Otsuka Lotec… The Japanese brand (or should we call it an atelier) that makes some noise in the global watch collecting community, despite being unavailable outside of Japan – which might partially explain its popularity. A true JDM sensation, Otsuka Lotec is the brainchild of Jiro Katayama, a car designer turned self-taught, independent watchmaker, specialised […]
When it comes to finding a solid, accessible yet appealing watch meant to be a reliable companion for most of the moments in your life, from the office to the weekend fun, the choice is wide, to say the least. With its Commander collection, Swiss brand Mido has a strong alternative, with a modern, sleek […]
What We KnowFollowing the release of the No. 9, Otsuka Lotec now introduces the No. 8, a new model also featuring a square case. Like other watches from the brand, the No. 8 does not rely on conventional hands to display the time. Instead, it employs an inventive display system that combines both a jumping hour and a retrograde minute indication.Time is displayed through three distinct elements, with the minutes and hours marked by red accents. First is the jumping hour, referred to in this mo
The Horological Society of New York(HSNY) announces auction lots for its 160th Anniversary Gala, to be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. The live charity auction, presented by Sotheby's, will take place between courses during the black-tie celebration and will feature a variety of exceptional lots spanning rare timepieces, bespoke experiences, and one-of-a-kind horological objects. Proceeds will directly benefit HSNY's financial aid programs, educational cl
Junghans is better known for its Bauhaus-inspired pieces, such as the Max Bill series, but the German watchmaker has also ventured into the pilots’ and sports territories. With the new Aquaris series, the brand expands its Sport collection by adding four new references: the Aquaris Diver with green or orange accents, and the more lifestyle-oriented […]
If you’ve been reading MONOCHROME for some time now, you might know that I have a very strong connection with the Rolex Explorer 36mm, in particular the 1990s reference 14270. Not only is it a watch that I consider to be the perfect example of what a yougntimer is, but it’s also, in my books, […]
Since its debut in 2023, Vulcain’s Skindiver Nautique has quickly moved from a niche revival piece to a regular part of the brand’s present-day catalogue. These watches draw inspiration from Vulcain’s 1960s skin-diving models. Back then, diving as a hobby was gaining popularity, and compact, practical dive watches like the Nautique felt at home both in and […]
On a snowy and wind-whipped weekend in Munich last month, more than a thousand jewelry brands descended on a sprawling conference centre on the outskirts of the Bavarian capital. Inhorgenta Munich, founded in 1974, has evolved into one of Europe's key business trade fairs for the sector, attracting more than 25,000 visitors from about 100 countries. But the show is not just for traditional jewelry buyers and sellers these days. As the global watch industry has come under pressure amid falterin
What We KnowHajime Asaoka has been a mainstay in the world of independent watchmaking for quite some time now, operating as one of the earliest representatives of Japanese craftsmanship. But his brand, Kurono Tokyo, founded in 2019 with affordable pricing and wider releases, brought Asaoka-san to a whole new audience and has become far more widely known. He's also partially responsible for bringing Jiro Katayama and Ōtsuka Lōtec to greater visibility. While the Kurono Tokyo brand has done time
Glashütte Original released its Serenade Luna in 2024, featuring moon phase indications. Unlike the Panomatic Luna, which is essentially a scaled-down adaptation of the men’s PanomaticLunar with its off-centred dial and Panorama date window, the Serenade Luna was conceived from the start as a women’s watch with a petite 32.5mm diameter, a sprinkling of diamonds and […]
People often say “bigger is better”, but also “big things come in small packages”. While both statements can be very true in multiple aspects of life, it also goes for watches. In some instances, you want a bit of size and heft in a watch, while on other occasions, you want something a bit more […]
There’s an endless amount of mechanical wristwatches on the market today from a seemingly endless amount of brands (large and small), but almost all watches fall into a specific style (assuming it’s not from MB&F or Urwerk). However, many take on multiple roles and blur those lines – an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is a […]
If you think about Volvo estate cars, you probably will think about those large, boxy ones from the 1980s and 1990s. While very practical, they weren’t necessarily the most sexy cars, apart from a few special ones like the 850 T5R. But there was a time when Volvo made an estate car that was gracious, […]
Founded in New York in 1921 by Romanian-born brothers Benjamin, Oscar, and Ralph Lazrus, Benrus relied on Swiss production, centred in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and during the 1930s and 1940s, it became known for its pilots and military watches. Early models such as the Flyer and Airman were popular among the airline pilots, helping establish the […]
Suppose you know the Dutch indie watchmaking scene, then De Rijke & Co. is the name you must be familiar with. Founded by Laurens De Rijke, the brand began almost by accident during a vintage Vespa trip, when the idea for a watch specifically designed for driving emerged. De Rijke’s concept of a driver’s watch […]
Bremont‘s aviation-focused Altitude collection just added a new reference with a playful yet historically grounded collaboration: the Altitude MB Meteor Felix the Cat, created in partnership with Universal Products & Experiences. Why? It turns out that the cartoon character has a place in aviation culture, serving as a long-standing symbol of courage, humour, and good […]
What We KnowToday, Dutch brand De Rijke & Co. introduces a series of three new limited-edition takes on its distinctive driver watch design, in collaboration with artist Guy Allen. A successor to De Rijke's previous Guy Allen collaboration, Land, Sea, and Air, the new Series 2 triples down on the automotive component of those designs, with a trio of Amalfi watches featuring different cars on the dial. The "Amazon" features a Land Rover Defender driving through a green jungle-like backgroun
While the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games have recently come to an end, it is time now for the Paralympic Winter Games to begin, as they will be held between March 6th and 15th, once again in Northern Italy (between Milano and Cortina). Omega‘s involvement with the Olympic Games (summer or winter) as the Official […]
Take it easy, reader: another Friday's upon us. You've made it. Here are some interesting watches to distract you from the fact that, as of early Sunday morning, many of us will need to reset our internal and external clocks and watches due to daylight saving time.Each week, I end up finding a few watches that seem worth highlighting, but maybe not about spending a few hundred words on. To that end, while I will never buy a Patek 3940, I admire them immoderately and find them beautiful, and he
Following the success of the Millesime collection, a series of vintage-inspired, 1930s-based watches, Raymond Weil went on to revamp one of its older collections, the Toccata. For nearly 50 years, the Toccata has explored the realms of shaped dress watches, finding inspiration in classically composed music. But at the end of 2025, RW presented the Toccata Heritage, […]