First Look: The New Bulgari Divas Dream Peacock Marquetry Collection
For Dubai Watch Week, Bulgari presents five captivating models inspired by the rich plumage and iridescent colours of peacocks’ tails. While the hypnotic Serpenti is Bulgari’s most famous mascot, the proud, unabashedly beautiful peacock has been the mascot of choice for the Divas’ Dream collection since 2017. Using different materials – including feathers, mother-of-pearl and precious stones – the magnificent colours and textures of the peacock’s plumage are recreated on the dials of these watches with the delicate art of marquetry.Capturing the voluptuous curves of Italian Dolce Vita screen divas, the Divas’ Dream collection stands out with its sensual, curvy silhouette and fan-shaped motifs referencing patterns found in the mosaics of Rome’s ancient Caracalla Baths. Divas’ Dream is a highly versatile canvas for high jewellery models dripping with precious gemstones or, conversely, a glamorous receptacle for the world’s thinn

Hands-On: The Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8
Last Tuesday (of course), Omega presented its latest Speedmaster model, the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8. As an updated version of an existing model, the watch felt highly familiar at first sight. Presented in 2018 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the mission that first observed the other side of our satellite (and also the first human spaceflight to reach the Moon…), this DSOTM Apollo 8 was characterized by its lunar texture on both sides and its bold black and yellow colour scheme. With the new model, it seems that not much has changed, apart from a seconds hand shaped like Saturn V and an updated movement. But is it really that simple? Let’s dive into the details.?Quick recap New movement – calibre 3869, based on the calibre 3861 with Co-Axial escapement, silicon hairspring and Master Chronometer certification Slightly reshaped case, still at 44.25mm in diameter, but 0.8mm thinner New bezel without SLN but with tachymeter scale in enamel Better-de

Introducing: Hanhart Resuscitates its White Pilot with the 417 ES Moby Dick
Hanhart, the German brand that started life in Switzerland as a manufacturer of stopwatches before relocating to Germany in 1902, gained renown as a producer of Flieger (pilot's) chronographs. In the mid-1950s, Hanhart built the 417, the first pilot's chronograph for the German Armed Forces, with an emphasis on robustness, reliability, and readability. In circulation until 1963, the 417 was retired, allowing Hanhart to focus on stopwatches. But there was another lesser-known Hanhart 417 waiting in the wings, known among collectors as the Moby Dick. Identical in build to the 417 but with a white dial, the Moby Dick was adopted by admirals and doctors in the navy and, given its scarcity, had become a coveted collector's piece.The vintage watch that was used as an inspiration for the new 417 ES Moby DickIn 2020, Hanhart reissued the legendary 417 pilot's chronograph. While the case and dial faithfully respected many traits of its ancestor, the modern version of the Hanhart 417 ES reflecte

New 2022 Tissot Seastar 2000 Professional Powermatic 80
The Tissot Seastar 2000 Professional, a watch we reviewed when it was updated last year, is Tissot’s answer to an instrument dive watch. And for the price, it’s packed with features… It has a powerful automatic movement, great diving capacities, solid materials all around, the required certifications, and it even looks pretty cool. In short, everything you'd expect and more. After the initial models of 2021, the brand now updates the collection with two new Tissot Seastar 2000 Professional Powermatic 80 models, one with gold touches and one with a black-and-blue abyssal theme.?Let’s go back to the basics of the Seastar 2000 Professional. What you’re looking at is one of the most interesting yet accessible deep dive watches. Not a casual-looking 200m watch for the weekend here, but a watch made for the abyss. Modern in its design without vintage references, it remains relatively classic yet strong and powerful. Measuring 46mm in diameter and 16.25mm in heig

Machiel Hulsman Redefines "Bespoke" - Meet the First Entirely Handmade Dutch Wristwatch - Monochrome Watches
I’m thrilled to announce this news. Machiel Hulsman, former IT consultant turned watchmaker, has created the very first entirely handmade wristwatch from the Netherlands. We have the legacy of Christiaan Huygens, the inventor of the pendulum clock, Christiaan van der Klaauw, a watch and clockmaker who created the smallest planetarium (in a wristwatch), and the horological brothers Bart and Tim Gronefeld, who have won prestigious GPHG prizes on two occasions. And now, finally, a watch entirely made in the Netherlands. Five years ago Hulsman quit his job and started making his first wristwatch. From scratch! No existing movement, no third-party parts, everything is made in his own small atelier by hand. In these five years, he has learned everything about watchmaking and completed the first fully Dutch handmade wristwatch, the Marie-Elise.When I started MONOCHROME, more than ten years ago, the Netherlands felt like a watchmaking desert. High-end watchmaking was not something you as