Watches NEWS
Review of The New AP Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT
The Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT was just presented by Audemars Piguet in the pool of other new Royal Oaks, distinguished by an even more aggressive design than its Concept predecessors and an exceptional automatic rattrapante chronograph calibre 4407 with the date and 24-hour GMT functions. This watch is a rightful heir to the Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher and an important addition, not just to the Concept series. It is here to make history as it will lead the new generation of split-seconds chrono movements used outside the Grand Complications family. Let’s take a closer look.The Royal Oak Concept SeriesAudemars Piguet presented the first-ever watch in the Royal Oak Concept series in 2002 while celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Royal Oak. The high-tech looking 44mm watch in a cobalt-based super-alloy Alacrite 602 case housed the manually wound calibre 2896 with a one-minute tourbillon. Among other functions, it featured a dynamographe di
Best Of 2019 - Our Top 5 High-End Complicated Watches / Buying Guide
As 2019 is coming to an end, we've gathered the MONOCHROME redaction team and started to think about the watches that most impressed us this year. After a look at the best chronographs, the best dive watches,?the best traveller's watches?and our favourite accessible watches, it is time to look at the stuff dreams are made of… The inaccessible, the exceptional, the watches without compromise – but not those that are unattainable just to show off, but because what’s inside is pure high-horology. So here are the 5 high-end and complicated watches that we consider our Best of 2019.?Armin Strom Minute Repeater ResonanceThe past couple of years, Armin Strom has been demonstrating impressive innovation spirit and cutting-edge technology, first and foremost with its one-of-a-kind Resonance concept – one of the few that truly works. After several watches with this technology only, the brand has decided this year to combine it with one of the most complex of functions, th
The Alpina Seastrong Diver Heritage - a Vintage Inspired Diver Full of Character - Monochrome Watches
The Alpina Diver Heritage, a homage?to the vintage Alpina Seastrong 10, is another retro re-edition of an old vintage diver ‘Super Compressor’ model from?the 1970’s. I think that in this case it’s fair to say Alpina has chosen wisely in?responding to the vintage-inspired trend, a strategy successfully adopted by many other brands already. So, what is the Seastrong, and how?does it stack up in this crowded segment of the market? Monochrome dives into the world of Alpina and the new Seastrong Diver Heritage to find out.?Alpina – The CompanyAlpina Watches is one of those Swiss manufacturers that is?perhaps not at the forefront of the industry in terms of exposure however, it?has a story that deserves to be told. The company was founded in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland in 1883 by Gottlieb Hauser, a watchmaker in Winterthur who also founded the Swiss Watchmakers Corporation (“Union Horlogere Suisse”) with the?sole purpose of?uniting Swiss wat
Introducing The New Hamilton Jazzmaster Face-2-Face III
Introduced in 2013, the Jazzmaster Face-2-Face brings Hamilton’s innovative watchmaking expertise and flair for unconventional design to the fore. Today,?Hamilton introduces the third chapter in its fascinating Face-2-Face saga with a swivelling case and two dials with chronograph functions on one and measurement scales and an openworked movement on the other. ?In a departure from the large oval-shaped cases of the preceding models, the new?Hamilton Jazzmaster Face-2-Face III?comes in a more compact 44mm round case at an even more accessible price. An out-of-the-ordinary watch, the double-faced Jazzmaster is a limited edition of 999 watches.Quirky designsHamilton, the American watch brand that became a Swiss subsidiary of Swatch Group in 2003, revolutionised the watch scene by producing the world’s first electrical battery-operated watch in 1957, the Ventura. That might have been enough to secure its place in the annals of watch history, but it also stood out with its odd s
SIHH 2017 - Hands-on Look at the Vacheron Constantin Celestia
Here we are, live from the SIHH 2017. And as you can imagine, things are quite hectic. That’s?why we?will be bringing you some short stories introducing?some of the best novelties we’ve seen so far. No long articles, just the pleasure of live photos. Don’t worry, we have dozens of longer articles coming too. To start the show, here is the?mighty (understatement) Vacheron Constantin Celestia.What you’re looking at is a sibling?of the ultra-impressive ref. 57260, the most complicated watch in the world. Of course, this?Vacheron Constantin Celestia has less to offer compared to this masterpiece but still, it is a hell of a watch. Listen to this: Ad - Scroll to continue with article 23 complications on twin dials six barrels for a three week, or 504-hour, power reserve its calibre 3600 comprises 514-part, some of them coming from the 57260 t