Though relatively young (31 years old), Frederique Constant has proven to be one of the most creative brands in the field of “accessible luxury”. In three decades, the brand has managed to create multiple collections and to bring complications to the masses. Best of all, the brand even has some timepieces driven by its own […]
We all know that the real watch war is not waged for the throne of high complications, but for the far simpler three-hand and date models. Wristwatches are celebrating their first century of existence (they became popular after the WW1) and the idea that they are mainly a tool to accomplish a basic function (telling […]
To many, the notion of elegant, dressy watches usually means beautiful finishes, high-end movements and precious metal cases. In short: expensive pieces. Yet, Baselworld 2019 proved that you don’t necessarily need to spend a 5-figure amount to look classy. So, in order to avoid going to the bank for a mortgage or to enter a […]
As you may already know, Seiko is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Spring Drive technology this year. To mark what is in fact quite a momentous occasion, Grand Seiko debuted two new hand-wound Spring Drive movements and a total of four different watches at Baselworld. We recently spent some hands-on time with three of […]
During Baselworld 2019, Rolex presented a steel version of the classic Datejust 36 – well, the Steel/Rolesor version with white gold bezel to be precise. A sibling of the Datejust 36 released last year in Everose gold and steel, the new Datejust is a more affordable proposal with white gold used exclusively on the bezel. With […]
Classicism, elegance and traditional design are the keywords when it comes to Blancpain’s Villeret collection. Mostly available with gold cases (white or red) and featuring white dials, these watches are the best example of the understated dress watch. However, for some, it might lack a certain audacity in its design. Without going to extremes, Blancpain […]
I’m thrilled to announce this news. Machiel Hulsman, former IT consultant turned watchmaker, has created the very first entirely handmade wristwatch from the Netherlands. We have the legacy of Christiaan Huygens, the inventor of the pendulum clock, Christiaan van der Klaauw, a watch and clockmaker who created the smallest planetarium (in a wristwatch), and the […]
Like a good thriller, the Calatrava Weekly Calendar 5212A is packed with subtle clues that offer us a glimpse into the strategies of its maker. More complex than the élite and minimalist line-up of Calatrava watches, the Weekly Calendar also departs from its family heritage of precious metal cases and flaunts a stainless steel case. […]
Regular visitors to MONOCHROME already know that we’re big fans of the incredible work that comes out of Seiko. Few, if any, brands can match the Japanese company’s unique blend of expert craftsmanship, technical expertise and value for money. A prime example of this comes in the form of the Presage brand, which made its […]
Tutima is known first and foremost for its sporty and robust tool watches, in particular, pilot or aviation-influenced timepieces powered by Swiss workhorses… However, the brand also offers elegant gold timepieces with refined in-house movements within the Patria collection. At Baselworld 2019, Tutima unveiled its first Patria in steel, offered at a much more approachable […]