Editorial - What I Will Remember from 2021 Regarding Watches
2020 has been a difficult year for many of us. The combination of a pandemic and lockdowns has been dramatic for our lives and, because you're reading a magazine dedicated to watches, for the watchmaking industry. This year, 2021, has certainly been better on multiple levels, but not yet ideal, as we're still living in a world full of uncertainties. Looking at the bright side of things, 2021 has been a great year for MONOCHROME. We've enlarged our core team with new members, we've published more articles than ever before (over 1,100 articles in total) and we successfully launched two collaboration watches – the Montre de Souscription 1 and the Montre de Souscription 2 – that sold out faster than we ever dreamed of. In this regard, I think 2021 has been a great year for us. But, as said, not everything was perfect. As we're about to turn the page on this year, I wanted to share with you what I will remember from 2021, the ups and downs, the trends, my feelings on the overall

Top 50 Swiss Watch Brands of 2020 Market Share - Editorial
2020 has been a difficult year for the Swiss watch industry, and for the entire luxury market. As we reported recently, the industry has had to face its steepest decline since 2009, with exports plummeting 21.8% in value, below the level of 2011. Certainly, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a strong impact on the watch industry. However, there was more than just a decline in sales in 2020. As always with a crisis, there will be losers and winners, brands that will collapse and brands that will emerge from the situation even stronger. Thanks to a detailed analysis of the Swiss watch market published by Morgan Stanley Research, in collaboration with Oliver Muller/LuxeConsult, we can now take a closer and more comprehensive look at what really happened in 2020 Increased polarisation, premiumisation, strong resistance of privately owned brands, detailed figures regarding the top 50 Swiss watch brands per market share and turnover and the continuous overperformance (not to say hegemony) of . H

Introducing The Fascinating Narbel & Co Skel-1
The name of Philippe Narbel might not be on everyone’s radar, but that’s about to change. If you happen to already be familiar with his work, however, I’m positive his latest creation will get you quite excited! Making his debut with the Roots watch last year, Narbel and his team are working under the Narbel & Co name, this is only the second model to be introduced, but what a model it is! Where the Roots was a cushion-shaped watch with a closed dial and a beautifully finished movement, the new Skel-1 pulls back the curtains to reveal the intricate work the Narbel & Co team is capable of. And don’t think this is just someone putting a team to work, as Philippe is very much a hands-on guy! In fact, he has years of experience working for Audemars Piquet and now Manufactor SA, Philippe’s own company specialising in finishing techniques.Narbel & Co used the Roots watch as a canvas for the Skel-1. That means you get the same 40mm by 40mm TV- or cush

Chopard L.U.C XPS Limited Edition for Geneva Chopard Boutique - Monochrome Watches
Especially for the inauguration of the new Chopard Boutique on the Rue de Rh?ne, Geneva, Chopard have created a new interpretation of the classic and stylish L.U.C XPS.The new L.U.C XPS is a limited edition of 25 pieces and it’s the first L.U.C XPS in platinum.?Its dimensions of?39.50 mm in diameter and just 7.13 mm in height (!!) make the L.U.C XPS into an uber-stylish timepiece. With its gorgeous platinum case and midnight blue dial it will match equally great with a suit?or with jeans. Ad - Scroll to continue with article The blue dial, often a sign that the case is in platinum, features a sunburst satin-brushed?finish and features the “Poin?on de Geneve” logo. The “Poin?on de Geneve” or Geneva Seal are a guarantee for an exceptional quality standard, since it was introduced in 1886. A perfect supplement for a timpiece that celeb

Becoming Partner of a Brand, and We Mean that very Literary - Monochrome Watches
Few watch-nuts can deny that the thought of starting, owning or working for a watch company has crossed their minds. Being part of an ongoing legacy, or just a highly innovative company that caters to the wishes of the crowds is something very appealing. Now a project is kicking into high-gear that offered just that: being part of a watch brand.I intentionally say offered, in the past tense, because the project is now entering its second stage. The first stage, however, is what sparked me to write this article. Headed by CEO Thomas Scheinemann, an endeavor is underway to resurrect one of the oldest names in Swiss watchmaking: DuBois & Fils Sa. In fact, it can be called the oldest watch factory in the World, originating from 1785. Ad - Scroll to continue with article A few other brands in Switzerland might take offense at that statement. Blancpain for instanc