Perpetual calendars are, without a doubt, an integral part of Audemars Piguet’s history, and the Royal Oak has carried its strand very convincingly since 1984. With the introduction of the Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Openworked powered by the new Calibre 7139, AP signals a clear generational shift. Released alongside a Code 11.59 counterpart, which […]
Today, we’re launching a new service to enable you to find answers to your (horological) questions faster and more easily. The new MONOCHROME AI chat will answer your questions, similar to ChatGPT, however, based entirely on all MONOCHROME content of the past 20 years. Since we’ve seen the rise of ChatGPT, Gemini and the likes, […]
Pforzheim is known as Germany’s “Golden City” for its jewellery and watchmaking (alongside Glashütte) activities, and both Laco and Circula have deep roots there. Each brand is celebrating an anniversary, 100 years for Laco and 70 years for Circula, and they’ve partnered to celebrate with a pair of watches honouring each brand and German watchmaking […]
We’ve all had the experience of putting down our watch a little too carelessly, and accidentally scratching it on something sharp, or even worse, knocking it off and seeing it fly across the room in Hollywood-esque slow-motion while screaming “NOOOOooooo!!!” at the top of your lungs. It’s happened to me, and I know it has […]
It's not that often that one of the biggest brands in high-end watchmaking launches a new collection, and the Neo Frame Jumping Hour couldn't come at a better time for Audemars Piguet. On the heels of the brand's 150th Anniversary, not long after the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak, just after the sendoff to their RD line with the impressive RD#5, it was time for a fresh start. But what does that start look like? It turns out, it looks a lot like the past, revamped for the modern market.Here
To mark its entry into the Formula 1 paddock via its new sponsorship deal with Aston Martin and the Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 team, Breitling is launching a limited edition version of its iconic flagship chronograph, the Navitimer. The Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team is limited to 1959 pieces–a nod to the year Aston Martin first joined the Formula 1 series. The watch itself doesn't stray too far from the well-established design cues that make the
Since founding Sarpaneva Watches in Helsinki, the independent Finnish watchmaker Stepan Sarpaneva has consistently explored an approach shaped by the Nordic visual universe, mechanical honesty and a powerful sense of narrative. Best known for his Korona case design and expressive moon displays, Sarpaneva has built a recognisable catalogue which offers a combination of traditional watchmaking […]
British indie brand Farer was founded in 2015 by four friends with backgrounds in watch retail. Using Swiss-made mechanical movements, Farer offers a portfolio of confident designs with an eccentric British twist and competitive prices, thanks to the brand’s direct-to-consumer approach that eliminates intermediaries. The name Farer, derived from Old English terms like seafarer and […]
What We KnowIf you're like me, you've been counting down the days until the return of the Formula 1 season—which is March 7, if you were wondering. We're firmly in the home stretch now, and IWC's latest announcement helps the wait go a little faster. Today, the brand reveals two limited-edition pilot's watches created in collaboration with Mercedes-AMG driver George Russell: the Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 George Russell and the Pilot's Watch Automatic 41 George Russell.Russell's signature bl
Origin StoryThere are two origin stories for Niton: the original and the revival. The brand originated in Geneva in 1919, founded by watchmaker Auguste Jeannet and former Vacheron Constantin employees Alfred Bourquin and Edouard Morel. The name comes from the Pierres du Niton, the rocks in Geneva's harbor that serve as a national geodetic reference point for navigation. With their work, the brand became known for ultra-thin watches, shaped movements, artistic creations, and yes, jump hours. By
Launched in 2021, the Tonda PF collection introduced a new vision of contemporary haute horlogerie built around restraint, proportion and what CEO Guido Terreni calls “private luxury”, watches designed to be lived with rather than constantly replaced. Among the first models was the Tonda PF Micro-Rotor, a slim automatic watch with a date display. The […]
What We KnowIf you don't know Adrian Barker, you should. He's the guy behind the strap and accessories online shop Bark & Jack, but more importantly, an influential voice in the watch world via his eponymous YouTube channel and The Movement podcast with Britt Pearce. Barker grew up around military watches and has a penchant for well-built, purpose-driven, toolish watches that value minimalist aesthetics and get the job done. So it's a notable event that today, for the first time, Barker ha
British driver George Russell, currently racing for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, joined IWC’s paddock of ambassadors in 2022. Exchanging the steering wheel of his F1 for the design board, Russell worked alongside IWC’s creative team to design the new limited edition Pilot’s Watches, emblazoned with the F1 pilot’s signature blue colour featured on his […]
The revival of a long-dormant watchmaking name always sparks our curiosity at MONOCHROME. Born in 1919, the Manufacture des Montres Niton S.A. became known for its watches and movements featuring jumping hours. Niton supplied movements to Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Cartier, Gubelin and many more… Today, the brand returns with the Niton Prima, an elaborate […]
Breitling has struck a deal with Aston Martin and the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team to be their official watch partner, vaulting the Swiss brand, better known for its strong links to aviation, into the crowded field of F1 and motorsports watch sponsors. The Grenchen, Switzerland-based watchmaker says it signed a multi-year agreement with the U.K. auto company and its racing teams that will see its logo visible on the Aston Martin Aramco car and team apparel when the new livery is reveal
In recent years, Audemars Piguet has decisively refined the Code 11.59 collection, transforming it into a serious platform for contemporary haute horlogerie. For 2026, the brand unveils a fresh interpretation of the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon, now with an ivory-toned signature dial and a sophisticated mix of white gold and black […]
Audemars Piguet introduced the Code 11.59 in 2019, emerging as a contemporary AP-style expression of classic watchmaking. Over the years, the line has matured, expanded and reviewed its proportions. Introduced in 2023, the 38mm case offered a more compact and versatile interpretation of the Code 11.59 design. In early 2026, the brand presents two new […]
British Watchmakers' Day is widely regarded as one of the leading watch events in the UK. You see, for many years, numerous attempts have been made to host watch events this side of the pond (specifically in London), and very few have not only stuck around, but also captured the soul and spirit of domestic watch collecting.There's a thriving community of watch collectors here at every touchpoint, and like the city itself, it's a melting pot of tastes, preferences, styles, and influences. This
Urwerk’s mechanical ingenuity and sci-fi vessels have propelled the brand into the realm of cosmic watchmaking. Renowned for their wandering hour and satellite indications, founders Martin Frei and Felix Baumgartner captured the three dimensions of time, rotation and orbit with the UR-100 SpaceTime of 2019. An evolution of the UR-100, the UR-100V returns to Earth […]
The trend for stone dials has had a bandwagon effect in the watch industry, with players, small and large, succumbing to the temptation of adorning their models with exotic stones and even slivers of meteorite. However, like Piaget, Audemars Piguet got a head start in the field, with stone dials on its ultra-thin dress watches […]