Christmas Buying Guide - Our Top 5 Dress Watches of 2015 - Monochrome Watches
The end of the year is coming fast, and like most of us, you’ll probably have this big question in mind: what are THE watches to focus on this year? What were the noticeable introductions of the year 2015? To start with a series of articles that will look at sports watches, dive watches, chronographs and accessible timepieces (and more), why not start with the dress watches…? Simply because on New Year’s Eve, you’ll have to find what to wear on your wrist, together with your tuxedo. Here are our Top 5 Dress Watches of 2015.The Montblanc?Heritage Chronometrie Ultra SlimWhat is the definition of a dress watch? A slim, rather small and simple timepiece that can find its place under the cuff of your shirt and that can match with a suit or a tuxedo. Well, this?Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie Ultra Slim has all of this – and for a super-decent price. It features a hand-wound ETA/Peseux calibre 7001, fully decorated with Geneva stripes. This movement helps to kee

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph 41mm Frosted Gold 26240
Far from a radical transformation to mark its 50th anniversary, the design evolutions practised on the Royal Oak Selfwinding time-and-date and Selfwinding Chronograph models are subtle, perpetuating the spirit of Gerald Genta's epic 1972 Royal Oak. Its commanding octagonal bezel with eight exposed hexagonal screws, its tonneau-shaped case, integrated bracelet, and tapisserie guilloche dial are so sacrosanct and embedded in the identity of the Royal Oak that nobody in their right mind would think of substituting them. Two 41mm Selfwinding Chronographs join the 50th-anniversary party with attractive frosted gold cases and Audemars Piguet's latest-generation integrated flyback chronograph movement, calibre 4401. From May to July 2022, the Frosted Gold Royal Oak Chronograph 41mm?will be sold exclusively in Japan; in August 2022, they will be available worldwide.Hammered gold casesThe cases of these 41mm Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronographs are crafted in 18k white or yellow gold with a spect

Interview: Charles Le Menestrel, Owner of Ollech & Wajs, On Keeping A Historical Name Alive
The name might not ring a bell with a broader audience, but it is well-known and highly respected in some collectors’ communities.?A Swiss brand specialising in tool watches, Ollech & Wajs (O&W) was founded in 1956 by Albert Wajs and his friend Joseph Ollech, who formed a partnership and opened a watch shop. At first, they distributed timepieces from Breitling and Omega but eventually decided to establish their own brand, Ollech & Wajs Zurich. They soon agreed that OWZ would specialise in reliable and accurate mechanical watches. In 2017, after more than 60 years at the helm, Albert Wajs passed on O&W to Charles Le Menestrel, who shares his vision to keep the brand’s spirit alive with us.Xavier Markl, MONOCHROME – Charles, thanks for having us. What is your background, and how did you get into watches?Charles Le Menestrel, Ollech & Wajs – I have always been into what would be best-called merchandise transactions, buying and selling large quan

Cartier launched Fine Watch Making iPad App - Monochrome Watches
Watch brands are slowly finding their way to the digital world and?almost every watch brand has a website. Some even found their way to Facebook and iPhone and iPad apps. Today the impressive iPad app of Cartier Fine Watchmaking. GEO, moderator of the Cartier forum @ Revolution Online,?wrote this about Cartier’s iPad App and I fully agree with him! Ad - Scroll to continue with article Yesterday I downloaded from the Apple iTunes App Store, Cartier’s Fine Watch Making iPad App. I have seen quite a few watch Apps by now and most of them were pretty boring or disappointing. Heads off for the makers of this App!It’s an extensive App, very tastefully designed, that contains all the Fine Watch Making models of 2010 and 2011. Illustrated with good photography and all the specs you would need and some models have videos as well. Since everything is 

Petrolhead Corner - Brawn GP, the Unlikeliest of Formula 1 Champions
Formula 1 eats up cash like there's no tomorrow, even to compete, let alone have a shot at winning the title. Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team have dominated the sport for years now, yet this year's title race seems closer than ever. Close rivals Red Bull Racing have the German team in their crosshairs and are pushing hard with Dutchman Max Verstappen currently in the championship lead. It seems ages ago that shock race wins (and champions) were possible, but one season in modern history proves it is still very much possible. It just needs all the pieces of the puzzle to fall into the right place, as it did for the Brawn GP racing team in the 2009 Formula 1 season.Straight out the gates: Brawn GP is the ONLY Formula 1 constructor that has been around for one season only and crowned champion at the end of 17 races. No team before it, and no team since have been able to do that. And I must say that I expect no team ever to be able to repeat that. While the team's origins can be tra