Category: Chronographs

Tudor and its Heritage – The 1970s Chronographs and the Tudor Heritage Chrono

As we’ve seen in our two first episodes of “Tudor and its Heritage“, the brand did an important move into sports watches in the middle of the 1950s, starting with the Submariners, followed by the Ranger. These vintage pieces led to the creation of two current watches, the Heritage Black Bay and the Heritage Ranger, two pieces paying tribute to the rich past of Tudor Watches. However, there’s a another type of watches that we didn’t explore yet, and in this field, Tudor has been very active: chronographs. Today, we are going to look at how, starting in 1970, the brand created some highly iconic and bold chronographs, which later inspired the super-cool Tudor Heritage Chrono.

9 years ago

Blue is the New Black at Zenith – 5 Iconic Pieces now Dressed in Blue

Blue is the new black at Zenith. Over the past few months, the manufacture has released a series of hot blue dial watches that would lend themselves to both formal and casual occasions. Five iconic models are celebrated in a whole new light and provide a great alternative to the ubiquitous black or white-dialed watches.

9 years ago

Introducing – Hublot Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph Concrete Jungle made with Artist Tristan Eaton

Hublot is no stranger for doing the unorthodox thing, whether it being on the technical side or on the aesthetical side. Talk about innovative technical prowess and the Hublot LaFerrari pops up. Mention weird or wonderful materials and perhaps you think of the Hublot Classic Fusion Berluti, with its leather dials. Now though, Hublot incorporates a rough-and-tough material, not often used for watchmaking: concrete! Here is the Hublot Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph Concrete Jungle made with Artist Tristan Eaton.

9 years ago

5 Cool Finds – 5 “Youngtimer” Rolex Watches for a lifetime

In our 3 previous episodes of “5 Cool Finds“, we’ve been looking at specific types of watches – multiple time-zones, super-complicated and dive watches. Probably, you’ve seen that in every article, there was at least one Rolex, and if you know your thing about watchmaking, you do understand why this brand is so well represented. Thus, instead of having one Rolex in a selection of 5 watches, we decided with our partner Chronext to focus this week only on this brand. That doesn’t mean we’re about to change our habits. You know the deal, 5 watches, all “youngtimers”, meaning not vintage but not in the collection anymore. What we have are 5 Rolex watches, from the last 2 decades, with that unique iconic flair and that are made to last a lifetime.

9 years ago

Oris & Audi – The Oris Audi Sport III Limited Edition at WEC 6 Hours of Nurburgring

For returning readers it is a known fact most members of team Monochrome are car-guys to some extent. Obviously, both watchmaking and the automotive industry are intertwined extensively, so when Oris gave us the chance to attend the FIA World Endurance Championship 6 Hours of Nürburgring race, I jumped on the occasion! 6 hours of the fastest prototypes and road-car-based racers on the planet, blasting around an historical track sounds like a good way to spend a weekend! Oh, and there was a new watch. Quite a cool, special watch, to be handed to the drivers of Audi Sport: the Oris Audi Sport III Limited Edition.

9 years ago

Inside the Renault F1 Facilities with the Bell & Ross BR-X1 RS16 on the wrist

The Parisian brand Bell & Ross is most known for creating aviation inspired watches in a bold, squared style. Of course the collection consists of much more, including round cased watches, like the Vintage collection or the Aeronavale collection. Although most of these are still highly derived from avionics, Bell & Ross is also embarking into the world of automotive and racing-inspired watches. They have teamed-up with Renault F1 as an official timing partner for this year (more on that later in a dedicated chapter of our Watches and Formula 1 series) and now offer the BR-X1 RS16 and BR-X1 RS16 Tourbillon. We’ve had the chance to go hands-on, inside the Renault F1 facility in Enstone, the birthplace of Formula 1.

9 years ago

Several New Vacheron Constantin Harmony Models, Including Complete Calendar Moonphase and New Iterations

When in 2015 Vacheron Constant presented the Harmony, it was already an entire collection, comprising a simple Dual Time, a small size chronograph (women-oriented), a Monopusher Chronograph (the superb 3300), a Tourbillon Chronograph and a stunning ref. 3500 ultra-thin, automatic, split-seconds chronograph. Even if there was no new editions at the 2016 Edition of the SIHH, which was entirely focussed on the Overseas, it’s time now for the Harmony Collection to see evolutions. As a sort of early Pre-SIHH, here are several new Vacheron Constantin Harmony models, including a brand new and elegant Complete Calendar Moonphase and new iterations of existing versions.

9 years ago

Introducing – Patek Philippe Nautilus 40th Anniversary Editions, including Platinum 3-hand 5711/1P and WG Chronograph 5976/1G (with price)

40 years ago, Patek Philippe introduced a watch that has become an icon over the past 4 decades. This watch was designed by the legendary watch-designer Gerald Genta. Inspired by the porthole, legend told it was drawn on a restaurant table in 5 minutes. It was the Nautilus ref. 3700, the first sports watch of the brand, which, in 1976, created the lineage, and which is today celebrating its 40th anniversary. As expected, Patek Philippe is about to offer its collectors dedicated jubilee editions. And there won’t be one but two of these Patek Philippe Nautilus 40th Anniversary Editions, including a platinum 3-hand 5711/1P and a white gold Chronograph 5976/1G. However, we have to say that we were both excited and also a bit disappointed by these two, and here is why…

9 years ago

5 Cool Finds – 5 Robust and Bold Sports Luxury Chronographs to consider

To follow with last week’s article, we continue our 5 Cool Finds selections, still with our trustful partner Chronext. We already explained to you all about this London-based online marketplace for buying, selling, and servicing of luxury watches – and here, online goes together with the same security and service as any high-end boutique. What about the “5 Cool Finds”? Simple: 5 watches, not new, not vintage, most of the time young-timers (that we believe are the new trend) that we selected for you. Today, we go for something highly masculine: a selection of 5 cool, luxurious and robust sports chronographs that will definitely look great on the beach, on a boat, on a racing track or for your most active passions.

9 years ago

Introducing: Zenith El Primero Range Rover Special Edition – Price and Specs

If you’re looking at the photo above, you could think that we’re about to show you a new Zenith model named “Range Rover”. Well, that isn’t exactly the case, however it’s not far besides the truth. Today Zenith launches the Zenith El Primero Range Rover Special Edition, and they do that together with British car brand Land Rover (the makers of the iconic Range Rover). This Special Edition underlines the intend for a long-term partnership between both esteemed brands, and to celebrate two icons that both saw the light of day for the first time in 1969: the El Primero and the Range Rover.

9 years ago