The Black & Gold Code 11.59 By Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Chronograph
Ever-evolving, Audemars Piguet's Code 11.59 collection was given a facelift in 2023 with a series of stainless steel models. Respectful of the complex case architecture that has few detractors, the controversy surrounding the somewhat dull dials of the inaugural members was addressed with a new embossed dial pattern and revisited indices, hands and typeface. A few months ago, AP released seven pink gold references with the refreshed dial features. Among these novelties is a model we'll look at today, the seductive two-tone version of the Code 11.59 Selfwinding Chronograph attired in pink gold and black ceramic.The Code 11.59 collection was conceived with grandiose ambitions. Destined to write a new chapter in the brand's history and stand proudly alongside perennial icons like the Royal Oak and its burlier sidekick, the Royal Oak Offshore, its reception in 2019 was lukewarm, to say the least. Despite the complex architecture of the beautifully finished case, most of the criticism was l

Interview with Richard Krajicek - IWC's Friend of the Brand - Monochrome Watches
I think we don't have to explain the concept of brand ambassadors and that most high-end watch brands have a “few” celebrities that can be considered “Friend of the Brand. Globally IWC has quite a few friends of the brand, and also in every market there are some local friends of the brand. We had the chance to sit down with Richard Krajicek, former tennis champion who won Wimbledon in 1996, defeating Pete Sampras in the quarterfinals – Sampras' only defeat between 1993 and 2000! Krajicek retired from the ATP circuit in 2003 and in 2004 he became tournament director of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam. He also runs the Richard Krajicek Foundation, which builds sports facilities for children in inner-city areas in the Netherlands. That's why we think that Krajicek is the perfect brand ambassador for IWC. His own foundation and the Laureus Sports for Good foundation that IWC supports, show quite some resemblance.What was your first expensive timepi

Hands-On - 2022 Longines Ultra-Chron Diver Re-Edition (Live Pics, Price)
It feels like repeating myself, but indeed, it’s hard not to say this, Longines is one of the brands with the richest history and an incredible collection of important watches. We’ve often covered the topic of historical pilot’s timepieces in our recent coverage, mostly due to the brand’s focus on the Spirit collection. Today, it’ll be rather different, and far more technically oriented. Today, we’ll be talking about high-frequency, chronometry competitions and, as a matter of fact, an emblematic model, the Ultra-Chron. Yes, this milestone of accuracy for the winged hourglass is back, as the brand reissues what used to be one of the first hi-beat watches available on the market, and coincidentally one of the first high-frequency dive watches. It’s time to discover the Longines Ultra-Chron Diver Re-Edition.?High-Frequency at Longines, and the Ultra-ChronThe frequency of a watch represents the number of oscillations performed by its regulating or

IWC Pilot Chronograph Edition Saint-Exupery 'The Last Flight' - Monochrome-Watches
70 years ago Antoine de Saint-Exupery, who could have been IWC’s best ambassador for pilot watches, took off on a reconnaissance flight over France and never returned. It was the 11 August 1944. IWC,?which?always had a strong link with aviation and military-inspired watches, pays tribute once again to this great man, both a famous novelist and trained aviator. In a previous edition of its pilot watch, the brand was giving honors to the author, with the?IWC Pilot Watch Chronograph Edition ?Le Petit Prince??and the?IWC Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar and Mark XVII Limited Special Edition Le Petit Prince. It is now the appropriate day to celebrate the pilot, with a new limited edition of the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph.This limited edition of the IWC Pilot Chronograph comes in an unusual full-brown colour combination. The 46mm case is made of brown silicon nitride ceramic. Both the dial – with a sun-burst finish – and the strap are also using that same colour. T

TAG Heuer Fortifies the AQUARACER 300M with a Ceramic Bezel (specs & price) - Monochrome-Watches
In watches, Rado made Ceramic useful, Chanel made Ceramic fashionable, and now Tag Heuer employs Ceramic in its AQUARACER 300M to make the material indomitable. Given the active lifestyle of many watch owners, a dive watch might hit, bang, scrape, bump or slam against almost anything. A ceramic bezel insures a long-lasting pristine appearance, thanks not only to the visual quality of ceramic, but also its surpassing durability. Since 2004, when Tag Heuer introduced the AQUARACER 300, its popularity has grown to becoming a recommendation for an affordable watch for new collectors. We recommend either the 41mm automatic or the 43mm chronograph, which come in a standard version (steel case), an all-black version (sandblasted black titanium carbide coated case), or a numbered, limited edition Black Phantom version (sandblasted black titanium carbide case). There are no poor choices.The AQUARACER 300M standard version gives you alternatives. The notched ceramic bezels can be black or blue,