The Apple Watch through the Eyes of the Industry Leaders - Monochrome Watches
When Apple introduced the highly anticipated iWatch… err… Apple Watch last week, it felt a bit like half of the watch industry was holding their breath. Would this be the death sentence for mechanical watches? I had my say about the Apple Watch last week, immediately after it was launched, and wondered what the industry leaders think of this ‘new development’. Monochrome?asked a few CEO’s of major watch brands to share their thought on the Apple Watch. Here’s what they think…Wilhelm Schmid (CEO of A. Lange & Sohne), Stephane Linder (CEO of TAG Heuer) and mr. Angelo Bonati (CEO of Panerai) share their opinion on the new Apple Watch and smart watches in general. And there was of course Jean-Claude Biver (allround watch guru and industry expert for LVMH Group) who’s never shy to share his spicy honest opinion. In an interview with German newspaper Der Welt he called the Apple Watch “too feminine” and “designed by a firs

Hands-On - Cartier Drive de Cartier Extra Flat in Steel (Specs & Price)
In 2016, Cartier, the master of beautifully shaped cases, introduced a stylish dress watch for men; the Cartier Drive. Offered in gold or steel, it was an instant hit. Hot on the heels of this initial success, came the Drive Extra Flat in 2017, an even more refined and attractive dress watch that really turned our heads. Unlike the earlier Drive models, however, this beauty was only available in precious metals and, consequently, came with a rather hefty price tag. This year, however, we are pleased to say that Cartier has introduced the Drive Extra Flat in steel, and it is quite an attractive package at that.In the highly competitive world of ultra-thin watches - think the insane 2mm Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept or the Bulgari Octo Finissimo - the Cartier Drive Extra Flat appears comparatively thick at 6.6mm. On the wrist, however, it is superb. Perfectly proportioned with the 38mm high by 39mm wide case, with just enough weight that you know it's there without being intrusive &#

VIDEO - The Seamaster Chronicles - Part 1, The History of the Omega Seamaster
Last year, we introduced one of our largest projects ever, the Speedmaster Chronicles. Five videos with five men, including James Ragan (the man who turned the Speedmaster into the Moonwatch), Omega’s CEO, a well-known auctioneer, Mr?Speedy Tuesday and an?anonymous?collector, who all shed their light on one of the most iconic watches ever created, the Omega Speedmaster a.k.a. Moonwatch.?Today we’re starting with another big video project, namely “The Seamaster Chronicles” – and you probably guessed it… we will have an in-depth look at Omega’s diving icon, the Seamaster.In a series of three videos, we will explain how a watch that sprouted from the watches that Omega delivered to the Royal Air Force during WWII, has become so much more. The very first Seamaster was introduced by Omega 70 years ago, in 1948. It has grown to become a large collection, where you can find not one iconic watch but a host of iconic pieces – with elegant dress wa

First Look: The Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Titanium Dragon
From the brand with the most explosive named collection in watch history comes the loud, eye-popping Spirit of Big Bang Titanium Dragon. Upholding the brand’s preference for fusing disparate materials on board its bold, shaped cases, Hublot offered Chinese artist Chen Fenwan the Spirit of Big Bang as a blank canvas to exercise her creativity. Using the millenary Chinese art form of paper cutting, Chen Fenwan’s original paper design has been interpreted on the multi-layered dial and snaking marquetry bracelet that come to life with the dynamic forms of the dragon.In the Chinese Zodiac, 2024 marks the Year of the Dragon; to be precise, the Year of the Wood Dragon. Unlike the fire-breathing and destructive dragons of Western mythology, Chinese dragons were originally revered as imperial icons and are associated with wisdom, strength, prosperity and immortality. Another difference with Western dragons is the more snake-like contours of Eastern dragons’ bodies, known as lo

Richard Mille Introduces the RM028 Orange Flash and 3 More Limited Editions for the EMEA Region - Monochrome Watches
Richard Mille is synonymous for luxury sports watches, or maybe even synonymous for the ultimate luxury in sports watches. Whether it’s a big round dive watch with a tourbillon or a an extremely light-weight tonneau shaped watch with a tourbillon that can be worn when playing golf, like the RM038 Bubba Watson Tourbillon; Richard Mille creates timepieces for people who also have a Black Card for a credit card and a Vertu instead of a boring middle-class iPhone.?What sets Richard Mille’s watches apart from the crowd, are the iconic case designs and the unmistakably?recognizable?three-dimensional sculptures that his mechanical movements are. Richard Mille has taken luxury sports watches to a level, where even the veterans of the watch industry didn’t dare to go.This week Richard Mille announced four new watches. There will be a black edition of the RM 055 Bubba Watson (being the Bubba Watson watch without the tourbillon), two tourbillon watches in a carbon case and one r