Frank Geelen's Baselworld 2017 Top 10 and Musing about the Fair - Monochrome Watches
Back in 2008 the world faced a new challenge. The worldwide financial crisis began with the collapse of Lehman Brothers. The following year the watch industry was kind of nervous and saw a small drop in sales. And while the financial crisis went on, on a global scale (we’re still recovering from that), the big crisis in the watch industry didn’t really come through… yet. Last year was the first year that brands and luxury groups published numbers that showed serious signs of the crisis, and this year’s numbers are actually more than worrisome. This year the crisis could also be felt in the novelties as presented by?the brands, not only during the SIHH in January, but also at the 100th edition of the Baselworld Watch & Jewelry show that has just come to an end. Still, it was possible to list ten watches that got me exited! However first some musings about this year’s edition of Baselworld…Seiko 62Mas Re-edition SLA017 Ad - Scroll to con

The Collector's Series - Kunal and his Alexandre Meerson Altitude Officier - Monochrome Watches
Mr. Kunal Patel is a seasoned entrepreneur and watch lover. Having studied at UCL in London, his first successful venture was in real estate management some years ago. He he is currently Chairman of LATEP Holdings whose interests and investments span across financial services, retail, security, technology and real estate. He also happens to wear a gold Alexandre Meerson Altitude Officier, which probably tells a lot about a refined personality.Let's give you some background on the man behind Alexandre Meerson the brand. Mr. Alexandre Meerson was raised in France, where he was introduced to watchmaking during his travels between the family's studio in Paris and their workshop in Besan?on. It wasn’t until 2007 that Alexandre took the helm and started developing the next chapter in the Meerson story. Ad - Scroll to continue with article Now a bit about his wat

The Petrolhead Corner: V4 Motorcycles That Beat To Their Own Drum
Despite increasingly strict regulations like EURO 5 emissions and decibel limits, we’re in a golden age of motorcycles. 200+ horsepower engines are no longer uncommon in bikes that an average Joe can buy, which was unthinkable until the last decade or so. Technology, engineering innovation and a bit of sorcery have allowed motorcycles to evolve into superbikes that were mere daydreams in the recent past. Among the most impressive are the V4 heavyweights, pushing out both intense power and loads of character with a symphony of growls that even the strictest regulations can’t ruin. V4 bikes have a surprisingly long history, going back almost a century and have always represented power and excess.?The 1st generation of the wild Yamaha V-Max – WikipediaYAMAHA’S MAD V-MAXLet’s start with the legend. The bike that most riders over four decades old think of when V4 madness is mentioned - Yamaha’s iconic V-Max. Released in 1985 with an emphasis on the Americ

Interview - Davide Cerrato of Montblanc On The Brand and What's Coming Next
We're in Switzerland quite often – according to my wife, who keeps track, I've spent a quarter of last year in the land of watchmaking. Whether for the videos that we make, or events organised by watch brands, or manufacture visits, or the GPHG award night, it always means you're meeting a lot of people from the watch industry and the opportunity of running into friends. Recently I met with my good friend Davide Cerrato, Managing Director Of Montblanc Watch Division, and we talked about how things are at Montblanc, what's going to happen at Goodwood and more.Davide Cerrato, Managing Director Of Montblanc Watch DivisionHere's a recap of the talk we had, just outside the EPHJ, seated on a bench in the sun. The weather was great, birds were singing and it was nice to run into Davide and have the opportunity to get an update of how things have been going since we last saw one another in January at the SIHH (in this video interview).Frank Geelen (FG): In January, Montblanc presented i

Ulysse Nardin Classico Manufacture with steel case and enamel dial (specs & price) - Monochrome Watches
Ulysse Nardin is certainly widely known for their signature collections; the Marine and the Diver. Both inspired by antique marine chronometers (something that was the core business of the brand at its inception), they share a unique and easily recognizable design, with some bold aspects – like we’ve seen recently in this article or previously in this in-depth review. The UN collection shouldn’t be resumed to that (of course they also have some incredible complications…), as the brand also has a nice and elegant classic dress watch – which is not so classic – the Ulysse Nardin Classico Manufacture?that comes now in steel, with a superb enamel dial.The?Ulysse Nardin Classico Manufacture was introduced, in?a revamped version, at Baselworld 2016. Using the traditional design of the brand, now combined with an in-house movement, it was only available in rose gold (with blue or cream dial), meaning that it?was priced to an approximate?15,000 CHF. It is ce