Watches NEWS
SIHH 2015 - Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver ref. 15710 - hands-on with live photos, specs & price - Monochrome-Watches
The Royal Oak, Audemars Piguet’s best seller, is used (and abused for some watch lovers) for?many editions, going from the classical and faithful Ultra-Thin 15202ST, to bulky chronographs or a sumptuous Grande Complication. It’s even the base used by AP for their R&D watches, as the Acoustic Research Concept proves it. We told you: use and abuse. It is thus totally understandable that the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak comes also in a diving edition. For this 2015 edition of the SIHH, the brand updated it with new features and colors. Here is the?Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver ref. 15710.Already introduced in several materials – white ceramic, forged carbon?or?stainless steel – the?Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver is very well known from the AP collectors. As the base recipe was?not that bad, AP chose to only?update one of its best-seller, just like they did in 2014 with the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph. Using?the touch, instead of completel
Technical Perspective: Understanding The Art of Guilloche Dials
Known under the French name Guillochage, engine turning consists of adorning wood or metal with intertwined lines. It is an engraving technique that originated over five centuries ago. Initially, it was applied to soft materials such as wood and ivory before being adapted to metals, particularly for the craft of goldsmiths and silversmiths. Allegedly first applied in watchmaking in the 1680s by Pierre Duhamel in Geneva on a case, guillochage was made famous on dials by Abraham-Louis Breguet, who introduced it as early as 1786. The intricate geometric patterns engraved on watch dials not only enhance their appearance but also improve readability. Guilloche dials add depth and texture to the surface of the dials. This depth creates visual contrast as light plays off the engraved patterns, enhancing the overall aesthetics of the watch. The different patterns can be used to delineate different subdials or to highlight specific indicators. Today, guilloche has become an integral aspect of w
Interview: Christian Knoop, Creative Director for IWC on the Amsterdam Boutique
We were recently invited to join the festive reopening of the Amsterdam Boutique of IWC Schaffhausen. Nestled in one of the most luxurious high streets in our nation’s capital is a haven where you can fully immerse yourself in the wonderful world of IWC. Step inside, and you can discover the brand’s various collections in a unique open display, have a coffee in the Big Pilot Bar, and even discover the brand’s engineering prowess. But there’s more to creating a fully immersive and tangible IWC experience, as we learn from Creative Director Christian Knoop. While we had the chance to talk to him, we also wanted to learn more about the recently launched IWC Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41, which is geared towards a different kind of pilot.Christian Knoop, Creative Director for IWC Schaffhausen.Robin Nooij, MONOCHROME Watches – Christian, we’re here in the newly remodelled IWC Boutique in Amsterdam. What can you tell us about it?Christian
Christmas Buying Guide - Our Top 5 Accessible Watches of 2015 - Monochrome Watches
After our first Christmas Buying Guide focused on our Top 5 Dress Watches of 2015, it’s time to go back on earth and to talk about real people’s watches. Let’s be honest, most of us can’t afford these sumptuous watches priced over 30,000 Euros (and more). Lucky those who can, really! However,?we have to keep in mind that a watch is a huge investment and this is the raison d’¨ºtre of this new Christmas Buying Guide, that this time will look at our?Top 5 Accessible Watches of 2015, with watches from 629 Euros to 4,950 Euros (we said accessible, not cheap and of course you’re at Monochrome, meaning that it will only be mechanical timepieces).Seiko Prospex Automatic Diver 200m Baby Tuna' 4R36?in blue?(ref.?SRP653K1)Entering the Prospex family means a lot for Seiko addicts. Prospex, which stands for “professional specifications“, is synonym of beautifully crafted watches, strong resistance, use of high-quality materials and a strong focus on th
First Look: The New, Customizable Ferdinand Berthoud FB RES
In 2015, Ferdinand Berthoud, a brand with a historical name resurrected by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Chopard’s co-president, unveiled the Chronometre Ferdinand Berthoud FB1. Since then, we’ve witnessed the successful launch of numerous references in the FB1, FB2, and FB3 collections. These releases have showcased groundbreaking engineering innovations and distinguished themselves with their exceptional design, setting them apart from today’s other ultra-complicated masterpieces.The Chronometre FB RES marks a significant evolution from its predecessor, the Chronometre FB 2RE. Unveiled in 2020, the FB 2RE broke ground as the brand’s first round-cased, non-tourbillon-regulated watch, with all three hands in the centre. It featured an FB movement equipped with the fusee-and-chain transmission and a remontoire. Now, the Chronometre FB RES (Remontoir d'egalite Squelette) takes this innovation further, offering an insight into its inner workings with customizable finis