The retro revival is in full swing and the late 1950s are a recurring source of inspiration. Even Vacheron Constantin played the vintage card with a whole new collection – the FIFTYSIX – designed to capture the mood of the fifties and appeal to a hipper client base. Tudor’s latest Black Bay model shrinks in size to 39mm to emulate the brand’s first dive watches and is kitted out with a new in-house movement.
The automotive and watchmaking worlds are inextricably linked: car guys are watch guys and vice-versa. Inspired by his fascination for all things mechanical, luxury author Aaron Sigmond wrote “Drive Time, Watches Inspired by Automobiles, Motorcycles and Racing”, whose first edition was released just two years ago and sold out in just a few months.
There are many ways to tell the time: digital watches show us the time using numbers, whereas the first mechanical clocks did not even have faces, and indicated time by chiming it. Hourglasses, candle clocks or clepsydras are other examples. And there’s a segment that we here at Monochrome, refer to as ‘Other Display‘, which include the URWERK’s MB&F’s and Ressence’s of this world. Still, most watches use hands on a dial to show us the hours and minutes, and as is their wont, watchmakers have displayed great creativity in the way they shape hands (for practical or more fancy purposes). These come in a variety of styles and are an integral part of a watch design. It would be tough to come up with an exhaustive list, but we’ll take a look at the most used hand designs from watches we have photographed over the past few months.
Well, this is a big one, and I feel humbled to announce that non-other than esteemed watch journalist Roberta Naas is joining Monochrome-Watches. Having such an experienced journalist, who has been covering the world of watches since the early 1980s, is a real coup. She’s got more than thirty years in the industry and has written a half a dozen books on the subject. With that comes an incredible amount of knowledge about the industry, about watch models, styles and, of course, about those lovely mechanisms with a beating heart. She joins us to cover the topic many of you told us that you would like to read more about: women’s watches.
Smart watches… even the name annoys me. There are however, a league of (more profound) reasons why we do not cover such wrist ornaments on Monochrome. Of course we get questions from our readers asking why we have not reviewed the ref. 5396 Patek Annual Calendar, and rightfully so. We should have reviewed that watch, and as soon …
Smart watches… even the name annoys me. There are however, a league of (more profound) reasons why we do not cover such wrist ornaments on Monochrome. Of course we get questions from our readers asking why we have not reviewed the ref. 5396 Patek Annual Calendar, and rightfully so. We should have reviewed that watch, and as soon …
Here it is… The big moment of the year for watch brands, watch journalists and watch collectors. Tomorrow, at precisely 12:00, Baselworld 2017 will open its doors to journalists, meaning that most of the new watches will be launched at this exact time. Today, we are on the road to Baselworld 2017: 5 journalists, over 100 meetings, many articles already scheduled for the entire week… Here’s all you need to know.
In just a few days from now, on Wednesday 22 March (official press day), Baselworld, the main watch event of the year, based in the city of Basel, Switzerland, will open its doors. At exactly 12:00, most major brands (Rolex, Omega, Tudor, all brands from the Swatch Group, Seiko) as well as the representative of the independent watchmaking industry will reveal their new collections. Before we can all dream in front of these Baselworld 2017 novelties, let’s have a look back at our favorite watches of Baselworld 2016, as well as a few comments on what is to be expected at and from Baselworld 2017.
Oris Hammerhead limited edition – As sharks are facing extinction, Oris unveils its robust dive watch, the Aquis, in a limited edition to help raise funds for a shark conservation project run by the NGO Pelagios Kakunjá, and supported by Oris ambassador and professional diver Jérôme Delafosse. Specific Grey dial, Day-Date display, combined with the new Aquis style.
End of last year we already announced that Tom Mulraney and Matthew Catellier strengthened our team, today we can report that Xavier Markl joins our team as Director of Business Development. You might be familiar with his name, as he wrote our Technical Perspective guides, with concise introductions to all things technical in wristwatches. Xavier isn’t new to the watch industry, as he has an already impressive career working for some of the most esteemed brands.