Watches NEWS
The new IWC Pilots Watch Mark XVIII - The Definition of a Classic Re-visited - Monochrome Watches
It is an undeniable fact that the IWC Mark (Mk) is one of the most important military/aviation watches ever created. What started as a life saving tool watch for the navigators and flying officers of the British RAF transformed, as all mechanical watches have, into an elegant wristwatch, which in parallel keeps all the qualities of its ancestors. In many ways the latest versions of the Mark constitute THE excellent ordinary watch. There are more than meets the eye here. Pure, unobtrusive and long lasting the mark series have always defined how a proper wristwatch should be made and this year IWC proudly introduces a new variant, the IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XVIII.The LineageThe first wristwatch from IWC specifically designed for Aviators was the originator of the Mark series, produced in 1936. The Spezialuhr fur Flieger (Special Pilot's Watch) had a black dial, high contrast luminous hands, and a rotating bezel, which helped its user to measure elapsed time accurately up to one hour. It
Citizen Aqualand Promaster, The Blue Collar Dive Watch from Japan
When we refer to Japan and its watch industry everyone, and rightly so, instantly think of one company: Seiko. However, there is more than that. Although Seiko has produced a large number of excellent, iconic and historical timepieces, it is unfair to forget other companies like Citizen. In this article we are going to examine one of the most iconic dive watches coming from Japan of all time. No, it is not the Tuna Marinemaster or the Seiko 6105, but the iconic Citizen Aqualand Promaster.Background - Citizen's HistoryThe Citizen Watch Company was established in 1918, as the Shokosha Watch Research Institute?and, in 1924, it produced a pocket watch which Mr. Shinpei Goto, the Mayor of Tokyo, named the CITIZEN. After this, the name stuck and was adopted by the company in 1930. From that point onward, Citizen Watch Co. have been producing extremely fine and innovative watches. For example, in 1959, the company created the first Japanese water-resistant watch, the Parawater, while in 1962
Recap: The Best Dive Watches of 2023
The end of the year is near, so it's time for the MONOCHROME team to sit down and look back at everything that happened during what was objectively a rich year for new models With so many new launches, there was a lot to pick from in all categories and all price ranges. Today, we continue our series of buying guides representing our selection of what we think are the best watches in each category, with one of the industry’s most important and productive categories, one that is a must in all respectable watch collections: dive watches. Here are the Best Dive Watches of 2023, according to the MONOCHROME team.There’s no denying the continuous interest of watch enthusiasts for a good diving instrument. This year, again, we’ve published over 160 articles under the “dive watch” tag. Once again, it’s been challenging to narrow this selection to only five watches. If we look at everything the watch industry has released this year, we had to exclude watches t
Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921 Mid-Size 36.5mm - Review (Specs & Price)
Recently, Vacheron Constantin unveiled a mid-size version of one of its most appealing watches, the desirable and highly original?Historiques American 1921. Yet, there’s something tricky with this watch, and it’s all about its name, and the size that is implied by this “mid-size” appellation. Such watches have always been complex in terms of market segmentation… Large feminine watch, smaller masculine timepiece? It often falls between two stools, but in the case of the?American 1921 Mid-Size, my decision is now clear… I needed to wear it and here’s what we (a unanimous decision from the Monochrome editorial team) think.Quick thoughts about “mid-size” watchesMid-size? What does this name imply? And why has this name been created? We have to go back to the mid-1970s when some of the high-end brands created their now iconic luxury sports watches – and that does also include Vacheron Constantin, with the ref. 222 (the predecessor
Introducing: Panerai Luminor GMT Power Reserve Ceramica PAM01574
Panerai is the official timekeeper of the Salone del Mobile, the largest and most prestigious annual international design fair held in Milan since 1961. Panerai's involvement with Milan Design Week is celebrated with the release of the new Lumimor GMT Power Reserve Ceramica PAM01574. As a product launched in 1949 that retains many original design traits, the Luminor is rightfully acknowledged as an enduring Italian design icon.Luminescence was Panerai's trump card, and the high-precision instruments the Italian brand supplied to the Royal Italian Navy outshone all others thanks to the application of a radium-based powder patented as Radiomir. In 1949, toxic radium was replaced with tritium (Luminor), and the famous Luminor dive watch materialised with its distinctive crown-protection bridge, now the identity card of the Luminor collection. Ad - Scroll to continue with article