In-Depth: The Ultra-Complication Watch by Audemars Piguet, Code 11.59 Universelle
Let’s go straight to the point: Audemars Piguet chose its Code 11.59 to house its most complicated wristwatch, the Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4, delivering a bold statement and demonstrating the brand’s incredible technical brilliance. It’s complex yet compact, displays the indications neatly, and is simple to operate. Today, we dive in to describe the timepiece to you in detail.It seems like it has been over four years since Audemars Piguet introduced the Code 11.59 collection. Released in 2019, it was initially met with negativity and criticism for not being another Royal Oak when it shouldn’t. While it is true that the brand has entirely and unfortunately become synonymous with the iconic Royal Oak and its derivatives in view of the general public, AP must be praised for making a very radical and courageous step towards becoming, once again, recognised as a leading watchmaking company with a diverse portfolio. And what a step it was. The year the colle

Industry Richemont 2020 Quarterly Sales Minus 47% Due Covid-19
Following the monthly announcements made by the FHS regarding Swiss watch exports and half-year results by Swatch Group a couple of days ago, it is now time for the other giant of the Swiss watch industry, Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA, to announce its first-quarter 2020 results… And, as expected from the current coronavirus situation, lockdown policies and closure of manufactures during the confinement, revenues are dropping massively for Richemont with sales down by almost half compared to the previous year.Richemont Group starts its fiscal year on April 1st, meaning that the first-quarter 2020 results account for the month of April, May and June 2020 – right in the middle of what is potentially one of the worst sanitary and economical situations ever. As such, it is no surprise to see Richemont reporting sales down by 47%, impacted mostly by the coronavirus pandemic – sales dropped from EUR 3,740 million for the first quarter 2019 to EUR 1,993 million for the f

Ulysse Nardin Classico Schooner America, with one crazy Cloisonne Enamel Dial tribute to the first America's Cup - Monochrome Watches
If there’s one thing that can be easily linked to Ulysse Nardin, it is the world of boats – and I mean everything related to this world, like Marine chronometers (they were the roots of this manufacture), yacht-oriented watches or a sponsorship of the world’s most famous nautical competition. While the latter partnership usually gives birth to modern and technical watches, such a this Marine Diver, tis time Ulysse Nardin pays tribute to the old-days of this race, with the?Classico Schooner America, depicting on its superb dial, the first edition of 1851.Usually, Ulysse Nardin watches linked to the America’s Cup are as technical and bold as the Artemis ship the brand sponsors for the coming 35th edition (which will occur in June 2017). For instance, last year, the well-known manufacture introduced the?Marine Diver Artemis Racing Limited Edition for the 35th America's Cup, a strong and modern dive watch made to be used in the rough conditions this race induces. Th

Interview: An Encounter with Wizard Watchmaker Ludwig Oechslin, The Creator of the Ulysse Nardin Freak
Historian, archaeologist, mathematician, philosopher and watchmaker, Ludwig Oechslin is the perfect example of a polymath whose knowledge across different disciplines fuels his innovation and creativity. In the 1980s, his encounter with Rolf W. Schnyder turned Ulysse Nardin into one of the most innovative watch brands around. The presentation of a new Freak at Dubai Watch Week 2023 gave us the perfect opportunity to sit down with this wizard watchmaker.?Xavier Markl, MONOCHROME – What is your first horological memory, and how did you get hooked on watchmaking?Ludwig?Oechslin – When I was a kid at boarding school, the school bell used to ring every hour of the day. When I went to university, there were no more bells to let you know that a class was starting, and I figured I needed a watch to tell the time. But I was not a wristwatch fan. So, I started looking for a pocket watch. The first watch that I saw and wanted was a repeater. But it was out of my reach. I bought a less

Just Because: My Lost Watch and My Endless Quest to Find a Perfect Daily Beater
We, at MONOCHROME, rarely publish so-called “guest posts” and prefer to use our Collector's Series as a platform to share our readers' adventures with a watch. Today, we had to make an exception. The reason is simple. The story was just too good to not be shared. It tells a tale about a watch, something highly personal that, in some ways, will speak to a lot of us, watch enthusiasts. This man, whom we will call “Sweeny Hands” (as he prefers to remain anonymous), spent years searching for his ideal watch. Contrary to many stories you'll hear from collectors looking for bright and shiny new complications, Sweeny's search seemed simple at first, but ended up being an almost endless, desperately impossible quest. And here's the story of his long-awaited Seiko Sea Horse 7625-8031.?Some watch collectors are dragons, hoarding the glitter for the sheer joy of sitting on it. Others are magpies, gathering a little of everything to build a nest where they feel safe. The lo