Hands-on with the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak QP Ultra-Thin
If anything has become clear when reviewing all the novelties presented by Audemars Piguet earlier this month, it is the simple fact that it has gone all-in in terms of complexity. Sure, there are some new time-and-date models for the Royal Oak and the Code 11.59 collections, but (ultra)complicated watchmaking by AP is in the spotlight this year. Not only did we get to see the most complex wristwatch Audemars Piguet has ever made, but others impressed us with their sheer mechanical prowess. One such watch is the newest version of the once-thinnest QP wristwatch in the world, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin 41mm. And although it has been bested since it was first released in 2019, it is still a mighty watch to behold and handle, and one of our favourite watches from AP for various reasons.Although ultra-thin watchmaking is technically not a complication in itself, as it doesn’t do anything extra for a watch other than cut down height, we con

Recap: The Best Calendar Watches of 2024
Talking about calendar watches is a vast topic, which can range from fairly simple mechanisms to some of the most complex movements watchmakers have invented. Indeed, this category ranges from the classic triple calendar (mechanically, an evolution of the date complication with no self-adjustment of the length of the months) to the finest version, the secular perpetual calendar, watches that can automatically adapt to the smallest oddities of our Gregorian calendar. Looking at this category, we have to say that 2024 didn’t disappoint and brought us some incredible watches – one of them even won the prestigious GPHG. So here is our selection of the best calendar watches of 2024, from an eccentric planetarium to a secular perpetual calendar.Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar John MayerThere are multiple reasons why we’ve selected this John Mayer x Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in this list of the best calendar watches. The first is quite obvious

Interview: In Conversation with Benoit de Clerck, The New CEO of Zenith
Earlier this month, LVMH, the French luxury powerhouse, reorganized the management of its watch division. Frederic Arnault was named CEO of LVMH Watches – overseeing TAG Heuer, Hublot and Zenith – Julien Tornare subsequently took over as CEO of TAG Heuer while a former Richemont executive, Benoit de Clerck, was recruited to run Zenith. Just ahead of the LVMH Watch Week, we had the opportunity to sit down with the new CEO of Zenith in Geneva.Xavier Markl, MONOCHROME – Benoit, thanks for having us. What is your background, and what brought you to the head of Zenith? Ad - Scroll to continue with article Benoit de Clerck, CEO of Zenith – I have been versed in the watch industry for the past 25 years. My journey began with TAG Heuer when I opened their office in the Middle East before its acquisition by LVMH. Subsequently, I joined Richemont w

The Summer Edition, 5 Accessible Sports Watches of 2019 - Monochrome Watches
Summertime and the livin' is easy As the holiday season is fast approaching, it's all about making your style cool and effortless, but also having watches that can survive adventures (a splash of mojito, perhaps?). To help you out, we have rounded up 5 watches that will make great daily beaters for sunny days, without breaking the bank.Note: this selection is based on a consensus among the MONOCHROME team. It reflects our preferences among watches unveiled in 2019. If there are other watches you'd love to mention, feel free to share these in the comment section at the end of this article.Seiko Prospex Twilight Blue SPB097J1A modern interpretation of a 1968 Seiko Diver (the high-beat reference 6159-7001), the Seiko Prospex 200m has been released in a special edition for the USA and Europe with a cool colour combo. Dubbed Twilight Blue, it features a sunburst blue dial paired with a black orange rotating bezel. The 44mm steel case is water-resistant to 200m. The watch is worn on a 3-link

Introducing: The Italy-Only Tudor Black Bay 58 Inter Limited Edition
There was a time when Tudor, just like mother brand , only released new models during watch fairs and only watches available in the permanent collection. These days are long gone, and Tudor has decided to fly solo, changing from the usual yearly releases to a more constant flow of novelties, now including special or limited editions. And don’t think that everything the brand does is classic… Tudor is also getting bolder with colours. This weekend, we’ve witnessed yet another demonstration of this strategy, as Tudor released a limited-edition Black Bay 58, with an unprecedented colour scheme meant to celebrate a stunning achievement for legendary soccer team Inter Milan.?One of Tudor’s sports partners, Italian soccer Serie A team Inter Milan, pulled off something extraordinary this year. Not only did it become the Italian Champions, but it also won its 20th Scudetto. And for that, the team earned its second star – in the Italian soccer league Serie A, a te