40,735 articles · 5,432 videos found · page 33 of 1539
Monochrome
The Bulgari Bulgari remains one of the brand‘s most iconic watches, alongside the Octo and the Serpenti, defined by its clean design and bold bezel engraving. Its story began in 1975 when Bulgari introduced the Bulgari Roma, a limited-edition timepiece designed by Gianni Bulgari as a personal gift for the brand’s top 100 clients. Featuring […]
Teddy Baldassarre
Some of the most interesting and coveted watches on the market were designed as tools for professionals in fields that are more exciting than those of the average nine-to-fiver. Divers, race car drivers, and pilots have spurred on many of the most popular tool watch designs on the market today. Take, for example, the Rolex Submariner, designed for divers, the TAG Heuer Monaco, used for auto racing both onscreen and off by Steve McQueen, and the Breitling Navitimer, an aviation icon for decades. More than just jewelry, the timekeepers worn by these professionals, plying trades in which seconds count, were depended upon in some cases to save their lives. Pilots had to rely on their watches for critical information like calculating the distance traveled and the amount of fuel left. However, thanks in large part to digital tech, much has changed, and many great pilot’s watches are now used as heritage-infused time tellers in less austere circumstances, though the watches themselves are still more than capable. But, before we get too far ahead, what do we mean when we talk about pilot’s watches? Today, there’s an entire genre of watches dedicated to aviation. Some are homages to vintage designs, while others are modern variations on those earliest pilot’s watches. Some pilot watches are still tools, and act as backups to onboard instrumentation for professional pilots, while others are simply accessories for frequent fliers. In either case, the pilot watch genre ...
Monochrome
Seiko has shown great skill and creativity when it comes to its watches, mostly in the art of dial making. Ranging from simple to complex, there’s always an interesting story surrounding the inspiration and the creation of its dials. Whether it be a texture of Edo silk, or the shift in colour in the waters […]
Monochrome
Traditional dive watches have never waned in popularity, despite modern diving computers and even smart watches pushing them into technical obsolescence. The dawn of early divers in the 1950s is defined by two brands and two watches – the Rolex Submariner and the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. State of the art at the time and able […]
Worn & Wound
If you’ve been keeping up with our Ride to Conquer Cancer (RTCC) initiative, you already know the story: a two-day, 200km cycling challenge supporting the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and a team of riders rallying together to raise funds and awareness. You’ve seen the custom StrapHabit x Worn & Wound RTCC Strap (still available here, with 100% of proceeds donated). Today, we’re adding the next piece to the project – the BOLDR Conquer Limited Edition Chronograph. Designed by longtime friend and RTCC rider Matt Smith-Johnson and built by BOLDR, this special edition chronograph is limited to just 100 units, with $80 from every sale going directly to our RTCC fundraiser. This isn’t just a commemorative piece - it’s a fully capable tool watch with thoughtful details and purpose baked into every element. The BOLDR Conquer Limited Edition Chronograph retails for $399, and with every purchase, $80 goes directly to our RTCC fundraising campaign - no percentages, no fine print. Each watch ships with two straps: the StrapHabit sailcloth strap many of you already know and love, plus an additional green nylon strap fitted with custom titanium hardware. It’s a rugged, ready-for-anything combo that suits the spirit of the ride. This limited edition marks a first for BOLDR: the Venture case scaled up to 41mm, crafted in titanium for a perfect balance of durability and lightness. It measures 12.2mm thick, with a lug-to-lug of 46mm and a 20mm lug width, making it a sol...
Video
Teddy Baldassarre
My first Rolex was an Explorer II 216570 with black dial and I absolutely loved that watch. It was rarer than the GMT-Master II or Submariner, and didn’t have the ceramic bezel, which I found to be a little too glossy and “luxe” for what I was looking for in a watch at the time. I kept and wore the heck out of that watch for almost six years until I just felt like it didn’t speak to me anymore. The 42mm wide “Maxi” case seemed too big and the big, thick hour and minutes hands just began to bug me. I can’t explain why I was so dead set on the 216570 rather than the older 16570 at the time but I can certainly say that now, in 2025, the Rolex Explorer II 16570 is not just my preferred iteration of the modern spelunking watch, but an all-timer from Rolex. I’ve started to refer to the 16570 as a “Forever Rolex” because it ticks all the boxes - size, reliability, dual-time functionality, and discrete aesthetics - all while remaining one of the few Rolexes that isn’t immediately recognizable to every casual observer. Let’s take a look at why I’m such a big fan of this old-school Rolex. Case and Specs: The Other Rolex GMT Measuring 40mm wide and 12.2mm thick with a 47mm lug-to-lug height, the 16570 is an eminently wearable Rolex. And while this is very obviously a sport/tool watch, these proportions make for a very versatile and subdued piece. No, there isn’t a rotating bezel with a nickname-ready color combo here. Rather, there is a demure, fixed ...
Fratello
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss a recent news story about another questionable vintage watch. We aren’t taking sides, but it allows us to mention, yet again, the pain it causes the hobby. Still, plenty of great pieces are out there if you do your homework. This podcast […] Visit Fratello On Air: How Vintage Watch Shenanigans Hurt The Hobby to read the full article.
Monochrome
The story of the origins of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore has been told many times, typically casting Stephen Urquhart, then co-CEO of Audemars Piguet, as the visionary mind behind the watch. According to the commonly accepted version, Urquhart’s sharp commercial instincts led him to assign a young designer, Emmanuel Gueit, the task of […]
Monochrome
It’s always refreshing to hear that brands actually listen to their fan base… Of course, it’s hard to please everyone, but at least some are trying hard to evolve according to the suggestions they receive. And sometimes, it results in a new watch that looks exactly like we’d have envisioned it. Such is the story […]
Fratello
Last week, Jorg explained how the Alpine Eagle has carved out its spot in an overcrowded category. The brand’s persistence and creativity in drastically changing things made the collection a success story. Today, it’s my turn to look at Chopard’s new Quattro Mark IV models from its elegant L.U.C collection. The Quattro is famous for […] Visit Hands-On With The Chopard L.U.C Quattro Mark IV In Platinum And Rose Gold to read the full article.
Video
Monochrome
Copies of popular products are inevitable. Many cars look alike, many drinks taste the same, and Apple and Android steal from each other every year. There are Submariner wannabes and Royal Oak rip-offs – it’s just how the world works. That said, who doesn’t like a good “Weird Al” Yankovic version of a hit song? […]
Monochrome
Do you remember where you were back in June 1993 when Jurassic Park first roared onto movie screens? Even more so… Do you remember the thrill of watching that incredible story unfold? The wonder of the dinosaurs, the groundbreaking special effects, and that feeling of what if this could actually happen? Now, you’ve got a […]
Fratello
There were plenty of standout releases at Watches and Wonders 2025, but one watch keeps coming up in my memories. The Arnold & Son Constant Force Tourbillon 11 was a delight in the metal. Plus, the reason for the watch centers on a story with actual meaning. Watch companies indeed find a reason to celebrate […] Visit Introducing: The Arnold & Son Constant Force Tourbillon 11 to read the full article.
Monochrome
IWC is busy this year rolling out new iterations of its Ingenieur, a collection that underwent a major revamp in 2023 to resurface with its Gérald Genta heritage intact. The watch we’re introducing today comes with a fun story involving actor Brad Pitt and the upcoming movie F1. What was initially a prop watch for […]
Monochrome
Just a couple of years ago, Rolex surprised a lot of people with a quite controversial watch, the “Lefty” or “Destro” GMT-Master II 126720VTNR. It put the date on the left, the cyclops on the left, and the crown and crown guards on the left. Now though, the story continues as Rolex drops in a […]
Video
A defence of the Code 11.59, the AP collection most collectors love to dismiss, with a close look at the case architecture and movements.
Fratello
Last year, I asked, “Can we appreciate the Rolex Submariner as just a great dive watch?” That question and article sparked a lot of debate. Today, I am asking a similar question of the Submariner’s spiritual competitor, the 42.3mm Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique. “Icon” is one of the most overused terms in the watch world. […] Visit Can We Appreciate The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms As Just A Good Dive Watch? to read the full article.
Fratello
After spending time with the Rolex Submariner ref. 5508 and the A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Chronograph, I get yet another chance to explore a personal grail watch today. Yes, life can be good when you have special access to some of the world’s finest watches. This time, I got to strap on a 1978 […] Visit Exploring Evergreens: Thomas Goes Hands-On With The Original Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 3700/1A to read the full article.
Time+Tide
How did this discreet piece of Gallic perfection reach icon status? Read on - the origin story of the Cartier Tank may surprise you.The post Why everyone from Muhammad Ali to Andy Warhol fell for the Cartier Tank appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Monochrome
M.A.D.Editions… One of the main sensations of the last 5 years, a project started by MB&F; founder Maximilian Büsser as a token of appreciation towards his community of suppliers and collectors, which was not meant to become a brand. That was until the story broke (thanks to our editor Robin) despite the absence of an […]
Monochrome
The story of Citizen goes as far back as 1918, and the first pocket watch bearing the name was introduced in 1924. Today, the brand is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its flagship collection, The Citizen. It was introduced in 1995 as a line that is committed to the fundamental functions of a watch: “accurate […]
Video
A candid take on the state of the Swiss luxury market, where the value really lives, and what is happening behind the headlines at the major maisons.
Monochrome
In 1965, Seiko entered the race for the best dive watch, much later than the Swiss did. Seiko released its first ever dive watch, known as the 62MAS, the mother of all upcoming aquatic watches of the brand. It’s a story that we’ve told many times on MONOCHROME. What matters most today is that 2025 […]
Quill & Pad
Sergio Galanti takes a look at the story behind the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch to learn how this iconic watch was created.
Time+Tide
Racing and watches - name a better love story than that.The post 10 of the best racing watches, including budget timers, iconic chronographs, and surprising tourbillons appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Teddy Baldassarre
If you’re a Speedmaster fan, you know the story. NASA sent out an RFP for an official watch of the space program – a watch that would undergo a litany of tests (pressure, temperature, corrosion resistance, shock, acceleration, and vibration to name more than a few) to prove that it could withstand the rigors of space exploration. Three watches came in for testing: A Longines Wittnauer 235T, a Rolex Daytona Ref. 6238, and an Omega Speedmaster ST105.003 dating to 1964. As you know, the Speedmaster won the contract and on March 1, 1965, it became the aforementioned official watch of the space program. That designation has since been engraved on the caseback of every Moonwatch in production today. This week, the Swatch Instagram account was buzzing with retro video content that would always end with a title card reading “1965.” Today, we know why. Celebrating 60 years since the flight qualification of the Speedmaster, and nearly 60 years from the moment Ed White took a Speedy for a 20-minute space excursion during Gemini IV, Omega and Swatch have announced a celebratory MoonSwatch that marries the past to the present. The first thing you’re going to notice is the white dial, a detail that harkens back to Snoopy MoonSwatch, but more importantly, to the 2024 White Speedmaster that set the watch world on fire after DanielCraig wore it to Planet Omega in New York in 2023. For all of you who wince at the sight of yet another MoonSwatch – and there are plenty of you – ...
Two Broke Watch Snobs
In watch culture today, “tool watches” are those meant for physical activity; the gym, swimming, scaling Mount Everest, setting new freediving records – you know, the things we all do, all the time. In reality, every watch is a tool, regardless of its water resistance rating or its ability to survive a drop from a three-story building. Organizing human activity is a major logistical challenge, and many require timing and coordination, though the degree to which that’s true varies. Timing military operations to achieve maximum pressure on the objective needs a little bit more coordination than meeting with some friends for lunch across town (though that may depend on the friend group).
Video
YouTube is obsessed with the Santos, but there are so many cool Cartiers that are not Santos, let's explore!
Question, suggestion, or just want to say hi? Drop a note.