Monochrome
Here we are. Watches and Wonders, the main event of the year for the watch industry and the watch community, has not opened its doors yet, but Rolex has already released its new models for 2025. And this is it, the big news is here… The Crown is introducing a brand-new collection – something that […]
Monochrome
Last year, Piaget made a bold move, resurrecting one of its most emblematic watches and designs… The Polo watch was back to its original shape and opulent full gold attire, with a case, bracelet and dial adorned with horizontal gadroons, highlighting Piaget’s unique legacy when it comes to creating fascinating shaped watches. The Piaget Polo […]
Monochrome
Just a couple of years ago, Rolex surprised a lot of people with a quite controversial watch, the “Lefty” or “Destro” GMT-Master II 126720VTNR. It put the date on the left, the cyclops on the left, and the crown and crown guards on the left. Now though, the story continues as Rolex drops in a […]
Monochrome
On the occasion of its 160th anniversary, Zenith celebrates its legacy in the field of precision watchmaking, bringing back to life the venerable calibre 135, the most awarded movement from the golden age of observatory chronometer competitions. In 2022, Zenith released an exclusive limited edition of 10 watches, powered by vintage 135-O movements, restored and […]
Monochrome
Celebrating its grand 270th anniversary, Vacheron Constantin’s bespoke Les Cabinotiers atelier presents a record-breaking watch with no fewer than 41 complications. Still holding the record for the world’s most complex pocket watch, the Berkley, itself beating its own reference 57260, Vacheron now claims the title for the world’s most complicated wristwatch, overtaking the Franck Muller […]
Monochrome
Vintage pilot watches have soared in popularity with remakes of legitimate aviator watches by historical brands and look-alikes by countless others. However, when Patek Philippe introduced its Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Ref. 5524 during Baselworld 2015, it caught everybody off guard. Presented in white gold with a blue dial and pushers on the left, the […]
Monochrome
IWC’s stellar piece for Watches & Wonders is the Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar, the first complication to join the family since it was revamped in 2023. What’s more, the 41mm Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar is the first stainless steel model at IWC to bear the names of two legends in the world of watchmaking. Evoking the imprint […]
Monochrome
When talking about vintage Grand Seiko watches, some references or acronyms have a lot of meaning. For instance, 44GS refers to one of the most important models ever, the watch that initiated the Grammar of Design and the shape of all subsequent creations. The acronym VFA also has its importance. Standing for Very Fine Adjusted […]
Monochrome
Jacob & Co. this year celebrates 10 years since the launch of the Astronomia collection, which comprises some of the craziest, oversized and overjewelled (like in diamonds), overperforming creations that are also mechanically complex and provide the owner, apart from other pleasures, with a true dance of arms, sub-dials and rotating stones… And, of course, […]
Monochrome
Bianchet, an independent watchmaking brand founded in 2021 and based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, has quickly established a distinctive identity with its modern tonneau-shaped designs. Earlier this year, the brand introduced the B 1.618 UltraFino, a milestone model release that brought several firsts: an ultra-thin case, a metal bracelet, and an automatic movement. Now, to mark […]
Monochrome
H. Moser & Cie. is one of the rebellious brands of independent watchmaking – often unexpected and bold, yet always true to its distinct brand codes. Indeed, the brand is known for its minimalist design and fumé dials. If it often uses bold colours, these are most often executed with a monochromatic approach. On the […]
Monochrome
Think of Chronoswiss, and certain image elements immediately come to mind: a watch with a fluted case, a large onion crown, most likely openworked, colourful, and with a regulator display – elements of a timepiece meant to stand out. With few exceptions, such as select Sirius models, the entire Chronoswiss catalogue, including the Heritage and […]
Monochrome
Gerd R. Lang, the founder of Chronoswiss, developed a distinctive design language featuring old-school regulators, jumping hours, knurled bezels, large onion crowns and screwed lugs. In the hands of the Ebstein family since 2012, Chronoswiss has maintained the regulator and other traditional displays but injected new life into its collections with a bold mix of […]
Monochrome
The mono-pusher chronograph has become a signature complication for De Bethune and Denis Flageollet. The DB1, the brand’s first watch in 2002, was a monopusher chrono using the movement developed by THA. It was followed by several other mono-pusher chronographs among which the DB8 in 2003, the DB28 Maxichrono in 2014 and the DB Eight […]
Monochrome
Back in 2023, F.P. Journe introduced an intriguing unique piece for Only Watch, a new take on the elegant sports watch with integrated bracelet, the Chronomètre Furtif Bleu. As we know, a quick look at the past unique watches made by F.P. Journe for the Only Watch charity auction reveal a common pattern… All are […]
Monochrome
The Gerald Charles brand was founded by the legendary designer Gérald Genta in 2000, with backing from the Zivani family. After the designer’s death in 2011, Federico Zivani set about reviving the brand and has since created a solid collection of watches around the idiosyncratic yet immediately recognisable Maestro case. Celebrating 25 years of the […]
Monochrome
Favre Leuba is among the oldest of watchmakers, founded in 1737 and ultimately sold by the family in the mid-1980s following the quartz crisis. Although ownership changed multiple times, it’s latest and perhaps most compelling relaunch happened last year when Patrik Hoffmann, former CEO of Ulysse Nardin took the helm and the new Chief Tourbillon […]
Monochrome
The Tour Auto is the historic reincarnation of the Tour de France Automobile, a race created in 1899 by the Automobile Club de France, and French brand Baltic is the official timer of the event this year again. As with previous year’s events and ahead of the 2025 edition of this vintage car rally, which […]
Monochrome
Introduced last year, the Bovet Récital 28 Prowess 1 tackled one of the biggest challenges of traditional world timers – Daylight Saving Time (DST) – while incorporating a perpetual calendar with roller-based indications and a flying tourbillon. Powered by a movement delivering an impressive 10-day power reserve, it was housed in a 46.3mm Dimier Writing […]
Monochrome
There’s a certain tyre manufacturer from Italy that claims “Power is nothing without Control”, and to an extent, that is very true about mechanical watches as well. Sure, you can have the most beautifully constructed watch, but if you don’t harness the energy that’s generated by winding it properly, it’s useless. Luckily, we’ve figured out […]
Monochrome
Sometimes, moving forward means going back to recover the good things from the past. That appears to be the case at Schwarz Etienne, a small, independent brand from La Chaux-de-Fonds that wants to raise its profile and become better known on the watch scene. Founded in 1902, the brand is now in the hands of […]
Monochrome
It’s not every day that a new Morgan sports car is revealed, but it wasn’t too long ago when we showed you the gorgeous Midsummer. Morgan is a brand that likes to keep things traditional for the most part and, for well over a century, has been building cars the old-fashioned way: by hand! And […]
Monochrome
This article is a guest post by one of our readers and contributors to the Collector’s Series, a gentleman who prefers to remain anonymous but who’s very active on Instagram @winewhiskywatches. We’ve long suspected that Chinese cost structures might provide compelling competitive advantages for high-end watchmaking, assuming that a Chinese watchmaking brand could effectively establish […]
Monochrome
Armin Strom is a revered name among horophiles, an independent brand acclaimed for rekindling the spirit of resonance in wristwatches. Last year, Armin Strom introduced its 18th in-house movement – calibre ARF22 – with the white gold Dual Time GMT Resonance with impressive mechanics and finishings on both sides of the case. Offering two independent […]
Monochrome
Pequignet, a French watchmaking brand, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023 by launching the Concorde collection, distinguished by a cushion-shaped case and an original bracelet design. This year, as part of its refreshed strategy, the collection expands with a new addition: a 36mm titanium model that blends robustness with lightweight comfort, complete with a matching […]
Monochrome
In 2015, one of the great names in 18th-century watchmaking was resurrected by Chopard’s co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. Ferdinand Berthoud (1727-1807), the Swiss horologist who emigrated to Paris in 1745 and gained fame for his marine chronometers, was granted a second lease of life. Determined to perpetuate the legacy and chronometric credentials of F. Berthoud’s past […]
Monochrome
Fears Watch Company might seem like a relatively new brand, but it was actually founded almost 180 years ago in the UK in 1846. Although it ultimately shut down in 1976 after 130 years (like so many others in that era), the founder’s great-great-great grandson Nicholas Bowman-Scargill brought the family-run business back in 2016. The […]
Monochrome
Founded in 2016 by Qatari entrepreneur Hader Al Suwaidi, Beda’a was born from the vision that the Middle East region could be not just a market for luxury watches, but also a contributor to the industry. The brand’s trajectory is now shaped by engineer-designer Sohaib Maghnam acting as CEO and Chief Designer. Before joining Beda’a […]
Monochrome
For its latest limited-edition watch, Stockholm-based, Dutch-rooted microbrand Maen (known for its accessible watches) has partnered with Nico Leonard – a well-known Dutch YouTube watch man famous for his outspoken style. This collaboration, the Maen x Nico Leonard Jumping Hour, blends familiar design elements while making a historically significant complication accessible to a broader audience. […]
Monochrome
The last few days before Watches and Wonders are undoubtedly the busiest period for the MONOCHROME team, with all the preparations for what will be the highlight of the horological year… If squeezing in more shootings and visits is becoming challenging, making time to visit Raúl Pagès to discover his latest opus was a no-brainer […]
Question, suggestion, or just want to say hi? Drop a note.