First Look: The New Bulgari Aluminium x Gran Turismo Special Editions
A few years ago, it would have been hard to imagine a top luxury watch brand partnering with a video game license. The fact is that the perception of the gaming culture has changed radically over the years. Drastically. Once considered geeky and a teenager's hobby, gaming is now cool and talks to a much wider audience. Thanks to Bulgari and Gran Turismo, you can now display your love for gaming culture on your wrist. On the occasion of the 2023 Gran Turismo World Series Finals in Barcelona, Bulgari launches an Aluminium x Gran Turismo Special Edition. The brand also unveils the Bulgari Aluminium Vision GT concept car in full scale, a spectacular hypercar designed for racing in the Gran Turismo game.Let's begin with some basic information about the Gran Turismo racing simulation video games. Released by Sony in 1997, it is the brainchild of Kazunori Yamauchi. Gran Turismo was an instant hit, and its monumental popularity never decreased. With its true-to-life graphics and licensed cars,

First Look: Three New Colours for the Longines Flagship Heritage Moonphase
In 1957, the Flagship collection was advertised as a perfect alliance of technical skill and classic design. More than six decades later, Longines keeps the spirit accurate. The Longines Flagship Heritage line is part of the brand’s classic collection. It falls into the Heritage Classic category and is presented as an homage to the innovative spirit while combining the original aesthetic of Longines historical models with modern-time watchmaking technologies. Last year, we welcomed an elegant Flagship Heritage 38.5mm to the catalogue, featuring date and moon phase indications. This year, Longines expands the offer by adding three new dial colours to the model, each conveying a distinct character to the underlying timepiece.The Longines Flagship Heritage Moonphase features a 38.5mm stainless steel case with a closed back, measuring 12.4mm in thickness. The lug-to-lug distance is measured at 46.3mm, so wrist comfort is undeniable, though losing a bit of thickness would make this wa

Longines Heritage Classic With Black Sector Dial - Hands-On, Price
Longines’ Heritage collection, the brand’s playground for vintage re-editions, has become a reference for anyone looking for a retro-styled watch. Well-executed and loyal to the originals, the watches in the Heritage collection also come with relatively accessible prices. There’s a wide choice in this collection, ranging from elegant models to more instrumental watches?or military-inspired pieces. Most of them deserve attention, but one, in particular, stands out for us at MONOCHROME, and that is the Heritage Classic Sector Dial. First launched in a serene silver edition, it now returns with a striking black dial and cool BoR bracelet, and we gave it a test on the wrist.Knowing the extent of the brand’s vintage collection, the Longines Heritage could be an endless story. There are hundreds of models, from historically important pilot’s watches to handsome chronographs or attractive dive watches. And Longines is well aware that it is sitting on a gold mine,

The Certina DS-8 is a surprisingly vesatile and affordable collection
If you take a moment to consider the Swatch Group's current state of affairs, there are a lot of good things going on. Admittedly, some brands seem a bit lost, but for the most part, we're seeing some very nice moves by brands like Tissot, Hamilton, Longines and lately also Certina. We've had the funky DS-2 revival, the very good DS Action Diver Titanium and the chunky yet retro-cool DS Chronograph Automatic 1968 to play with! And Certina isn't done after those three, as there's also the more modern and sports-oriented Certina DS-8 range to consider. And it turns out to be a very good everyday watch, providing excellent value-for-money yet again.Admittedly, the Certina DS-8 is a watch that can be easily overlooked but if given a bit of attention can win over quite a few people, I'm sure. It's not going to break any records, nor does it look extremely outspoken but it ticks a lot of boxes most people might want in a reliable mechanical watch intended for everyday use. Ad - Sc

Nomos Tangente Neomatik 41 Update Midnight Blue - Monochrome Watches
However restrained the designs for Nomos might be, that doesn't mean the watches are any less interesting from a technical perspective. While it might not be to everyone's liking, the clean, Bauhaus-inspired watches are simple, elegant and more often than not, quite handsome to look at. And combining the design skills to determine when enough is enough with traditional watchmaking capabilities, Nomos has a pretty interesting range of watches on offer. A case in point is one of this year's novelties: the Nomos Tangente Neomatik 41 Update Midnight Blue.The Tangente Neomatik features all the elements of previous Nomos models but mixes in a little playful touch for a bit of diversity. Consider it a greatest hits album by your favourite band, with a new song included as a bonus. The latest iteration of the Tangente Neomatik was presented during this year's digital version of the Watches & Wonders fair. Ad - Scroll to continue with article