) and i visited Baselworld. The watches and juwelry show was totally overwhelming! Last friday, saturday and today (sunday) i’ve seen a LOT of watches, met a lot of nice and interesting people and talked to some of the most famous watchmakers alive. Mindblowing…During the coming week i will do my best to select the best photos and make some stories of all the meetings with watchmakers and brands. So for now i will post some quick and dirty wristshots of some of the most beautiful watches i’ve seen. Omega’s presentation for the 40th anniversary of the Omega Speedmaster Professional was really something. The new Speedmaster Apollo 11 was launched by the astronauts who wore the Speedmaster Professional on the moon! Buzz Aldrin, Charles Duke, Harrison Schmitt and Eugene Cernan where all present at the presentation and panel discussion about flying to the moon (again).But for starters i’d love to share

Introducing Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Limited Edition
Rado introduced its Captain Cook model to the market in 1962 to satisfy the demand from amateur and professional divers. Keen to conquer the depths, these underwater adventures would have been unfeasible without a proper watch. Production of the Captain Cook was halted in 1968, with the estimated total number of pieces released during six years as low as 8,000. In 2017, perhaps in response to the popular demand for vintage-looking models, Rado announced the vintage re-edition of the 1962 Captain Cook watch, 37mm in diameter, very close to the original, and a larger 45mm version. Since then, quite a few retro and vintage-inspired watches have been launched, including a 42mm Captain Cook Automatic in 2019, followed by? Rado Captain Cook Bronze Collection in 2020. Last year the Master of Materials announced four versions of the 43mm Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic model, three of them with matte black ceramic cases and bracelets and black ceramic inserts in a steel bezel, with one option o

The refreshing Depancel Serie-R Cruiser
Square watches are less mainstream than their round counterparts, but some models have become truly legendary. TAG Heuer's Monaco is arguably the most recognised and synonymous with motorsport and Steve McQueen. The new Serie-R Cruiser from French microbrand Depancel is inspired by motorsport as well, specifically cafe racer and cruiser motorcycles. Its square case is certainly reminiscent of the iconic Monaco, and comparisons will inevitably be made, but the Cruiser is no copycat and has its own style and vibe. Let's take a closer look.It’s All in the NameDepancel is a small watch brand that takes inspiration from cars and motorcycles. The name comes from three different French car manufacturers, Delage, Panhard and Facel Vega, and each collection looks at different parts of the automotive world. The logo was also inspired by the 1954 Facel Vega coat of arms. The brand's tagline is: A brand created by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts.. This isn't just a marketing line, as Depancel w

Vacheron Constantin FIFTYSIX Self-Winding and Complete Calendar with Blue Dials (Hands-On) - Monochrome Watches
This year, Vacheron Constantin will introduce striking blue dials to its popular FIFTYSIX collection. While it may be an obvious iteration for the brand, it is certainly not an unwelcome one, adding another element to Vacheron's entry-level offering. Today, we're taking a quick look at the new FIFTYSIX Self-Winding and FIFTYSIX Complete Calendar dressed in blue.By way of a quick refresher, Vacheron introduced the FIFTYSIX collection last year at SIHH 2018. Intended very much as an entry-level range designed to attract younger buyers to the brand, it was initially met with mixed reviews. Some - including us here at MONOCHROME - found the idea of an affordable' (relatively speaking, of course) watch a bit at odds with the brand's prestigious reputation for Haute Horlogerie. Ad - Scroll to continue with article To be fair, this opinion was mainly formed on the basi