When The Crown Goes Classic… The Rolex Cellini Moonphase Ref. 50535

Usually, when you imagine a watch bearing the name Rolex, you have something purpose-built, casual-sport (not always, but usually the dressier you can think about is a Day-Date) and quite simple in terms of complications (to the exception of the Sky-Dweller… but it is one watch in the middle of mainly time-and-date pieces). Yet, in 2014, Rolex revived a name synonymous of elegance and dressed watches: Cellini. Built around a classical and subtle case, this watch already introduced several complications, with all of them being rather practical. But what if The Crown goes where you don’t expect them… into poetical complications. Not very Rolex you’ll admit. Though, this is what you’ll get with the new Rolex Cellini Moonphase Ref. 50535 and it feels very satisfying.

8 years ago

Brice Goulard’s Baselworld 2017 Top 10 Favorite Watches

After Xavier’s and Frank’s Top 10 watches of Baselworld 2017, after our list of the 10 most read articles of the fair (just to give us an indication of what collectors loved), it is time for your humble editor to come with his 10 favorite watches of Baselworld 2017. First all, before going into further details, this ranking is not about the 10 best watches of the show but it is based on my personal tastes – and as collecting dive and sports watches myself, you’ll see it is a little biased. From a super-friendly priced Oris to a complex Patek, here are my 10 favorite watches of 2017 (and yes, all of them are on my wish-list).

8 years ago

The 10 Stories You Enjoyed Most During Baselworld 2017

Baselworld 2017 is over. Thus, we, at the redaction, have to come with our Top 10 watches of the show. You’ve already seen Xavier Markl’s picks and Frank Geelen’s top 10 watches, combined with a quite critical take on the fair. And don’t worry, my best of the show will come later this week. But what about you, readers? What are the 10 watches you enjoyed most during Baselworld 2017? The deal is simple: what were the 10 most read articles from the 22nd of March till the 30th of March 2017. And the result is not that surprising…

8 years ago

All you need to know about the Rolex Sea-Dweller 43mm Ref. 126600 – Why it is like it is? (REVIEW)

Both extremely expected, very surprising and somehow controversial, as maybe not what long-time Rolex collectors were hopping for, the new Rolex Sea-Dweller 43mm Ref. 126600 has been one of the main talking pieces of Baselworld 2017, just like the Ceramic / Steel Daytona made the headlines in 2016… But not for the same reasons. The main novelty of Rolex for 2017 is indeed less easy to understand than the star of the previous collection, and this is why we had to give you all the possible explanations about this Rolex Sea-Dweller 43mm Ref. 126600, a watch that needs more than just a quick glance to be perfectly apprehended.

8 years ago

All you need to know about the Rolex Sea-Dweller 43mm Ref. 126600 – Why it is like it is? (REVIEW)

Both extremely expected, very surprising and somehow controversial, as maybe not what long-time Rolex collectors were hopping for, the new Rolex Sea-Dweller 43mm Ref. 126600 has been one of the main talking pieces of Baselworld 2017, just like the Ceramic / Steel Daytona made the headlines in 2016… But not for the same reasons. The main novelty of Rolex for 2017 is indeed less easy to understand than the star of the previous collection, and this is why we had to give you all the possible explanations about this Rolex Sea-Dweller 43mm Ref. 126600, a watch that needs more than just a quick glance to be perfectly apprehended.

8 years ago

Frank Geelen’s Baselworld 2017 Top 10 and Musing about the Fair

Back in 2008 the world faced a new challenge. The worldwide financial crisis began with the collapse of Lehman Brothers. The following year the watch industry was kind of nervous and saw a small drop in sales. And while the financial crisis went on, on a global scale (we’re still recovering from that), the big crisis in the watch industry didn’t really come through… yet. Last year was the first year that brands and luxury groups published numbers that showed serious signs of the crisis, and this year’s numbers are actually more than worrisome. This year the crisis could also be felt in the novelties as presented by the brands, not only during the SIHH in January, but also at the 100th edition of the Baselworld Watch & Jewelry show that has just come to an end. Still, it was possible to list ten watches that got me exited! However first some musings about this year’s edition of Baselworld…

8 years ago

Throwback – Our past April Fools posts

Team Monochrome has arrived back home from an exhausting Baselworld fair. Brice, Robin and I arrived back home on Tuesday night, and Xavier added an extra day of Baselworld madness before he returned home. While the rest of the team recovered from the blisters on their feet, and the overall fatigue, my schedule was (again) packed with meetings, including the recording of today’s radioshow at Business News Radio. And guess what… I completely forgot that today is the first of April. So to make up for that, a throwback to our previous April Fools posts.

8 years ago

Xavier Markl’s Top 10 of Baselworld 2017

The 100th anniversary edition of Baselworld has just came to an end. It has been another packed event, despite a strange overall impression and the current situation that prompted brands to be more cautious. As for each fair, the offerings are diverse but we have to come with our highlights. A tough choice but as we had to pick ten, here are the Baselworld 2017 watches that have caught my eyes – presented without specific order… But as always with Monochrome watches, it is guaranteed 100% quartz- and android-free!

8 years ago