Introducing Ming 27.01 - The Brand's Second-Generation Design Language
Since the inception of the brand in 2017, with the inaugural 17.01 model, renowned photographer Ming Thein has turned out to be also quite an impressive designer and watch entrepreneur, creating a brand with a consistent style and development. 2020 marks a new step for Ming Watches, which is introducing its second-generation design language and, coincidentally, a new watch. Leaner, dressier and beautifully finished, Ming has undergone an earnest exercise in reduction and restraint. So here’s the slimmest and sleekest watch in his repertoire, the new Ming 27.01.Brief BackgroundTom Mulraney, a regular contributor at MONOCHROME, covered?the debut of Malaysian watch brand Ming in 2017. As a friend of founder Ming Thein, Tom, like many other people in the watch industry, was familiar with?Ming's work as a watch photographer. Ming's first watch, the 17.01, was a surprise but extremely well received. A contemporary yet elegant 38mm watch with superlative finishes, a Swiss hand-wound mov

Chris Cashion and his rather special GoS Skadi - Monochrome Watches
Each member of the MONOCHROME team has their favourites among the many brands and watches we share with you all. One of the brands I have been following closely since I joined MONOCHROME is the Swedish brand Gustafsson & Sjogren, or GoS in short. The duo of Patrik Sjogren and Johan Gustafsson offers very unique watches incorporating hand-forged Damascus steel for the cases, bezels, crowns, dials and more. So when the opportunity to chat with the owner of a very special 1-of-5 GoS Skadi popped up, I just had to follow through.Just as a reminder, as we've covered the watch about a year ago, the GoS Skadi is somewhat of a direct result of the collaboration between GoS and Singer Reimagined Track 1 for OnlyWatch 2019. That specific collab piece was the first time GoS presented a watch with a case in blackened Damascus steel. The Skadi is the first GoS watch to offer a similar styled blackened Damascus steel case as the collab piece. It is combined with the

The Collector's Series: Frank's first 'Indy Watch', the Sarpaneva Korona K1 - Monochrome Watches
It's the one you have all been waiting for! It's time to sit down with our very own Executive Editor and Monochrome-Watches' founder, Frank Geelen. I love nothing more than talking watches with enthusiasts but this one was extra special. To give you a bit of background (in case you were unaware): in 2006, Frank started Monochrome-Watches as a blog. By all accounts, his friends (and family) thought he was mad! Day in day, day out, writing about high-end mechanical watches. Nine years on however, Monochrome-Watches has grown to become one of the most important high-end watch magazines in the online space and Frank is acknowledged as one of THE experts in the watch-community.Frank has been a tremendous mentor of mine. He is, quite simply, a wonderfully nice guy (with a dry sense of humour) but first and foremost an expert on high-end, complicated watches and independent manufactures. Frank has chosen to discuss his (seriously cool) Sarpaneva Korona K1 in this, his first appearance on the

Farer Automatic Watches - British Design, Swiss Made, Vintage Look, Reasonable Price - Monochrome Watches
Wouldn’t it be pleasant if all the youngsters around would involve progressively in real watchmaking, meaning mechanical watches, if most of them grew as collectors, instead of looking at massive and not-so-distinguished fashion brands watches? Well, we don’t live at “candy land” and things won’t change that fast. However, every collector must have a starting point and when a cool, slightly fashion-oriented brand introduces automatic watches after a first successful collection of Quartz timepieces, it can only bring new, younger people to show interest in mechanical. Here are the?Farer Automatic Watches, a combination of British Design, Swiss Made and Vintage Look – a for a reasonable price.Farer watches started with a first collection of watches, in November 2015. Quite successful, these watches – all quartz unfortunately – were showing a nice, vintage-inspired design, which recalled military and sports watches from the 1960s. Cases were

First Look: The Vacheron Constantin Chinese Zodiac - Year of the Snake
Coinciding with Watches & Wonders Shanghai, Vacheron Constantin gets a head start on the 2025 Chinese New Year and releases two limited editions celebrating the Year of the Snake. An annual tradition now for the past 12 years, the brand's richly decorated Chinese Zodiac pieces not only pay homage to China's cultural traditions but highlight the commercial ties of Vacheron Constantin and China from the mid-19th century when lavishly engraved and enamelled jewellery watches were favoured among dignitaries of the Court. Created in Vacheron's Metiers d'Art atelier, the new models in platinum and pink gold cases showcase the brand's refined artisanal techniques, combining hand-engraving and enamelling to create a lifelike depiction of a cobra.The snake is the sixth animal in the Chinese Zodiac and will officially make its appearance on 29 January 2025. A symbol of wisdom associated with renewal and agility, the snake is a harbinger of luck and prosperity. Ad - Scroll to conti