Hands-on – Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day Date 70s – a Groovy Trip Down Memory Lane

The 1950s and 1960s have been all the rage on the watchmaking scene of late inspiring models that satisfy our nostalgia for the past beating with contemporary movements. Vintage mania is at all-time high and the 1970s are inching their way onto the style radar with proposals like this groovy Blancpain Bathyscaphe Day Date 70s oozing a cool 1970s vibe. MONOCHROME fell in love with this watch and it made our Top 10 ranking of the best dive watches of Baselworld 2018. Featuring a day and date window like its forebear, the watch is a limited edition of just 500 pieces and will hit the note with vintage hunters – so track down some bell-bottoms and a tie-dye shirt and get ready to hit Studio 54 with a watch straight back from the 1970s.

7 years ago

Hands-on – Bell & Ross Expands the BR03-92 Diver Collection with Blue and Bronze Editions

A year ago, Bell & Ross surprised with the introduction of one of their coolest recent watches, the BR03-92 Diver (first introduced in Black). This was not an easy one, however, as including all the codes of a true dive watch in a squared case might sound tricky. Yet, success was here and the result is more than pleasant. For Baselworld 2018, the brand is creating a collection around this concept, with the new Bell & Ross BR03-92 Diver Blue and Bronze editions.

7 years ago

In-Depth – The New Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 39mm – The Best Tudor BB So Far?

This year, at Baselworld 2018, the main novelty for Tudor was the Black Bay GMT – a watch that was a hot topic of debate, knowing that Rolex also showed its version of the Steel-Pepsi GMT watch. But was this watch the most important piece in the new collection? Maybe not. Additionally, Tudor introduced the Black Bay Fifty-Eight. Weird name for a watch that, at first sight, seems to be just another diving Black Bay. But let’s get straight to the point: this new ref. 79030N could well be the best Tudor Black Bay so far, and here’s why.

7 years ago

First Look – The Cool Oris Carl Brashear Chronograph Limited Edition Bronze

One of the coolest bronze dive watches just received a new sibling, perhaps an even cooler bronze diving chronograph. For 2018 Oris introduces a new Limited Edition based on the original Carl Brashear commemorative watch from two years ago, and now adds a chronograph to the mix. We’ve already given you a short rundown of the watch, but now we had time to go hands-on with the Oris Carl Brashear Chronograph Limited Edition Bronze during Baselworld 2018.

7 years ago

Baselworld 2018 – Delma Shell Star Black Tag Limited Edition

Delma is a family-owned company whose origins go as far back as in 1924 when the Gilomen brothers founded their own company in Lengnau, near Biel. In the fifties and sixties, the diving needs, coupled with the growing popularity of Scuba diving, made the importance of robust and trustworthy underwater instruments paramount. This led to the development of the first dive watches. In 1969, Delma introduced the Periscope, its first timepiece with greater water-resistance. A few years later, in 1975, the brand issued its premier professional diver, the Shell Star. For Baselworld 2018, this watch makes a comeback.

7 years ago

Baselworld 2018 – Seiko Prospex Diver 200m SPB077 & SPB079 – a Modern Recreation of the 1968 Ref. 6159-7001

Last year, Seiko re-created its first ever dive watch, the 62Mas, with a truly faithful re-edition, the Prospex Diver SLA017. Alongside this rather expensive and rare edition, the Japanese manufacture also reinterpreted the 62Mas in a more modern and more accessible way, with the Seiko Prospex Diver SPB051 and SPB053. This year, we’ll the same recipe but now applied to the 1968 Diver 300m. Alongside the rare and faithful Prospex Diver 300m Hi-Beat SLA025, Seiko is also introducing modern and accessible versions, the Prospex Diver 200m SPB077 & SPB079.

7 years ago

First Look – The Updated Rolex Deepsea Ref. 126660

In 2016, Rolex updated one its most iconic watches, the Explorer 1 39mm, by improving some small details that collectors’ complained about. Surprising indeed, but Rolex now does really listen to them and make sure that youthful errors are corrected. This year, for Baselworld 2018, the same happens with the giant Deepsea and the crown has done a few updates to keep the model on par with expectations. Meet the 2018 updated Rolex Deepsea Ref. 126660.

7 years ago

Baselworld 2018 – Longines Legend Diver Black PVD and New Movement

For Baselworld 2018, Longines brings a few updates to one of its most iconic modern watches, the Legend Diver. Not only is now comes with a new and more performant movement, but mainly, it now available in full black – case, dial, strap. And while, here at MONOCHROME, we’re usually not huge fans of full black watches, this new Longines Legend Diver Black PVD has quite some appeal.

7 years ago