As 2019 is coming to an end, we’ve gathered the MONOCHROME redaction team and started to think about the watches that most impressed us this year. After a look at the best chronographs, the best dive watches and the best traveller’s watches, it is time to think value propositions… And in 2019, we’ve seen some pretty cool […]
If you are a regular reader of MONOCHROME, you should now be familiar with Artisans de Genève, a watchmaking company that offers customization services for private customers. But they are not your typical watch customizer… Don’t expect a black coating or diamonds on the bezel. What Artisans de Genève does is far more complex. We’ve already […]
Ulysse Nardin is clearly in the middle of an important restructuring process and updating most of its emblematic watches. After new watches in the Marine collection, it was time for the Diver to get a fresher look. Following last year’s evolutions on the 3-hand models, the brand now comes up with three new yet instantly […]
Earlier this year, at the Swatch Group’s independent Time to Move event, Omega introduced a chronograph version of its successful Seamaster Diver 300M. Equipped with all the design upgrades conferred on the standard three-hand model in 2018, the performance of James Bond’s watch was notched up with a chronograph complication. Although the movement – Calibre […]
If you didn’t know yet (well, now you’ll know), I have a soft spot for vintage-looking dive watches… I know, I’m weak – and I never dive – but when they are done right, I can’t help myself. I already had a thing for the Polaris Date, when JLC presented it at the SIHH 2018. […]
Marnaut launched its first dive watch back in 2018 with a successful Kickstarter campaign, the Dark Surge 300m. We reviewed this piece earlier in the year and walked away impressed with its unique, sea urchin-inspired dial and 300-metre depth rating. Based in Croatia, founder Mario Jutronic explored the Adriatic Sea growing up and his watches […]
This is it… The big news for Omega, the new James Bond watch! After a limited 007 edition based on the Seamaster Diver 300M celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1969 film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, it is time for the real deal, the watch to be worn in the 25th opus of the […]
If you are looking for a vintage-inspired dive watch, the world is your playground. Especially since ambitious young watchmakers and marketeers heard about Kickstarter, new watch companies with old watches keep on popping up. One of the first out there was Aramar Watch Company, founded in 2010 with Kickstarter-funding and a nice vintage-inspired watch. Now, […]
Recently, we introduced OW Watches, the revived Ollech & Wajs, a hidden gem of the vintage watch industry, maybe not as well-known as most mainstream brands, but still an icon of tool watches. After two inaugural tool/pilots watches, the OW P-101 and the OW P-104, it is time for OW to bring back its most iconic dive watch, the Ollech & Wajs Caribbean 1000. So here it is, the new OW C-1000. Still relatively accessible, still cool, even more robust.
One of the best value propositions for dive watches is the Dan Henry 1970 Automatic Diver, hands down. We covered the 44mm original a couple of years ago and the brand quickly followed up with a more mainstream 40mm version. At only USD 250, this was their first model to quickly sell out. A new […]