Introducing – The New Ace Jewelers x Nivada Grenchen F77 Amsterdam

Ace Jewelers, the family-owned Dutch jewellery and watch retailer, has been a prominent name in the industry for almost half a century. The company’s reputation has made limited-edition collaborations with watch brands possible, such as special Amsterdam editions of Ace together with Frederique Constant and Nomos; there was also an Amsterdam-themed “Ace” watch with Cedric […]

5 months ago

Buying Guide – Size Still Matters: Some Watches Need to be Big to be Brilliant

It’s a commonly known fact the current trend for brands is to downsize watches to more compact dimensions, often to 40mm or below. This shift is natural to the industry, and it’s not the first time we’ve seen it, although this time the push seems stronger than in the past. In the late 1990s and […]

5 months ago

First Look – The New Norqain Neverest GMT Glacier 41mm and Glacier 40mm

Norqain has consolidated a repertoire of watches to tackle the great outdoors. Robust, well-designed, contemporary models that can take their fair share of adversity and still look good, Norqain is back this summer with a versatile GMT travel companion and a rugged three-hander, both from the brand’s Neverest collection, fitted with high-performance, chronometer-rated Kenissi manufacture […]

5 months ago

First Look – The new Brellum Pandial Bicompax Titanium

Founded in 2016 by Sébastien Muller in the Swiss Jura, Brellum is a niche independent brand that uses a direct distribution model. Specializing in crafting vintage-inspired chronographs at attainable prices, Brellum produces only a few hundred watches annually, with no more than 299 pieces a year, including limited editions. The brand now proudly introduces its […]

5 months ago

First Look – The new Baltic MR Roulette Collection, Bringing Vintage Calatrava Vibes

Founded in 2017 by Etienne Malec and friends, Baltic continues its rapid expansion to the point of not being able to use the term micro-brand anymore… Now an established watch brand with a comprehensive collection, ranging from racing chronographs to dive watches and adventure-themed models, Baltic also ventured into the world of dress watches with […]

5 months ago

First Look – The New, Compact and Slim Mido Ocean Star 39

With its Ocean Star collection, Swatch Group-owned brand Mido has long demonstrated its ability to combine cool designs, great quality, proper diving credentials and fair prices. Take a look at the Ocean Star 600 Chronometer or the Decompression Timer 1961, you’ll see what I mean… It should be remembered that the Ocean Star collection is […]

5 months ago

Hands-on – The New MeisterSinger Neo Collection Exemplifies the Beauty of Simplicity

For obvious reasons, the watch world tends to glorify complexity and the accumulation of functions into a single watch. We, at MONOCHROME, are no better than the rest of the crowd and we can spend days contemplating a Grande Complication watch, or a timepiece with a novel, ultra-complex escapment. However, we also tend to forget […]

5 months ago

First Look – The Zenith Defy Skyline White Ceramic Skeleton

Released in 2022, the Defy Skyline collection was Zenith‘s answer to the large demand for sports watches with integrated design and bracelet. Since its initial introduction, we have seen multiple new editions of this watch, including compact versions, ceramic models, a chronograph and even a high-frequency tourbillon. But one of the most impactful models was […]

5 months ago