Buying Guide – The 10 Best Watches of 2018 from EUR 2,000 to 5,000
As the end of the year is fast approaching, it is time for us at MONOCHROME to take a look back at the main novelties of 2018 and to decide what were the best watches we’ve seen. As we did with our best watches below EUR 2,000, here’s our second buying guide, this time with the best watches of 2018 priced between EUR 2,000 and EUR 5,000. And this has been a tough selection, as this category is crucial for luxury brands – there’s a huge competition in this price range, as “accessible luxury” companies are fighting with entry-level models of more established names. But here is our top-10, just to give you an idea of what you could get with your hard-earned money this year.
The story in a second: So thin you can see through it. If you were to summarise Bulgari’s approach to design and modern-day watchmaking, the Octo would be the result. In less than a decade, the Italian manufacturer has turned a single striking case design into an entire collection, evolving with each new model, and breaking records left, right and centre. One of this year’s newest additions is the Octo Finissimo Skeleton Titanium Blue, and although it’s not exactly a record-breaker, it does not disappoint. The case What more can I say about the case of the Octo Finissimo that we haven’t already said? It’s thin (boy, is it thin!), but slenderness is not the only thing; it’s about the entire package. This Skeleton’s lines are sharp, gliding across its barely there profile like skates on ice. Only that ice is sandblasted titanium, and there’s no mixing of finishes to dazzle and distract; instead it’s all left to the case’s multiple facets and angles to impress – and impress they do. Here, the 40mm Octo case is also slightly thicker than the record-breaking Octo Finissimo Automatic – 5.37mm compared to 5.15mm … to put that in perspective, however, that’s less…
Yesterday, we announced the global release of this curious – what a lush colour scheme! – and extremely capable Presage Limited Edition with that Urushi dial-to-die-for. Today, we’re once again proud to announce that Seiko Australia has trusted us with half of the Australian allocation of eight watches. We have four in the shop as of right now for $3,400, you can buy it here. In typical Time+Tide fashion we will be including a taupe Tuscan leather Time+Tide travel pouch with the watch to make sure that when it goes places, it’s travelling in style. Taking inspiration from the rich tones of the sky just before dawn, the star of the Seiko Presage Urushi Byakudan-nuri SPB085 is, without question, the dial. Crafted using three traditional techniques, to evoke the atmosphere and feeling of the moon just before dawn, the black base of the dial is the traditional Urushi technique in jet black lacquer, with deep red metallic subdials, achieved using a Byakudan-nuri technique. Finally, the glittering crescent of the moon (in the form of the power reserve indicator) is painstakingly applied using maki-e. This precious dial is housed within the 40.5mm steel case, and kept safe under the dual-curved sapphire crystal.…
Editor’s note: There’s really no reason to be talking about this watch at the moment. It’s not new, and it’s certainly not easy to get. But it’s also a rose gold Nautilus. So there’s that. There was a lot of fuss about Patek Philippe’s new watches this year, with the eyebrow-raising Calatrava Pilot and their much more on-brand split-seconds chronograph. If Patek made music rather than watches, the Pilot and the split-seconds would be their latest album’s lead singles. Big, highly produced and attention-grabbing. Initially, they’re the only songs getting played. After a little bit of time and reflection though, we have some important news: our favourite track is actually one that appeared further down on the listing. In fact, it’s a remastered version of one of their greatest hits – the Nautilus. The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1R-001 is structurally and technically identical to the classic 5711 ‘Jumbo’ that was introduced in 2006; itself a direct predecessor to the original Nautilus introduced in 1976 – the 3700. It’s the Nautilus at its most pure — pared back to time, date and that iconic Gérald Genta design. It’s the ultimate luxury sports watch. This is the first time the 5711 has been offered…
