Bell & Ross BR05 Blue Steel // Luxury Sports Watch Review & Price
The Luxury Sports Watch… The hottest of the categories these days, the one everybody talks about, the one everybody wants and the one that creates most premium over retail (sadly…) So, hardly surprising, there have been new brands appearing on the market, some high-end, some on the other side of the spectrum, some expected, some clearly not. Bell & Ross was in the ‘unexpected’ category and launched its own vision of a luxury sports watch, a full collection we’ve already presented. And today, I’m going to share my personal take on this Bell & Ross BR05.? What’s a luxury sports watch?Quick reminder, to give a bit of context. The luxury sports watch is a concept born in 1972, with the creation of the Royal Oak, a watch designed by Gerald Genta, as Audemars Piguet’s reaction to changes of the market – arrival of quartz watches, new trend for steel watches. The idea of Genta was to create a bracelet to indi

Baselworld 2019 - Patek Philippe Aquanaut Jumbo 5168G Khaki Green (Specs & Price)
In 2017, Patek Philippe (sort of) celebrated the 20th anniversary of its iconic yet entry-level sports watch, the Aquanaut, by presenting an oversized “Jumbo” model in white gold with a blue dial, the reference 5168G-001. With its case size increased by 2mm and its precious metal case, it was a bit of a controversial piece. Well, there’s a new version of the Aquanaut 5168G in town and its colour scheme is certainly going to be a topic of discussion. Meet the Khaki Green Patek Philippe Aquanaut Jumbo.At the 1997 Basel show, Patek Philippe presented the new Aquanaut Ref. 5060A, a sporty, yet chic and contemporary watch for men in stainless steel designed to appeal to a younger generation. Less “classical”, less expensive and more suited for daily use, the Aquanaut took inspiration from the Nautilus and adopted its iconic octagonal/porthole shape. However,? the overall look and construction were simpler with a 3-part case and a rubber strap instead of an inte

Buying Guide - 5 Of The Most Striking Tourbillon Watches of 2019/2020
The Tourbillon is, without doubt, one of the most spectacular and prestigious complications – a must-have in the collection of a respectable watchmaker. Invented to counteract the effects of gravity on the regulating organ of mechanical watches, this now-ubiquitous mechanism has remained long the preserve of a few watchmakers. The past few months have brought their share of new tourbillon watches and here are five great options.Breguet Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat 5367PT Blue EnamelWhen thinking about tourbillon watches, Breguet, the inventor of this mechanism, immediately comes to mind. Among the latest creations of the brand, the visually striking combination of blue enamel and platinum ultra-thin tourbillon is unapologetically elegant. 41mm in diameter, the lithe case houses the Calibre 581, an ultra-thin, automatic tourbillon with a peripheral rotor. This superbly hand-decorated movement includes modern solutions with a titanium tourbillon carriage. The escapement and the

My Personal Thoughts On The Lebois and Co Heritage Chronograph
If you’ve been keeping an eye on MONOCHROME Watches, and I sort of expect you have, you might have seen this handsome little devil pop up before. It’s the latest model coming from Lebois & Co., a revived historic name closely linked to Airain thanks to its Dutch owner Tom van Wijlick. Reviving a name from the past is never easy, but Tom has been steadily building an interesting range of mechanical watches under both brands. We’re already familiar with the Airain Type 20? and Sous Marine, for instance, as well as the Lebois & Co. Avantgarde Date and Venturist, for that matter. So with the Heritage Chronograph being on and off my wrist for a couple of months now, it’s about time I share my personal experience with it.Lebois & Co. is one of those names that ceased operations in the early 1970s, around the time the quartz crisis would come into full swing and wipe out a staggering number of brands. It was originally founded in 1934 by a member of the Dod

First Look: The Oris ProPilot Calibre 400 Laser
Being an independent brand grants Oris the freedom to explore and foster creativity without undue caution. The latest release from the Swiss manufacture is based on the contemporary and well-engineered ProPilot Calibre 400, unveiled by the watchmakers of Holstein last year. However, this iteration presents a distinct dial, which, despite its vibrant appearance, is crafted without a drop of paint or a single pigment. Developed over two years in collaboration with a research lab affiliated with ETH Zurich (a university for science and technology since 1855), it harnesses the phenomenon of light interference. With the assistance of laser technology on the titanium surface, the new Oris ProPilot Calibre 400 Laser truly shines, albeit in a uniquely different manner.The mesmerizing play of light interference is something we’ve all encountered… think soap bubbles or the radiance of oil films on water. Even holograms rely on the interference of light to conjure three-dimensional im