First Look: The New Certina DS-7 Powermatic 80 Collection
It won’t come as a surprise to tell you that the integrated bracelet category, watches inspired by 1970s luxury sports icons, is more popular than ever. Many brands, from entry-level to independent watchmakers, have already presented their alternatives in this field. When it comes to accessible luxury, the market is dominated by the Tissot PRX, a watch that has made a strong impact in the category. It is now time for Certina, another Swatch Group-owned brand, to unveil its vision of a sports watch with an integrated bracelet. Sleek and accessible, powered by the group’s solid automatic movement, meet the new DS-7 Powermatic 80 Collection.With the DS-7 collection, which also comprises a more accessible and sportier quartz-powered chronograph, Certina plays on the classic codes of the genre. Barrel-shaped case, raised bezel, a combination of textures, sporty look, full metal attire and a bracelet that follows the lines of the case… Simple, sleek and efficient.

Introducing: The IWC Portugieser Chronograph Year of the Dragon
With watch brands across the board riding the Chinese New Year wave, there are no prizes for guessing which of the twelve animals represented in the Chinese Zodiac will be in the limelight this year. Admittedly one of the more attractive beasts to depict on a watch, the dragon replaces the rabbit of 2023 and will reign supreme until he is replaced by the snake in 2025. One month ahead of the Lunar New Year, IWC releases a limited edition of its Portugieser Chronograph. Flaunting a rich burgundy-coloured dial – associated with good luck, celebrations and prosperity in Asia – the brand has adopted the same prudent approach as last year’s celebratory Chinese New Year Portugieser model and hidden the mascot from prying eyes.Last year, which starred the Year of the Rabbit, IWC produced a special version of its Portugieser Automatic time-only model with a burgundy dial with gold-plated appliques and a rabbit engraved on the rotor. This year, the more complicated Portugieser

IN DEPTH: The Omega Seamaster Yachting - A Luxurious & Rare Regatta Chronograph from the 1970s - Monochrome Watches
Behind its visual appeal, its design and all those little things that jump out from its specifications sheet perhaps a wristwatch's essence is that it is a highly personal item which also can be used to measure time. Timing events can be for something as simple as making al dente pasta, or more complicated like sport events, aerial manoeuvres, diving time, military actions (artillery arm was the first exponent of watches/chronos usage), the start up of jet engines and so forth. So from critical events to simpler tasks, the watch was and still is a fundamental companion. The chronograph we are going to have a look at today belongs to a family of very specific timepieces: watches that are designed specifically for Yachting races. Yacht timers - also referred to as regatta timers, or yachting chronographs, - are watches specially designed and made for the countdown to the start of a sailing race. The Omega Yachting (ref 176.010) was the company's proposal in a market being flooded with de

IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Expedition Jacques-Yves Cousteau - REVIEW with exclusive photos, specs and price - Monochrome Watches
This year IWC introduced an entirely renewed Aquatimer collection. That literary means that ALL Aquatimer models have been redesigned and now feature the same design cues, and, more importantly, functional feats like the new Dive-Safe system; an externally operational internal dive-time bezel (still with us?) We tried the IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Edition ?Expedition Jacques-Yves Cousteau for some weeks for this review and liked it more and more during the test period. The IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Expedition Jacques-Yves Cousteau (a mouthful) is a special edition, based on the Aquatimer Chronograph. It features a?recognizable blue dial that previous ?Expedition Jacques-Yves Cousteau also had. It commemorates Cousteau's fantastic voyages and films that made millions aware of the beauty of the underwater world. His movies educated people around the world, about the underwater world, in times that most people didn’t have a clue about what was going on under that blue surfac

Protrait: Kortela Valta, a New Independent Watchmaking Discovery From Finland
Finland has birthed some of the most fascinating watchmakers outside of Switzerland and has long left its mark on the watchmaking industry. Think of names like Kari Voutilainen and Stepan Sarpaneva, to name just two. Perhaps lesser known, but not to be overlooked, is Reima Koivukoski, whom we introduced to you about a year ago. Now, though, we have the next discovery from the “Land of the Thousand Lakes” lined up for you: Kortela Valta. This duo of watchmakers, Roope Kortela and Rene Valta, found a mutual passion for watchmaking when studying at the Finnish School of Watchmaking and have joined forces to create something very cool called the Eka. More than enough reason to sit down and talk to the pair!Robin, MONOCHROME Watches - Roope, Rene, you're a young two-man brand from Finland. Can you introduce yourselves briefly? Ad - Scroll to continue with article