Introducing – Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Series SPB165, SPB167, SPB169, SPB170

Seiko is not missing a beat in its global campaign as a contender to some of Switzerland’s most revered brands. Many of you are familiar with its robust Prospex diving range. However, the Presage collection was a well-kept Japanese secret until it was released worldwide in 2016. Offering the very best Japanese craftsmanship with Seiko’s […]

4 years ago

Hands-on – Raketa Russian Code – Unusually Counterclockwise…

Take a moment and look at this watch… You have five seconds to guess what time it is. And no, it isn’t five-past-ten! Indeed, there’s something unusual, almost disturbing about this watch. And it goes beyond the fact that it is produced in Russia. It also has nothing to do with the planet-like decoration of […]

4 years ago

Hands-on – Mitch Mason Chronicle Collection, Launching on Kickstarter

Something new will soon be launching on Kickstarter, something with a fresh face and its own identity. Kickstarter campaigns to fund watches sometimes feel like a-dime-a-dozen and it is tricky to sort through all that is on offer. As you might know, team-MONOCHROME is rather critical of what we cover from crowdfunded watch projects as […]

4 years ago

Value Proposition – Glycine Combat 6 Classic Moonphase

When talking about affordable field watches, brands like Hamilton and Seiko come to mind with reliable, no-nonsense mechanical pieces. Of course, you can spend more on luxury watches from the likes of Weiss or Longines, but a mature field watch from Glycine with an upscale complication can be had for a surprisingly accessible price. The Combat 6 Classic Moonphase offers the requisite field watch legibility and reliability but spruces things up with a moon phase for a high-end touch. And it’s from a proper Swiss brand that never left Biel/Bienne in over a hundred years of operations to boot.

4 years ago

Hands-on – Frederique Constant Flyback Chronograph Manufacture “Panda”

The Frederique Constant Flyback Chronograph Manufacture got a lot of attention when it appeared in 2017. Not only did it integrate a manufacture calibre with a flyback module developed by the brand, but its price tag of just under EUR 4,000 also blew competitors out of the water. For 2020, Frederique Constant launches two new […]

4 years ago

Hands-on – Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic 39mm

Maurice Lacroix presented its Aikon Automatic collection of luxury sports watches back at Baselworld 2018 with sizes for both men and women. This now large collection, with its bold design and attractive overall quality, is offering the highly popular luxury sports watch aesthetic at affordable prices. “Accessible luxury” is the motto for Maurice Lacroix and […]

4 years ago

Hands-on – Mido Commander Big Date 60th Anniversary Limited Edition

Back in 2018, Mido released the Commander Big Date to celebrate 100 years of watchmaking, an impressive feat for any Swiss brand given challenging events like World War II and the quartz crisis that ravaged the industry. The following year, a special edition debuted to mark the 60th anniversary of one of the brand’s most […]

4 years ago

Hands-on – Seiko 5 Sports Brian May Limited Edition SRPE83K1

Brian May, the lead guitarist of rock group Queen, bought a quartz Seiko 7548 diver when he went to Japan for the first time in 1975. He bought a quartz watch because quartz was all the rage back then and a Seiko diver because it was the king of quartz with a reputation for robust, […]

4 years ago

Hands-on – Delma Continental Chronograph

Throwback chronographs are everywhere these days with pricing all over the map. At the upper end, there are truly iconic pieces like the Breguet Type XX and Rolex Daytona. A wide variety of brands offer more affordable options for us common folk – the Hamilton Intra-Matic Automatic Chronograph and Longines Avigation BigEye come to mind. […]

4 years ago

Hands-on – The Seiko Prospex King Turtle SRPE03 & SRPE05

The Seiko Turtle is undoubtedly Seiko’s most famous and best-selling dive watch. Its combination of attractive dials, user-friendliness, robustness and excellent quality/price ratio has made the Turtle an all-time favourite.  Having a best-selling watch like this is the dream of any brand, but it can also pose a risk. Watches have to evolve and finding […]

4 years ago