The Collector's Corner: The GST Aquatimer 2000, IWC's 1990s Great Dive watch
A lot has been written about neo-vintage dress watches. It certainly makes sense – in the 1980s and 1990s, many watch manufactures embarked on a journey to relearn and rediscover the art and science of the complicated wristwatch. These watches were generally slim, cased in precious metals, and elegant. In looking at this segment of neo-vintage watches, however, I feel many collectors overlook the other end of the spectrum: the inventive and amazing sports watches that were launched during this time. In the inaugural article in The Collector's Corner, I wrote about the IWC Doppelchronograph reference 3711. Let's revisit 1990s IWC in this article and take a look at a watch that gives the Sea-Dweller a run for its money. Enter the IWC GST Aquatimer 2000. Water resistant to 2,000 meters? Check. Integrated bracelet? Check. Instant coolness? Oh yes, check indeed!?IWC is best known for its aviation-themed watches – so I think it's worth taking a closer look at the Schaffhausen c

Omega De Ville Tresor Orbis Editions (Specs & Price)
Like many other members of the Swiss watch industry, Omega is no stranger to the concept of charity watches, which are created to raise awareness and raise funds in order to support a great cause. Since 2011, the Biel-based brand has been supporting international non-profit organisation Orbis, committed to preventing avoidable blindness in the world's poorest regions. This year, Omega presents a new duo of blue-themed watches, which once again wants to make a difference. Meet the new De Ville Tresor watches for Orbis.Orbis International is an international non-profit non-governmental organisation dedicated to saving sight worldwide. Created in 1982, its programmes focus on the prevention of blindness and the treatment of blinding eye diseases in developing countries through hands-on training, public health education, advocacy and local partnerships. Orbis capacity-building programmes have enhanced the skills of 325,000 eye care personnel and provided medical and optical treatment to mo

Oliver Ike, the Guy Who Started Ikepod, Revives a Watch Brand Through Kickstarter - Monochrome Watches
Most likely you have heard of the brand Ikepod. It was a joint venture between Oliver Ike and designer Marc Newson, who also designed an Atmos for Jaeger-LeCoultre (a gorgeous blue glass sphere with a perpetual clock inside). Now both aren’t involved in Ikepod anymore and Oliver Ike had some ideas for a new watch: the Canopus Weekplanner. This mechanical wristwatch features a full calender displaying day of the week, date, week number, month and the moon phase and comes in a very ergonomically designed case.The brand that will be producing the timepieces is A. Manzoni & Fils. They produced watches from 1888 until 1978, when it was closed. With the Canopus Weekplanner they hope to relaunch the brand from Lugano. And they are looking for funds through Kickstarter. Just last week we told you about a similar project from Du Bois & Fils that has already found enough funders. This project from A. Manzoni & Fils, Oliver Ike and Finish designer Ilkka Suppanen has just been pu

Introducing the TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer-02T Tourbillon - a chronograph & tourbillon just under 15,000 CHF (specs & price) - Monochrome Watches
Here is the deal… TAG Heuer has just released a new Carrera watch featuring?(please, take a seat…) their?own in-house chronograph and tourbillon movement for JUST 15,000 Swiss Francs including taxes. Yes, you read it correct, there’s no typo here. We’re not talking about 150,000 Swiss Francs but really fifteen thousand Swiss Francs, including 8% Swiss taxes. Frankly, this is beyond impressive. It’s almost unbelievable. However, this new proposition by TAG Heuer leaves?us with a few?questions. And you know us, at Monochrome-Watches, we’ll try to answer them. Here’s an overview of the new?TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer-02T Tourbillon – a chronograph & tourbillon for?15,000 CHF.The?TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer-02T TourbillonWell, for the first paragraphs of this article about the?TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer-02T Tourbillon, we’re going to hide our usual alertness and critical approach, and first focus on what we are looking at. Using the same conce

Just Because: The Uber-Comfortable And Durable Stripa Strap
It’s not often we venture into the world of watch accessories, so when we do, you can be assured it’s a product we stand by. A couple of months ago we were approached by a man called Peter B¨¢lint Sinka, who started a company called Stripa Strap. With the clue being somewhat hidden in plain sight given the name, we are looking at yet another watch strap company. But in all honesty, I was very intrigued when I dug a little deeper and saw what was on offer. So, talking to Sinka for a bit, I ordered one, strapped it to my trusty Tudor Black Bay 79220N, and took it for a little spin! And without getting ahead of myself too much, I can honestly say this is the most comfortable strap I have ever experienced!Peter B¨¢lint Sinka and his wife, Klaudia Tisza, founded Stripa Strap in 2023 after spending a couple of years developing an idea into an actual product. Developing and designing something from the ground up is no easy thing and takes time, money and determination. The whole ide