Omega and the PloProf Research Programme - Innovation in Professional Dive watches (incl. Pioneering use of 904L Steel for Watches) - Monochrome Watches
By the early 1940s, Emile Gagnan and Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s Aqualung - the first commercially successful self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (a.k.a Scuba)-? had become a worldwide phenomenon. Along with the growing popularity of recreational diving, the needs of military and professional divers underscored the paramount importance of reliable sub-aquatic instruments. The first modern dive watches appeared in the early 1950s with the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, the Zodiac Sea Wolf or the Submariner. Developed in 1953, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms is often regarded as the archetype of the dive watch: a robust, highly legible watch, water-resistant to great depths (91 meters, in this instance) and equipped with a unidirectional rotating bezel to time dives.The development of deep-sea saturation divingHowever, the development of deep-sea saturation diving soon made even higher performing tools necessary – quite simply because professional dive watches had to adapt to t

Chopard at The Zandvoort Historic Grand Prix with a New Limited Edition Mille Miglia - Monochrome Watches
For a few years now, Zandvoort has been hosting one of the best Historic Grand Prix races, a fantastic event with international historic race cars from a wide range of categories. Think Historic Formula 1, vintage touring cars, Le Mans legends, one-of-a-kind demos and lots of racing legends behind the wheel. All staged at the Zandvoort International Circuit, the venue of 34 Grand Prix races between 1952 and 1985. This year, one of the main sponsors of the event was Chopard with a special watch.This year was the 7th?edition of the Historic Grand Prix in Zandvoort, an event that has quickly grown into a fan favourite and an internationally renowned get-together for vintage racing. Participants and visitors bring everything from small British GT's to thunderous American powerhouses, Le Mans legends and, of course, vintage Formula 1 cars. Ad - Scroll to continue with article

Collector's Series - @WatchWalker's Zenith Chronomaster Revival A385
Known on Instagram as @WatchWalker, the man we'll be talking with today is a globetrotter with Belgian roots. By chance, we ran into him on the internet, but haven't had the pleasure of meeting him in real life yet, due to the global pandemic. @Watchwalker has been a watch collector for many years, and although other brands lured him, his passion lies with Zenith Watches. In this episode of our Collector's Series, he highlights his Zenith Chronomaster Revival A385, and why it is a watch that was made for him Obviously, when you love cigars and Zenith, this dial was simply made for you.Frank Geelen, MONOCHROME – What was it that made you develop a passion for watches?@WatchWalker – Roughly twenty years ago, I remember doing some window shopping in Amsterdam and staring at all those beautiful Zenith watches I could not afford in those days. I loved watches since my childhood and remember playing as a 7-year-old in our attic with some mechanical watches my parents had stored t

Grieb & Benzinger Blue Wave based on vintage Minevra column wheel chrono - Monochrome Watches
Grieb & Benzinger are known for unique high-end complicated wristwatches. Their newest watch is the Blue Wave with a beautiful skeletonized vintage Minerva column wheel chronograph movement. Grieb & Benzinger create unique watches based on historical classic movements and acknowledged masterpieces from the period between 1880 and 1930.?Over the course of time, these magnificent movements from brands like Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and Minerva are just waiting to be rediscovered. And that’s exactly what Grieb & Benzinger intends to do with their Platinum Editions.The new Blue Wave is such a watch. Based on a beautiful vintage Minerva mono-poussoir (or single button) chronograph with a column wheel, they created a very special watch. The movement is probably from 1925 and after it’s been in the hands of master watchmaker Hermann Grieb and master engraver Jochen Benzinger it’s ready to be enjoyed for many, many years again. Ad - Scroll to

Hands-On - 2022 Tissot Le Locle Powermatic 80 Open Heart
Tissot’s collection covers a large spectrum, ranging from ultra-robust dive watches to racing-oriented chronographs and, the star of the moment, a sporty-chic watch with an integrated bracelet. And because it’s Tissot, all of them are pretty hard to beat in terms of value for money. If you’re looking for something a bit more classic, the Gentlemen is a very compelling option that packs it all. Recently available in an openworked edition, it’s now time for its dressier counterpart, the Tissot Le Locle, to appear in the Open Heart edition, still with a Powermatic-based movement and an extra layer of elegance.We’ve praised the Tissot Gentleman on many occasions here at MONOCHROME. Considering its sub-1k price tag and everything it offers in return, it is one of the best options when it comes to choosing an all-rounder watch. With its steel bracelet, sleek design and comfortable water-resistance, this is a great contender for the one-watch collection. Do-it-al