The Breitling 765 AVI / Co-Pilot Series of Watches - Part II - Monochrome Watches
In the first part of our analysis of?the Breitling 765 Avi, we stopped with the introduction of the panda dial variant in 1963. In the 1960's, Breitling, a company almost exclusively dedicated to chronographs offered the iconic Navitimer and the Avi's as two excellently designed chronographs that were used both in civilian and military applications. These two chronographs were doing extremely well, but the market started to change. In this second part we will examine the transitional period of this family of chronographs from Breitling.Omega introduced the Speedmaster in 1957, mainly targeting auto-racing enthusiasts; this changed when in 1965 Ed White, as an astronaut of Gemini IV, wore a Speedmaster in the first American?EVA (Extra-vehicular activity). From that point on, the legend of the Speedy being an aviation/space watch was born. , a company mainly dedicated to sporty 3 hand watches (with an oyster case), decided to market the Daytona as well, with the first variation hitting

Hands-on with the deconstructed Cartier Crash Skeleton (live photos, specs & price) - Monochrome-Watches
A few months ago, we explained to you why Cartier should be taken seriously in terms of watchmaking. Forget about the jewelry image of the French Maison, they are now able to create both classical watches (with a deep historical background… did I say Tank?), modern collections (like the new Cle de Cartier or the diver watch Calibre de Cartier) and also?superb Haute Horlogerie timepieces (like for instance the recent?Rotonde de Cartier Grand Complication). Cartier is also very strong with?skeleton watches and one of their latest creations shows these skills in a surprisingly original way. Here is our hands-on with the?Cartier Crash Skeleton in platinum.Let us rewind the tape a bit and go back briefly over?the latest?watches introduced by Cartier. If you look closely, the French Maison focused its haute horlogerie collections mainly on squelette / skeleton watches. Here’s a quick list of skeletonized timepieces made by Cartier:The?Rotonde de Cartier Grand ComplicationThe?Roto

De Bethune DB25 Starry Varius - Pimp your Constellation - Monochrome Watches
De Bethune’s DB25 Starry Varius is a beautiful tribute to the firmament housed in a smaller, 42mm titanium case with an interesting customisation proposal.? Every watch is a unique, one-off model offering you the possibility of customising the night sky to your heart's desire. After a somewhat unsettled period for the brand, Pierre Jacques is back as CEO, there is a new private equity investor on board, and master watchmaker and co-founder Denis Flageollet can exercise his creativity in the integrated manufacturing facility the brand has in L'Auberson. And if the DB27 Titan Hawk V2 and the DB25 Starry Varius are any indication of the shape of things to come, De Bethune is well on its way to writing the next successful chapter in its watchmaking saga.A Stradivarius on the wristAs an unconditional fan of De Bethune's dream machines that evoke the mysterious beauty of our celestial sphere, I was delighted to meet the new DB25 Starry Varius watch. And yes, the name Starry Varius allu

Introducing IWC Big Pilot's Watch 43 Racing Green IW329306 (Price)
If the real Big Pilot, the oversized 46mm watch, is still IWC’s flagship pilot’s watch, the recent introduction of the BP43 somewhat redistributed the cards. This slightly more compact, easier, simpler, more focused version is fast becoming the cornerstone of the collection. Following the initial black and blue versions in steel, we’ve seen the release of several special editions, such as the Spitfire and, a couple of months ago, the Top Gun ceramic version. And now, it’s time for new colours with this new IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Racing Green IW329306 and an array of new rubber straps.Big Pilot’s Watch 43 (left) vs Big Pilot’s Watch 46 (right)A quick reminder about the facts. For almost 20 years, the name Big Pilot at IWC meant one thing: a 46mm, oversized, almost provocative watch inspired by 1940s B-Uhr, powered by a massive automatic movement with a 7-day power reserve, with a dial all about legibility (that thing can be used as a desk cloc

Asprey Vintage Watch Club in New Bond Street, London, to host Exhibit of Classic Timepieces - Monochrome Watches
Collecting watches is hardly a full-contact sport, but there are perils for hapless buyers. As collectors we are victims of desire: we see pieces out in the wild or here on MONOCHROME and lust sets in. Getting new models is simple enough; you go directly to the boutiques that line the shopping districts of most major cities. What if your desire takes you beyond the new and pre-owned case into the realm of rare and vintage watches?Prometheus UnwoundTwenty-five years ago, collectors fell into two categories: buyers of new watches directly from the showroom floor OR acquirers of vintage pieces that satisfied some stylistic or thematic criteria (pocket watches, railroad watches, aviator watchesetc.). Today a lot of the people that I speak to want to dedicate space in their watch cabinets to both new and vintage pieces. One friend told me that his next two purchases were going to be a Bvlgari/Bvlgari Solo-Tempo and any vintage Omega, as long as it had a 30T2 movement. Fine - you love vintag