Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar White Ceramic 26579CB.OO.1225CB.01 - Hands-On, Price
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and its iconic octagonal case and integrated bracelet need no introduction. It is one of the most iconic watches of the industry and the one that sparked the “Luxury Sports Watch” concept (and its subsequent fame). This watch has been revisited in hundreds of editions, complications and materials. Ceramic, a trendy and modern composite, also made it to the RO, in black. Recently, the brand introduced a new version of the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in white ceramic. Bold isn’t enough anymore to qualify this watch… Controversial for sure, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t desirable.Before we even start looking at this watch, it has to be said: this watch isn’t made for the masses. Not because of its high price or because of its scarcity, but because of its uncompromising looks. It won’t appeal to a large audience, it will probably be hated by some and on the other hand, it will be desired by a few. In a way, thi

Video - In-Depth Technical Review Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra
Imagine an object that is 1.8mm thick. As a reference, 1.8mm is thinner than your average bracelet spring bar. This figure represents the entire height of the watch we’re going to explore today, not the thickness of its movement. No, 1.8mm refers to the thickness of the whole watch, including the case and crystals. This watch is the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra, a watch that broke the record for the thinnest mechanical watch ever created. And even though it’s been surpassed recently by another watch (with a rather imperceptible 0.05mm difference), the Octo Finissimo Ultra is still one of the most impressive technical achievements of the brand, the latest chapter in a saga entirely devoted to ultra-thin watchmaking.In the world of watches, there are numerous complications. The chronograph, a second time zone, a moon phase or even the date are considered to be complications. Every additional feature, in addition to the classic indication of the hours, minutes and seconds, is

Business - Analysis of the Swiss watchmaking industry in 2014 - Monochrome-Watches
The?Swiss watchmaking industry is known to be a dream factory. If you’re a collector and a frequent reader of Monochrome-Watches, you certainly know what we mean by that. However, Swiss manufactures are also (actually mainly) businesses, with a unique goal: selling watches, achieving a worldwide recognition and creating value. In order to understand a bit more about this industry that we too often view only from the product side, here are some interesting figures about the year 2014.Let’s start immediately with the impressive numbers. While the production numbers of Swiss-made watches is almost insignificant as part of the entire annual watch production (which includes all vast numbers of cheap quartz watches produced in China), the value created by the Swiss manufactures is imposing. As the graph shows, Switzerland only produces one watch against?fifty?produced in the entire world. When you consider those numbers, just think that this small country is also responsible of m

Introducing: Ferdinand Berthoud Releases The Final Editions Of Its First Calibre
An octagonal case, a tourbillon movement with fusee-and-chain transmission and a pillar-based construction… The Chronometre FB 1 has played a major role in defining the identity of Chronometrie Ferdinand Berthoud. Released in 2015, it was the watch that marked the return of a glorious name, one of the most important of horology. Since the presentation of the collection, this series of watches was equipped with a demonstrative movement, combining constant force and anti-gravity devices (and a decoration done in the best possible way), the Calibre FB-T.FC. But it is now preparing to take a last bow, in the form of a final 38-piece edition presented for the first time with a round case; the Chronometre FB 2T.In 2015, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, the co-president of Chopard and the President of Chronometrie Ferdinand Berthoud, somehow made one of his dreams come true; the resurrection of one of the most important historical names of horology. His concept was to offer a contemporary visi

FOUND: a Proper SPY-TOOL For The Big Kids That We Really Are - Monochrome Watches
Who never dreamed of owning and playing with James Bond's watch (and incidentally, who didn't also dream of having the Bond girls but that's another story)? While searching for interesting things trifles to buy on Ebay, we've stumbled upon THE object to tickle our spy-kid minds: a true revival of the Cold War, a fascinating object that would have to be used with a trench coat, a hat and sunglasses: a real spy-watch with an integrated microphone and recorder - Khrouchtchev-approved. OK, let's be clear, we are not going to tease you with some fascinating Haute Horlogery here. Sometimes, we have open-minded and constructive silly conversations at the Monochrome-Watches HQ. And it can result in this: the discovery of a piece of history that reminds us how technology has changed in the past decades. When you think about spy-watches, the first one that come in your mind is a Submariner or an Omega Seamaster, either one full of lasers, grapnels, detonators and complicated computers - thank