Collector's Series - HighendTime's AP RO Offshore Sincere Tantalum Edition
Gaurav, alias @HighendTime on Instagram, is a 45-year old banker from Hong Kong. Although he has managed to complete the holy trinity of watches, understand the classic Royal Oak Jumbo, the Patek Nautilus and the Vacheron Overseas, we won't be talking about these ultra-coveted watches. Instead, Gaurav will share something far bolder and quite rare, to say the least. In our latest instalment of The Collector's Series, we look at his Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Sincere Tantalum Limited Edition, a watch that is one of his most desirable pieces. Ad - Scroll to continue with article Frank Geelen, MONOCHROME – Do you remember when you first heard about Audemars Piguet?Gaurav, alias @HighendTime – In watch collector’s terms, I'm considered an OG, having participated in online watch communities since their inception in the early 2000s. These wer

Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium (Specs & Price)
While MONOCHROME is more on the higher-end side of the watch industry, we also know that not all readers and watch enthusiasts can afford a Breguet or an Omega. This is why we’ve created a section called “Value Proposition,” where we feature watches that we believe are great?value for the money. Apart from microbrands, when it comes to proper Swiss-made pieces, there’s one brand that shouldn’t be overlooked; Tissot. And today we’ll review what we think is one of the best quality-price ratios now available on the market, and altogether a great all-rounder watch, the Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium. Basically, the perfect watch to step foot in the world of mechanical watchmaking.?Let’s first remove from the equation the hardcore watch enthusiast or seasoned collector, those who own multiple watches and have this ability to change depending on the activity or attire. So then, what does a man need from his watch? – and when we say his

Seiko Prospex Diver's 55th Anniversary 1965 Re-Creation SLA037J1 // Review
Seiko’s excellent reputation in the field of dive watches is unquestionable. We’re talking top-tier actor, member of a fine club of influencers that helped shaped what the modern dive watch is today. Yet, on the contrary to some Swiss competitors and their 1953 introductions, Seiko waited for a few more years before taking the plunge. In 1965, the Japanese manufacturer set the tone with an important watch, the “62MAS”, also known as the first professionally oriented dive watch of the brand. This year, Seiko is celebrating 55 years of “professional specifications” (pro-specs… Prospex) dive watches with a trilogy of recreations and today, we go hands-on with “the first”, the Seiko Prospex Diver’s 55th Anniversary 1965 Re-Creation SLA037J1.The 1965 Seiko 6217-8000, a.k.a 62MASKnowing Seiko’s devotion to the professional-specs dive watch, there’s no escaping the background story about the watch that started it all, the

Introducing: The Millennium Watch Book Chronographs Edition
Following already 3 editions – The Millennium Watch Book, Tourbillon Watches and Divers Watches – GMT Publishing and Brice Lechevalier now release a fourth opus in their successful The Millenium book series. And now, the latest book to be released takes a look at one of the most popular complications, the chronograph.Just like the previous volumes, this fourth sequel of The Millennium Watch Book is presented in a hard XXL coffee-table format. Besides essential information about the chronograph and its history, this lavishly illustrated 200-page opus brings together a selection of 50 picks from 50 different brands produced since 2000. Gracing the cover of this year's edition is one of the most iconic automotive-inspired chronographs, the TAG Heuer Carrera. An entire chapter is dedicated to this iconic piece, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2023. Ad - Scroll to continue with article

Hands-On: The Tudor Black Bay 58 Burgundy, now with METAS Movement and More Updates
Of all the new releases from Tudor at this year’s Watches and Wonders, the standout piece was undoubtedly the evolution of the Black Bay 58 line, now presented in a striking all-burgundy design, with both the dial and bezel dressed in the deep red tone. While the dial colour holds historical significance, the real game-changer lies beneath the surface: the introduction of the METAS-certified chronometer Calibre MT5400-U. Combine that with a few more subtle, under-the-radar upgrades, and you’ve got more than just a pretty face a story worth telling. But before we dive into our hands-on impressions, let’s rewind and revisit the origins of the Black Bay 58.Revisiting the Black Bay 58The Tudor Black Bay line was introduced in 2012 alongside the Pelagos. From the start, the Black Bay redefined Tudor’s identity, injecting fresh energy, modern specs, and vintage charm into the brand and ultimately putting Tudor back on the map. It was pitched as a contemporary-sized di