Video - JC Babin on 2020 Bvlgari Watches and Geneva Watch Days
Last week, a large part of the MONOCHROME team attended Geneva Watch Days, a self-managed event combining physical and digital presence with a flexible, lighter format. And an important one, since it will be one of the only major watch fairs to be organised this year – the result of the current sanitary situation. Altogether, it gathered 17 brands from mainstream manufactures to independent watchmakers. On this occasion, we took time to sit down with Bvlgari’s CEO Jean-Christophe Babin, the main promoter of the event, to talk about the fair as well as, of course, the new watches presented this year by the Roma-based brand – and there were some good ones!Since the cancellation of the two main watch events of the year, Baselworld and Watches & Wonders, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no way for the brands to physically present their new creations and to meet with their partners, press and retailers. A sad situation for sure that some brands decided to counte

2021 Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Black Black - Hands-on, Price
Black has a powerful attraction. It can be discreet or bold, timeless yet modern. Blacked-out watches have seen a surge in popularity over the past years and it is time for the iconic Omega Seamaster Diver 300M to opt for a captivating monochromatic black attire and this edition is enticing for a variety of reasons. Ready to move into stealth mode? Meet the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Black Black.We have already seen a Speedmaster entirely dressed in black, named Dark Side of the Moon It is time for another iconic Omega to be presented in an entire black-on-black case, dial and strap combination and, most importantly sans brightwork': the Seamaster Diver 300M. Indeed, it is even blacker than the previous Ceramic-Titanium edition. Ad - Scroll to continue with article Starting with the case, the new Diver 300M Black Black is housed is an inky black highly-resistant

Branding and Jaquet Droz's automata - Monochrome Watches
It¡äs a funny thing with brands: we can hardly imagine today that there used to be a time that practically every name of a customer, retailer or group of collectors, could be easily stamped on a dial, movement or case.The now prestigious names of established brands were hidden away, either engraved in the movement, the case-back or even unmentioned. The brand, if watch producers even considered themselves to be one, was a modest servant of the public. Jaeger-LeCoultre produced dentist tools and shaving equipment to survive and Patek Philippe watches that are now sought after in auction houses, were proudly bearing the names of the retailers on the dial, above or even sometimes instead of the brand itself. There are also many examples of and Tiffany & Co like this vintage pre-daytona that somehow didn’t sell that well, back in the days. Ad - Scroll to continue with article

Hands-On With The Official Rubber Straps For The Tissot PRX Powermatic 80
In just a couple of years, it seems Tissot has stepped up its game immensely, by introducing new and very handsome collections across the board. The brand has always been a strong performer in the more accessible market, but today the value for money in its watches often seems off the charts. Just think of watches like the Gentlemen, the new Le Locle or the Telemeter 1938. And of course, everybody’s favourite, the PRX collection! They all look very good, have a more than decent level of finishing and use impressive mechanical movements. And best of all, the prices have remained sensible! What’s not to like? Zooming in on the PRX, the lack of strap versatility perhaps? Well, that’s about to change as Tissot now brings rubber straps to the PRX Powermatic 80 party!It has been a long time coming, relatively speaking, but Tissot is finally giving the people what it wants; more versatility. While the PRX has been a huge success for the brand, up until recently it was only a

Hands-On - 2022 Tissot Le Locle Powermatic 80 Open Heart
Tissot’s collection covers a large spectrum, ranging from ultra-robust dive watches to racing-oriented chronographs and, the star of the moment, a sporty-chic watch with an integrated bracelet. And because it’s Tissot, all of them are pretty hard to beat in terms of value for money. If you’re looking for something a bit more classic, the Gentlemen is a very compelling option that packs it all. Recently available in an openworked edition, it’s now time for its dressier counterpart, the Tissot Le Locle, to appear in the Open Heart edition, still with a Powermatic-based movement and an extra layer of elegance.We’ve praised the Tissot Gentleman on many occasions here at MONOCHROME. Considering its sub-1k price tag and everything it offers in return, it is one of the best options when it comes to choosing an all-rounder watch. With its steel bracelet, sleek design and comfortable water-resistance, this is a great contender for the one-watch collection. Do-it-al