De Bethune DB28 Black Matte - Reviewing an Unusual Masterpiece (Photos, Specs and Price) - Monochrome Watches
In the past years we have reviewed some quite impressive timepieces. We showed you classic styled Haute Horlogerie, like for instance the JLC master ultra-thin 1907 and the iconic Lange 1 from A. Lange & Sohne. The good things about Haute Horlogerie is that it is not bound by certain style codes, and is rather defined by the quality. Recently we've worn a thoroughbred Haute Horlogerie piece that, in its looks, does not share much with the aforementioned watches, except that it indicates the time with an hour and minute hand. Upon closer inspection however, there are much more similarities than expected based on a first glance. We're talking about the De Bethune DB28 Black Matte.For those unknown with De Bethune, I think it's best to say that all their timepieces feature a rather unusual look/style, although most come in a round case, feature two hands to indicate the time, and are attached to the wrist with a strap. It's mainly details that are just different. For instance the crow

Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 Carbotech 3 Days Automatic 47mm PAM00616 (Specs & Price)
Carbon fibre - in all its composite guises – has become the material of the moment and has been used across the board, from Bvlgari's chiming marvel to faux carbon dials on TAG Heuer’s Aquaracer… Whether or not an Haute Horlogerie model like the Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater Carbon looks good in its high-tech black suit is debatable, but one thing is certain, carbon cases work especially well for a brand like Panerai. A top military secret until 1993, Officine Panerai crafted high-tech instruments for the Italian Navy’s its covert underwater operations before it surfaced and worked its magic on dry land. Panerai was the first brand to use Carbotech - a composite material based on carbon fibre – and unveiled its 47mm Luminor Submersible 1950 ref. PAM00616 model in a striking, black mottled case. Although this was back in 2015, we recently had the watch in our hands and thought a reappraisal was in order.Laboratorio di Idee: the Alchemy of MaterialsFrom the

Baselworld 2015 - Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award (specs & price) - Monochrome-Watches
That’s the one we (almost) predicted. We were 90% sure that Omega would come with a new edition of the Snoopy Speedmaster Professional. The one we imagined is however quite far from this new?Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award ref.?311.32.42.30.04.003. Using the iconic Speedy Pro base, it however brings not only a new dial but also several little details that will definitely create a proper?collectible edition.Before we go into what is new in this?Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award, let’s first look at what doesn’t change. The base of this limited edition (1.970 pieces) is THE classical Omega Speedmaster Professional a.k.a Moonwatch, meaning a 42mm chronograph made in both polished and brushed?stainless steel, with a 3-counter layout and using the Omega Calibre 1861. Technically speaking, Omega keeps here the nearly same (and totally superb) recipe since 1965. A Snoopy Award edition of the Speedmaster isn’t either a n

Hands-on - The retro-cool Hamilton Railroad Pocket Watch
Smartphones are the pocket watches of today, second only to our prized wristwatches for relaying the time. For centuries, however, pocket watches reigned supreme as timekeepers for civilian, military, business and scientific use. If you're wondering if there's still a place for pocket watches in the 21st century, check out our in-depth article (short answer, YES). Modern pocket watches tend to be very expensive, luxury pieces made in limited quantities like Omega's 125th Anniversary Pocket Watch or the Piaget Altiplano 60th Anniversary Pocket Watch, but brands like Tissot and Hamilton are keeping the past alive for the rest of us. Hamilton's new Railroad Pocket Watch is an excellent example.American RailroadsHamilton was founded in 1892 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and was vital to the American railroad industry. In the late 19th and well into the 20th century, Hamilton pocket watches were important instruments to keep trains coordinated and moving safely. They often operated on single t

Microbrands vs. Accessible Established Brands - Are Newcomers Shaking up the Industry or Just Small Fish in a Big Pond? - Monochrome Watches
It's an interesting time to be a watch enthusiast. Fuelled by sites like Kickstarter, a phenomenon of?inexpensive, quality movements and parts is unfolding, available with the immediateness only online media outlets can offer. Small startups (or microbrands) are producing compelling watches with capital raised via crowdfunding and online-only storefronts, minimizing overhead that established brands still bear. A flurry of online watch publications cover a particular launch and suddenly a new watch is born. While microbrand offerings are often thought of as inferior, cheap watches thrown together in Asia, enough of these brands have surpassed the stigma and grown into competent watch companies. An excellent example is Farer Universal, a microbrand of just a few years that recently released a trio of unique chronographs that can go head-to-head with established brands like Hamilton or Tissot. Dedicated entrepreneurs are working tirelessly to steer your attention away from familiar brands