Hands-on – The 2019 Breitling Superocean Automatic 44

While the star of the show for Breitling at Baselworld 2019 was the Navitimer 1959 Re-Edition (for obvious reasons explained in our review here), there was more than just this limited edition to be presented. In fact, Breitling also looked at its core collection, in particular at modern dive watches. The brand indeed presented a revised version of its robust entry-level, non-vintage-inspired Superocean. And here is our take on it, with a closer look at the 2019 Breitling Superocean Automatic 44.

5 years ago

Opinion – What Makes the Breitling Navitimer Ref. 806 1959 Re‑Edition Such a Cool Piece?

Everyone knows the Breitling Navitimer. Like, literally everyone. That’s because it has one of the most recognisable dial/bezel configurations in the business. That doesn’t mean it’s the easiest to read but it definitely stands out in a crowd. Launched in 1952, this legendary watch – designed specifically for pilots – has seen many, many variations […]

6 years ago

Buying Guide – 5 of the Coolest Chronographs of Baselworld 2019

The chronograph is, without doubt, one of the most popular complications. A complex, purposeful piece of engineering, it is a must-have for watch aficionados… and the category has given rise to some of the most iconic watches (think Moonwatch or Paul Newman here). Among the numerous new models presented at Baselworld 2019, some really stood out. Here’s a look at 5 of our favourite chronographs of the fair.

6 years ago

Industry News – Breitling to Leave Baselworld 2020, Tudor to Have its Own Booth

Baselworld has been through difficult times recently, drawing criticism and seeing more than half of the exhibiting brands leaving the show. The main announcement was, of course, when Nick Hayek decided that the whole Swatch Group was leaving the 2019 Edition – which we now know to be a definitive decision. While the 2019 edition […]

6 years ago

Baselworld 2019 – Best of Show, including a Plethora of Tourbillons and another World-Record

Baselworld 2019 has come to an end. As always, it has been a rather packed event, despite a strange impression with the absence of Swatch Group’s brands, several other brands and an unusually high number of brands presenting their watches in different locations around the official ‘Messe’. If the mood was good overall, the future of the show was on everyone’s lips with speculations surrounding the attendance of the LVMH brands, Breitling and many more to the next editions of the fair. Now the dust has settled, team MONOCHROME looks back and chooses the best of show…

6 years ago

A Technical Perspective – Understanding Bezels and all the Different Scales

A bezel is a simple but extremely effective tool letting you perform all sorts of tasks: from timing a dive to calculating the average speed of a motorbike, from gauging your fuel supply or the distance of incoming fire to consulting the time in Japan, a bezel gets the job done and jacks up the functionality of your watch. The trick is deciphering what all the markings on the bezel or on the dial (in that case, we talk scales) represent and how to use them.

6 years ago

Buying Guide – 5 of The Most Iconic Pilot Watches You Can Buy In 2018

Aviation inspired watches are said to have made their debuts on the wrist of aviator Alberto Santos Dumont. At the beginning of the 20th-century, Louis Cartier had made a watch for his Brazilian friend, who wore it to time its flights. It was the first purposed-designed wristwatch. Since then, many watches have been inspired by aviation, all born out of practicality – in particular, pilot watches. Today, the category is one of the most popular.

6 years ago

Buying Guide – The 10 Most Iconic Chronographs You Can Buy in 2018

The chronograph is one of the most popular complications today. It is even more than a complication and has become a watch category in itself. It is stylish, practical and boasts a serious amount of technical complexity. For watch connoisseurs, there aren’t many experiences that are as rewarding as pressing the pushers of a stopwatch […]

6 years ago

Review – Breitling Navitimer 1 Automatic 38 – Yes, The One Without a Chronograph!

Georges Kern has been busy dusting off cobwebs and streamlining references (from 600 to 120) since he was appointed CEO of Breitling in the summer of 2017. With large market segments entirely overlooked by the brand’s predominant focus on oversized pilot’s watches, Kern has altered the flight plan. His mission is one of expansion and he hopes to attract women and lure the Asian market into the Breitling fold. The new 38mm Navitimer 1 three-hander would seem to be a direct response to his strategy and plays the unisex card to great effect. Ideal for men with smaller wrists and women who like watches with a more virile personality, let’s take a closer look at the Navitimer 1 Automatic 38.

7 years ago

Buying Guide – The Best GMT/Traveller’s Watches Introduced at Baselworld 2018

GMT Watches… How not to look at this specific category when the star of the show this year, at Baselworld 2018, featured such a complication. You name it: the Rolex GMT Pepsi Steel. Yet, that was not the only Traveller’s watch to be introduced during the fair. In fact, we’ve seen some pretty interesting new offers. Here are 7 very different watches, from an elegant Patek to an ultra-robust Oris, but all with the same purpose: displaying multiple time-zones.

7 years ago