Watches NEWS
Hands-On Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Diamonds 15210OR
Audemars Piguet's Code 11.59 collection was unveiled in 2019 and marked the brand’s first important product launch in 20 years. Comprised of six models, 13 references, and three of in-house calibres, its distinctive 41mm case design was, as the brand pointed out, consciously thought for both men and women. Presented in January 2022, these two gem-set models blanketed with more than 1,000 brilliant-cut diamonds on the case are clearly earmarked for women and marked a first for the Code 11.59 collection.Diamond paved gold cases and dialsThe complex architecture of the 41mm case, with its octagonal middle case sandwiched between a thin bezel and round caseback, sparkles with the light of 473 brilliant-cut diamonds (~2.69 carats). The most salient feature of the case is the octagonal central container that pays homage to the iconic octagonal bezel of the Royal Oak. Viewed from the side, you can how the floating lugs are hollowed and welded to the bezel module. Every surface is paved
OPINION - Joining Forces For The Best? The Tudor / Breitling Mechanical Alliance
Prior to Baselworld 2017, at their annual pre-Basel event, Tudor unveiled the new Black Bay Chronograph. The first thought of?the crowd of journalists present (us included) was?“in-house chronograph movement!” The excitement lasted for less than 5 minutes however, as the announcement was quickly followed?by?the official disclaimer. Indeed, despite the?“MT” nomenclature, this movement is not produced by Tudor, but rather by Breitling, which soon after, announced the launch of a?new 3-hand movement, based on a… Tudor calibre. The question is, is this a good thing or not? It looks like?we’re going to find out with the new Tudor / Breitling alliance.The “in-house” debateBefore going into the details of this recently announced?Tudor / Breitling Mechanical Alliance, it’s worth taking a look back at the notion of “in-house” or “manufacture”, which has been one of the main trends of the last 10 / 15 years. Prior to t
Interview Jean-Christophe Babin on Geneva Watch Days and LVMH Watch Week
Last year, 2020, the planned dates for Baselworld and Watches & Wonders were pretty late in the year. Usually, the SIHH, predecessor of Watches & Wonders, took place in January and Baselworld was often around March. These proved to be good moments in the year for the watch business, as retailers purchased new watches, new inventory, shortly after the Christmas sales and that kept a healthy dynamic in the luxury ecosystem. However now the two major watch fairs were planned for April/May, that important sales moment in January was missing and Bvlgari Group CEO, Jean-Christophe Babin, wanted to do something about that. Within a short timespan, he created the LVMH Watch Week in Dubai, which took place early 2020, and filled the void of a missing watch fair early that year. And when the pandemic put a halt to last year’s Baselworld, it was again Mr. Babin who initiated a new fair, the Geneva Watch Days, which took place just after the summer. The reason for the LVMH Watch Week
Video - JC Babin on 2020 Bvlgari Watches and Geneva Watch Days
Last week, a large part of the MONOCHROME team attended Geneva Watch Days, a self-managed event combining physical and digital presence with a flexible, lighter format. And an important one, since it will be one of the only major watch fairs to be organised this year – the result of the current sanitary situation. Altogether, it gathered 17 brands from mainstream manufactures to independent watchmakers. On this occasion, we took time to sit down with Bvlgari’s CEO Jean-Christophe Babin, the main promoter of the event, to talk about the fair as well as, of course, the new watches presented this year by the Roma-based brand – and there were some good ones!Since the cancellation of the two main watch events of the year, Baselworld and Watches & Wonders, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no way for the brands to physically present their new creations and to meet with their partners, press and retailers. A sad situation for sure that some brands decided to counte
The Cartel on W&W 2021 - Andrew, RJ, Wei and Frank Talk "Batshit Crazy Watches" - Monochrome Watches
If you’re still here it’s that, actually, our talks over Zoom were somehow entertaining… Well, at least we had fun doing them! So we meet again, Andrew (Time+Tide), Robert-Jan (Fratello), Wei (Revolution) and I, and this time the topic was “Batshit Crazy Watches” but… We all had a different interpretation of this, ending up in a very, very weird discussion and more?disagreements than agreements, as Wei, the host of the day, tries to get this round. And in advance, sorry Panerai and your e-Steel…!Just like the days before this third instalment, we all threw in some cool items to be gifted, randomly to anyone who (intelligently) comments on our rant. So do hit the keyboard and let us know your choice in the “Batshit Crazy Watches” (interpretation is up to you) and try to win one of Wei’s famous cigars – negroni-pairing mandatory! Ad - Scroll to continue with article
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