Retrospective: What are The World's Thinnest Watches Per Category?
Ultra-thin watchmaking is a fascinating topic, one of our favourite areas of expertise here, at MONOCHROME. Ultra-thin watchmaking is horology at its purest, a no-compromise search for the slenderest movement that has to be considered a true complication. While high-watchmaking often seeks to bring as many complications as possible in a single movement, ultra-thinness is all about miniaturisation. We’ve recently published a video retracing the battle for the world’s thinnest mechanical watch, a race that implied Bulgari, Piaget and Richard Mille, ending up with a record thin watch of 1.70mm, the Octo Finissimo Ultra COSC. But let’s dive deeper into the topic, by looking at the world’s thinnest watches per category. The thinnest mechanical watch? The thinnest chronograph? The thinnest watch ever? We have them all here.?Note: this article is meant to become one of MONOCHROME’s classics and will be updated according to the state of the industry, depending on

5 Cool Finds - Aviation Chronographs and Vintage Diver - Monochrome Watches
We continue this week with the seventh instalment of our market finds, in collaboration with auctioneer Catawiki. By now, you already know the story. Uber cool watches that deserve our (and your) interest. This week, we look a bit at the past than previously, with more vintage (but still very cool) watches, as we have an extremely rare and vintage NOS diver from French company LIP, a highly technical titanium chronograph designed by Butzi Porsche, a tool aviation chronograph by Fortis, a Sinn 903 chronograph and finally a vintage Chronomatic Navitimer by Breitling.Porsche Design by Eterna Titanium Chronograph, 2000As we have already mentioned, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche was one of the greatest industrial designers of the 20th?Century.?Optimal readability, technical perfection, the highest quality materials and a puristic design with an absolute focus on functionality were his and Porsche's Design driving values when they designed watches. His famous design office cooperated from the s

GIVE AWAY: 3 Books, Cufflinks and Pilot Sunglasses from IWC - Monochrome Watches
Team Monochrome has just returned from a week in Switzerland where we visited Omega and MCT Watches. It was a great week, and it’s just awesome to meet old & new friends. The odometer in our cars gained a few thousand kilometers and after the week we had to recharge a bit. Now it’s time for the next sweepstake! This is the first sweepstake with gifts from IWC Schaffhausen and I’m pretty sure you will find some things of your liking. Shortly after the summer we will do a second IWC sweepstake (don’t miss that one!), however now I’d like to show you three beautiful books, a pair of IWC cufflinks and Ray-Ban Pilot Sunglasses.?Like with all our 10th anniversary sweepstakes we ask you to answer a few questions. This time we’d like to hear if there’s a discrepancy between the watches you look for and the watches that you actually buy. Maybe you have a weak spot for divers watches, and always end up buying another dress watch. For me it has been v

Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar 5740G - Baselworld 2018 (Specs & Price)
As surprising as it gets, this is the first time the iconic Nautilus receives such a complicated movement. It already features annual calendars, several chronographs, a weird display on the 5712, but never Genta’s brainchild has been offered with one of Patek’s signature “grande complication” movements, the 240 Perpetual Calendar.?While what made the Nautilus a Nautilus is still present – octagonal case shaped like a porthole, integrated bracelet, horizontally grooved dial – this new?Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar 5740G shows several updates. First of all, as the new flagship of the collection, this Nautilus QP will (for now) only be available in precious metal – meaning here 18K white gold. You can count on a 18K rose gold with brown dial sooner or later too. Ad - Scroll to continue with article The case rem

Jean-Marc Pontroue on Panerai's Innovations, New Materials, COVID-19, Environment and... Experiences! - Monochrome Watches
Jean-Marc Pontroue became CEO of Panerai in 2018, bringing new ideas, energy and a more contemporary approach to the brand. Although changes within the company were inevitable, the core values and instantly recognizable aesthetics remain intact. During the digital Watches & Wonders week, I talked with Jean-Marc about Panerai's plans and challenges in 2020 during this unprecedented Coronavirus pandemic. New models will launch as planned, while others will wait until next year as the company adapts to global boutique closures, cancelled events and a big shift to a single, major fair in Geneva. With a focus on the environment, partnerships and long-term ambassadors like Mike Horn, Panerai is poised to emerge from the crisis stronger than ever with exciting new projects and innovations in the works.While the interview was conducted some weeks ago, one of the first announcements made by Panerai’s CEO could already be seen yesterday when the brand introduced a new blue dial edition