Bell & Ross BR 05 GMT - Hands-On Review, Price
Bell & Ross is well-known for the “circle within a square” design aesthetics, initiated by the BR 01 and BR 03 collections. While the brand produces fully round watches too, the square cases have been exemplary in creating an instantly recognizable range of watches. In 2019 the brand launched the BR 05 collection, a more contemporary, softer style of the square case, with clear “luxury sports watch” inspiration. Prior to now, this collection consisted of time-and-date and chronograph models in various configurations. Today, Bell & Ross launches the third BR 05 line, with the new Bell & Ross BR 05 GMT.BackgroundIntroducing the GMT function to the BR 05 makes perfect sense if you look at the history of Bell & Ross. The addition of being able to set your watch to a second time zone has been part of the BR 03 and the BR V2 collections for a long time, in multiple iterations. Some watches even allow you to keep track of three different time zones alto

History of the Patek Philippe Nautilus, Part 1 - The Birth of an Icon, the 3700 (1976/1990) - Monochrome Watches
Stating that the Patek Philippe Nautilus is an icon is probably too easy… but there is no way to evade this. The Nautilus is an icon. No debate. Introduced?in 1976, and designed by one of the most famous watch-designers, who can be seen as the creator of a new species of timepieces – the luxury sports watch. The Nautilus?is praised by all sorts of collectors, and it?is now celebrating its 40th anniversary. Last week we explained the 40th anniversary editions? to you, and now it is time to look at the entire timeline of this watch. The first part of the history of the Patek Philippe Nautilus is of course dedicated to the very first version, the Ref. 3700.BackgroundBefore exploring the history of the Patek Philippe Nautilus, we have to look at a bit of background, to understand the market this watch entered into – simply because we are talking about a game changer. Ad - Scroll to continue with article

Aquastar Deepstar Re-Edition - Diving Chronograph Review, Price
Forget about the usual suspects that are , Omega, Blancpain or Seiko. The world of dive watches is full of surprises, of smaller brands that are to be considered hidden gems… And when you start to dig into the archives of the dive watch history and forget about mainstream models, there are some fascinating vintage watches to discover. Such an example is the Aquastar Deepstar, a watch that I rediscovered when publishing a vintage column. The kind of watch you secretly wish to see coming back. And earlier this year, it did make its return. Having covered the launch of the 2020 Aquastar Deepstar Re-Edition, I wanted to experience it in the metal. So, diving suit on, scuba tank charged, let’s look at it.?Aquastar…?As said, the dive watch industry in the 1960s was pro-li-fic. While a wider audience will have in mind the classics – Submariner, Seamaster, Fifty Fathoms – there were countless smaller brands building dive watches, assembling parts from suppliers t

Introducing: The New Ulysse Nardin Diver Net Azure & Diver Net Skeleton Azure
With the launch of the new Ulysse Nardin Diver Net Azure and Diver X Skeleton Azure, the brand continues its commitment to environmental protection by responsibly utilising raw and recycled materials. While these new watches share many similarities with previous models, they stand out with their distinct light blue colour schemes. Ulysse Nardin’s dedication to raising awareness about environmental issues is commendable and connects it to shark attack survivor and activist Mike Coots to support the OCEARCH shark tracking program. Shark activist Mike Coots Shark activist Mike Coots OCEARCH is a global non-profit organisation that researches sharks in order to gather otherwise unattainable data for scientific purposes. This data is used to conduct further research, provide education and raise awareness of the challenges our oceans are facing. The OCEARCH organization has conducted 45 expeditions around the globe so far and has published 75 papers on variou

First Look: The Edouard Koehn Legacy Rattrapante Chronograph
Himself a watchmaker and at one time the co-owner of Patek, Philippe & Cie, the name Edouard Koehn (1839-1908) resurfaced in the modern watchmaking scene in 2020 thanks to Bernard F. Fleury, a seasoned veteran in the industry known for his work as the CEO of Vulcain in the early 2000s. The latest Edouard Koehn watch we reviewed at MONOCHROME was the World Heritage II, a rare combination of world time and alarm functions. Now, the brand returns to its roots with a true classic in both style and function, an elegant split-second chronograph inspired by one of its antique pocket watches. Meet the Edouard Koehn Legacy Rattrapante Chronograph.Edouard Koehn is an independent watchmaking brand based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, paying homage to the watchmaker (1839-1908) of the same name. The brand was revitalized a few years ago by industry veteran Bernard Fleury, who had previously made a name as CEO of Vulcain in the early 2000s. Fleury’s journey with Edouard Koehn began when he discove