Watches NEWS
The Top 10 Swiss Watch Brands in 2019 // Editorial
If the value of Swiss watch exports has slightly increased in 2019, the industry has been facing numerous challenges over the past years. Although high-end Swiss watches remain attractive, the low/mid-end segments have been under pressure as the smartwatch expansion seems to have come at the expense of the lower-priced Swiss timepieces.Most watch brands are traditionally secretive about their sales figures. Independents usually do not communicate numbers – with the notable exception of Audemars Piguet. Listed groups such as Swatch, Richemont or LVMH do not provide details by brand in their financial statements.Ever wondered just how big and popular some of the largest watch brands can get? MONOCHROME has listed the top 10 Swiss watch brands based on estimated 2019 sales. This article is based only on brands. As a comparison, the main actor of the Swiss watch industry is Swatch Group, with estimated sales of CHF 8,000 million in 2019 (8bn) –? spread over 15 watch brands and
The Chronograph 1 joins the regular collection with small updates
The year 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of a very important watch. Presented way back in 1972, the Porsche Design Chronograph 1 was the very first commercially available black-coated watch, and the very first product by Porsche Design as a newly founded company. Headed by Ferdinand Alexander “Butzi” Porsche, Porsche Design started with and has always evolved around watches. For the majority of times, this was through collaborations with companies such as Orfina and IWC. Yet, as we've explained on numerous occasions, the time has moved on and Porsche Design now produces watches in-house. But the most important thing is the Chronograph 1 is still very much alive, and now moves into the regular collection with the Porsche Design Chronograph 1 All Black Numbered Edition.Earlier this year, Porsche Design launched the Chronograph 1 - 1972 Limited Edition, with the entire production run of 500 watches long sold out. Now though, the Chronograph 1 becomes part of the regular collec
Omega Chrono Chime Olympic 1932 and Speedmaster
Omega is well known for its luxury sports watches, for beautifully made, resilient watches equipped with impressive Master Chronometer movements incarnated by models like the Speedmaster and the Seamaster. Fewer know that Omega can also do incredibly high-end watches, such as a tourbillon produced in its Atelier d’Excellence workshop. And the latest watch to emerge is absolutely mind-blowing. Meet the most complex watch ever produced by Omega, a timepiece that combines expertise in chronographs, chiming mechanisms, sports, the Olympics and a unique sense of perfection… We’re talking about the new Omega Chrono Chime models – Olympics 1932 and Speedmaster – and the new calibre 1932.A truly impressive new movementAt the heart of these two new models is a movement, a mind-bogglingly complex movement and one that connects two important milestones in the life of the brand. Few might know that the first minute repeater wristwatch was made by Omega (at the time kn
Panerai Submersible EcoPangaea Tourbillon GMT 50mm PAM01108 (Price)
Following the Arktos (2002-2004), North Pole Winter (2006), Pangea (2008-2012) and Pole2Pole expeditions (2016-2019), Panerai teams up again with Mike Horn this year. In the frame of the brand's experiences' program, the brand unveils a special edition watch, a Submersible Tourbillon GMT available in only 5 pieces, that will allow buyers to live an experience in the Arctic with the South African/Swiss explorer. Meet the new PAM01108.Over the past months, Panerai has presented several watch and experience combos, offering unique adventures as a perk to buying limited-edition watches. For 2020, the brand is giving access to an Arctic expedition with explorer and brand Ambassador Mike Horn, for buyers of the new Submersible EcoPangaea Tourbillon GMT.? Ad - Scroll to continue with article Water-resistant up to 300 meters, this massive 50mm Submersible?watch is prese
Just Because: My Lost Watch and My Endless Quest to Find a Perfect Daily Beater
We, at MONOCHROME, rarely publish so-called “guest posts” and prefer to use our Collector's Series as a platform to share our readers' adventures with a watch. Today, we had to make an exception. The reason is simple. The story was just too good to not be shared. It tells a tale about a watch, something highly personal that, in some ways, will speak to a lot of us, watch enthusiasts. This man, whom we will call “Sweeny Hands” (as he prefers to remain anonymous), spent years searching for his ideal watch. Contrary to many stories you'll hear from collectors looking for bright and shiny new complications, Sweeny's search seemed simple at first, but ended up being an almost endless, desperately impossible quest. And here's the story of his long-awaited Seiko Sea Horse 7625-8031.?Some watch collectors are dragons, hoarding the glitter for the sheer joy of sitting on it. Others are magpies, gathering a little of everything to build a nest where they feel safe. The lo
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