Face-to-Face - The Battle of High-End Annual Calendars Part 3 - Lange vs. Ferrier... The Verdict
Having reviewed both Lange’s and Ferrier’s annual calendars in the previous days, today it's time for a face-off, a chance for these two mid-weight complication champs to engage in a mock battle. The two contestants are clearly very beautiful watches, perfectly matched in functionality and mechanical integrity, so please take a ringside seat and see if you agree with our verdict in the battle of annual calendars pitting the A. Lange & Sohne 1815 Annual Calendar versus the Laurent Ferrier Annual Calendar School Piece.Case size and presence on the wristWithout going into extensive detail (please see the reviews of the ALS 1815 Annual Calendar and the Laurent Ferrier Annual Calendar), let's take a look at the common traits of these annual calendars. Both contenders share 40mm gold cases and both watches enjoy a commanding presence. The Lange 1815 has a height of 10.1mm while the Laurent Ferrier is thicker at 12.8mm (including the sapphire crystal). I

2019 Behind the Lens - Our Best Videos of the Year - Monochrome Watches
Our videos, which we’d prefer to call “in-depth movies”, are something we’re very proud of, here at MONOCHROME. We take a lot of time and energy to produce them since we believe that seeing a watch or a concept in video and not in photo dramatically helps to understand the beauty that is hidden in these timekeeping objects. This year, 2019, we’ve produced over 60 videos, which can be seen on our YouTube channel. But as we’re saying goodbye to 2019, here’s a recap of our most viewed movies of the year.Understanding the CODE 11:59 by Audemars PiguetWe start with THE most controversial collection of the year, if not of the decade… The Code 11:59 by Audemars Piguet, entirely reviewed here, which you can see in the movie below. Certainly not the most loved watch of the brand, it, however, deserves to be seen in the metal to be fully appreciated, since there are multiple details to discover.Our entire SIHH 2019 coverage (12 videos)Since the SIH

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue Edition (Specs & Price)
Customized, special editions sold only through a single (branch of) boutiques is a common thing, but few do it as regularly as Bucherer. The Swiss watch retail house has introduced several striking collaborations – no less than 25 in total with 14 different brands. To name just a few, the Tudor Black Bay Bronze, the IWC ?Portugieser Chronograph Classic?or the H. Moser & Cie. Venturer Small Second,?for instance. All received the “Bucherer Blue” makeover and next in line is the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue Edition.A Bucherer Blue Edition is always (spoiler alert) blue – and the retailer's take on the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe is no exception. The colour fits the overall concept behind the watch well, considering the unique tone used in the watch is a Bucherer signature and blue echoes the maritime background of Blancpain. The Fifty Fathoms is, of course, the iconic dive watch introduced by Blancpain in 1953, at a time when dive w

Ma?tres du Temps Chapter One Round Transparence - Monochrome Watches
Dreams do come true. In the US, anyone who has played fantasy football or attended an all-star baseball game knows the synergistic thrill of combining top talent from various sources. These sports venues reveal a dream team in action, and Ma?tres du Temps embodies this concept for the watch world; the Chapter One Round Transparence is their latest dream realized. The Transparence is an evolution of the Chapter One Round (first introduced in 2007), and provides a voyeuristic view of its inner workings. When you pay close to half-a-million dollars, own one watch of only eleven made, and have the creative duo of Peter Speake-Marin and Christophe Claret design the watch, viewing the movement provides a greater appreciation of the watch's alchemy. Those of us who fail to make the Forbes 500 list of the world's richest people can dream, knowing that somewhere, there is such a watch. Ad - Scroll to continue with article

Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Manual-Winding Excellence Platine (Specs & Price)
Platinum is often seen as the king of materials – or at least the most exclusive metal you can imagine for a watch. With this in mind,?Vacheron Constantin created a collection dedicated to this precious metal in 2006 called “Collection Excellence Platine”. Exclusively composed of limited edition pieces, all of them share a unique monochromatic design enlightened by blue accents. This collection today receives a new member, a thin, restrained dress watch named the?Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Manual-Winding Excellence Platine.The?Collection Excellence Platine isn’t new at Vacheron Constantin but what is surprising is how consistent this range of watches has been over the years. A closer look at most of them –? for instance, the?Day-Date & Power Reserve model, the?Patrimony Hand-Wound or the?Traditionnelle Complete Calendar – reveals some common traits shared by all the watches. Here, platinum isn’t only used for the case but for almost