Vanguart Black Hole Tourbillon (Specs & Price)
If you’re a recurring reader of MONOCHROME, you might know that we have a soft spot for independent and bold watchmaking. We enjoy watches made by small teams, watches that break the norm and display the creativity and soul of the people behind these timepieces. So when such a new watchmaker surfaces, we jump at the chance to look at it with a fresh mind and wide-open eyes. Today, we present Vanguart Watches, a new indie watchmaker with modern designs and complex mechanisms, and its first creation, the impressive Black Hole Tourbillon watch.The team behind Vanguart WatchesThis new brand was founded by four men: Thierry Fisher, Jeremy Frelechox, Axel Leuenberger and Mehmet Korutu?rk. Axel Leuenberger, the CEO with experience at APRP (Audemars Piguet Renaud Papi), is behind the conception of the watch. Thierry Fisher is the creative director. Jeremy Frelechox is the CTO and has 15 years of experience at APRP and six years at Girard-Perregaux. And finally, Mehmet Korutu?rk, Chairman

Omega Seamaster Tokyo 2020 Countdown Collection - Introducing (Specs & Price)
Omega and the Olympic Games share a long-lasting love story. The Biel-based brand first provided its timing instruments to the games back in 1932, in Los Angeles. Since then, Omega has been the official timekeeper of both Summer and Winter Games, having participated in 29 editions. After the introduction last year of a collection of five Tokyo 2020 Speedmaster watches, Omega now unveils two Seamaster for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Countdown.The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Tokyo 2020 Limited EditionThe first of the two models for Tokyo 2020 Countdown, dedicated to men, is based on the well-known Aqua Terra 150m, the all-rounder, semi-elegant watch in the Seamaster collection. As such, the piece is familiar and has been updated to get the Olympic feel. Ad - Scroll to continue with article The case retains the same 41mm diameter, with a flat (non-rotating) bezel,

Zenith 50 Years of El Primero Anniversary Set (Specs & Price)
Back in the 1960s, as surprising as it seems now, there was only one way to use a chronograph: you had to wind it every morning. Indeed, all (literally?all of them) were hand-wound movements… until 1969, when the world of watches changed drastically when three of the most prominent?movements ever made were launched almost simultaneously. In January 1969 though, the very first to be introduced, as suggested by its name was El Primero, “The First” Automatic Chronograph. In order to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this emblematic movement, Zenith introduces an exclusive “50 Years of El Primero Anniversary Set” of watches, including a faithful re-edition of the mythical?A386 and the introduction of a new movement, the Calibre 3600.?Short History of the Zenith El PrimeroWe already covered the topic of the Zenith El Primero in an in-depth article here, but a brief reminder about this legendary movement might be necessary to understand the following set of watc

News: Richemont Reports 6% Growth For Its First Semester 2023, Contraction in Sales for Watches
Switzerland-based luxury conglomerate Richemont Group has just issued its trading update for the six months ended 30 September 2023. The Group delivered a solid performance with sales up 6% at actual exchange rates and 12% at constant exchange rates. Sales and operating profit from continuing operations were of EUR 10.2 billion and EUR 2.7 billion, respectively. Yet, these results also reveal a downturn over the last quarter and slowing sales growth. Richemont had announced a 14% sales growth (19% at constant exchange rates) for the first quarter ended 30 June 2023… Headwinds have been visible throughout the luxury watch industry over the past months.Richemont Group's growth was mostly driven by its Jewellery Maisons (Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Buccellati), which achieved a 10% sales growth at actual exchange rates (+16% at constant exchange rates). The results are more contrasted for the Specialist Watchmakers, with sales contracting by 3% at actual exchange rates (+3%

About MONOCHROME Watches - Monochrome Watches
For more than twelve years, MONOCHROME has been dedicated to fine watches. Our team of experts is always looking for an opportunity to explain every aspect of Haute Horlogerie - whether manufactured by well-known watch brands that have been in the business for centuries or by artisanal watchmakers. MONOCHROME is one of the most read watch blogs (or online magazines, as we prefer to call it ourselves) in the world, and besides news, we serve you reviews, historically relevant articles, videos and in-depth technical explanations in our Technical Perspectives.What sets MONOCHROME apart, is that we love to explain, educate and share the passion for technically complex aspects and the beauty of hand-finished mechanical movements. Not everyone understands the nitty-gritty of a constant force mechanism, a tourbillon or a perpetual calendar, and many technical aspects remain ‘abracadabra’. That’s why we?explain?everything in a way that makes it easy to understand. It's our pa