Pre-SIHH 2018 - Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Re-edition 25th Anniversary 26237ST Hands-On (Specs & Price)
Throughout its long history, Audemars Piguet has notched up many bold moves. Of course, we all remember the 1972 Royal Oak, a Genta-designed watch that simply revolutionized the concept of the luxury watch. Another of these bold moves should also not be forgotten. Back in 1993, Audemars Piguet presented an evolution of the Royal Oak, a highly-masculine version named the Offshore – a watch that would once again create a trend which would later spread throughout the rest of the industry. To celebrate the 25th anniversary?of this modern icon, the Le Brassus-based brand presents, as Pre-SIHH 2018 novelties, two new ROO watches, including this retro-inspired Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Re-edition 25th Anniversary Ref. 26237ST. Slightly vintage, highly iconic.Background – the birth of the “Offshore”Before explaining the?Royal Oak Offshore, we have to quickly go back to 1972, when?Audemars Piguet first introduced the Royal Oak 5402ST. A watch designe

Introducing: Quiet Club QC01 Fading Hours
Imagine yourself being completely immersed in something of the utmost importance. Every single fibre is zoned in on the task at hand, whatever that may be. The outside world has ceased to exist for you in that moment of complete concentration. And then…. an alarm goes off, rudely breaking your concentration and bursting your zen-bubble. That very sensation is something we’re probably all familiar with, and it takes a lot of time to find your mojo again after it’s happened. Interruptions are something we have to deal with for sure, especially in this day and age. And in all honesty, it’s needed sometimes, to not forget about other responsibilities. But there are ways to make that break a bit more gently, less abrupt and smoother. That’s what Quiet Club aims to do with their first-ever watch, the QC01 Fading Hours.The whole idea behind the Quiet Club QC01 Fading Hours comes from the very notion of trying to be laser-focused in work or something your deeply p

Review (Affordable) - Farer Aqua Compressor Endeavour (Specs & Price)
Dive watches are a dime a dozen these days. You can go high-end with a Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 or Omega Seamaster, or find something more affordable like a Seiko Diver's Automatic or Hamilton Khaki King Scuba. Whether spending USD 10,000 or USD 500, it's not hard to find a stylish and capable dive watch from a plethora of established brands. Ever since I got my first serious mechanical watch in the 1990s, an RGM Model 107-P Pilot, I've gravitated toward smaller, lesser-known companies. Dive watches have often been my style of choice, so I'm excited to review a Super Compressor from a newcomer that has already generated some waves: the Farer Aqua Compressor Endeavour.BackgroundFarer Universal, a British-based company manufacturing genuine Swiss watches via Roventa-Henex, has a handful of lines that have generated a lot of interest with their original, slightly quirky retro aesthetics. Bold colors and textures, multi-layered dials and signature bronze crowns have helped them sta

Hands-on - Patek Philippe 5230 World Time, the evolution of an icon (live pics, specs & price) - Monochrome Watches
World Timers are among Patek Philippe's most popular complications, with a history spanning over almost 80 years (thanks to the collaboration with Cottier). A cult status confirmed at Phillips May 2016 auction, when a rare Patek 2523/1 from 1954 achieved US$ 2.5 million. At Baselworld 2016, Patek Philippe introduced two new models featuring this practical function, the 5930 World Time Chronograph and the 5230, replacing the now iconic reference 5130. Monochrome takes a closer look at this new take on an icon.The story of Patek Philippe World Timers is indissolubly linked to Louis Cottier. The son of a watchmaker, Cottier earned horological fame for developing mechanisms indicating the time for our 24 time zones on a single dial. From the 1930s onward, Cottier manufactured such watches for prestigious clients among which Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, or Agassiz. In 1950, he created the first World Timer with 2 crowns, allowing to change the reference city when travelling. This

Two affordable Full Calendar Watches from Montblanc and Baume & Mercier - Monochrome Watches
The last days of the SIHH turned out rather strange for me, as I was down with a severe flu, and unable to publish anything about the new timepieces. In the coming weeks I’ll publish the most outstanding, and remarkable pieces. I’ve had time to do some more hands-on photos, and the reviews will?follow over the?next weeks.?One of the remarkable introductions, or actually two introductions, came from?Montblanc and Baume & Mercier. These two brands, both part of the Richemont Group, each launched a very nice automatic timepiece with a full calendar. As the dial layout already gives away, both seem to be equipped with the same calendar module. Day and month are shown through a rectangle aperture, that is placed just below the brand’s name. The date is indicated as so-called pointer date, meaning the long hand points to the date that is printed on the dial’s perimeter. And as a little extra, both watches feature a moon phase indication.?Both watches are priced be