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Seiko has influenced and continues to shape modern horology as only a few watchmakers can. From its origins in 1881, when Kintaro Hattori opened a small shop in Tokyo, to becoming a global powerhouse in precision timekeeping, Seiko’s history is a register of constant innovation. Over the decades, the brand has delivered some of watchmaking’s […]
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Kurono Tokyo, the accessible brand of independent watchmaker Hajime Asaoka, had quite a run last year, with a lot of impressive new models, most dedicated to celebrating its founder’s 60th anniversary. This includes the handsome Grand Jubilee Calendar Salmon, the Ice Blue 2025 Jubilee Sensu EOL, or the 34mm Star Dial watches. Starting 2026 with […]
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One of Johannes Dürrstein’s objectives when he founded Glashütter Uhrenfabrik Union in 1893 was to produce high-quality watches at affordable prices to cater to a broader range of customers. His philosophy of keeping movements simple and cutting down on superlative frills made Dürrstein an early champion of “affordable luxury.” Following the company’s demise in the […]
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Among the small constellation of Finnish independent watchmakers, Antti Rönkkö occupies his own mythic orbit. His timepieces, from the Steel Labyrinth to the Minotaur, the Väinämöinen and the Jatulis series, are inspired by ancient myth and crafted in what he calls Finnish silence: a meditative space where time, legend, and mechanics become one. His latest […]
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What can we say… The watch industry is predictable. And like many industries linked to the production of luxury items, filled with icons of the past, watch brands love to celebrate milestones and anniversaries. Being emotionally driven products, playing on nostalgia has long proven an efficient strategy for watch brands. And don’t get us wrong, […]
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Let’s be honest, virtually no one who buys a Rolex Submariner or any 300m dive watch actually dives below 50 metres. In fact, the majority of dive watch owners today rarely, if ever, engage in diving. Most serious scuba divers use wrist computers, so traditional dive watches are often fashion statements as watch enthusiasts like […]
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Like in watches, I look forward to news on pretty much a daily basis when it comes to cars. My timelines on any of the social media platforms are dominated by a mix of brands, collectors and enthusiasts, media outlets, industry insiders and anything in between on three topics: watches (duh!), cars (duh again!) and […]
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New year, new resolution, new price rises… Some things never change. This article shouldn’t come as a surprise. For some years now, on the first days of the year, we publish the complete list of updated prices for Rolex. Indeed, new year means new price policies and new price lists for watch brands, and the […]
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Independent Finnish master watchmaker Kari Voutilainen is regarded as one of the best in his field. Working from his atelier in Motiers, which he founded in 2002, Voutilainen is known for his high-end watches with in-house movements and hand-guilloché dials. His latest watch, the 216TMZ Worldtime, features a movement with a direct-impulse double escapement, first […]
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While many brands bowed to the prevailing trends of 2025 with downsized case sizes, expressive dial colours, a newfound taste for shaped watches, and a deluge of stone dials, the art of high-end horology was, thankfully, not forsaken. A particularly prolific year, we’ve seen some impressive horological innovations from wafer-thin or high-speed tourbillons to an […]
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In 2025, the indie watchmaking scene reached new heights, once again demonstrating that innovation and artistry continue to flourish outside the big groups, captivating us with daring mechanics, refined finishes, and pure creative freedom. Whether you’re looking for the best indie watches of 2025 or want to see how far independent brands can push modern […]
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Perpetual calendar watches are extraordinary mechanisms capable of compressing the idiosyncrasies of our Gregorian calendar, tricky leap years included, into a remarkably small area. Luckily, calendar watches of all denominations have been well represented this year, and we’ve put together a list of six watches that made an impression. Ranging from an unusual yet super-legible […]
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While we tend to cover a lot of very expensive watches on a regular basis, and prices generally seem to be on the up-and-up year after year, it’s comforting to know some brands still excel at good, honest, value-for-money watchmaking. This year, established names are joined by a few new ones to offer a rather […]
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Ever since the creation of MONOCHROME, the idea of Frank Geelen, our Founder, has been to educate readers about the world of watches at large, whether by explaining some of the most complex technical features (let me quote him) “in a way your mother could understand it”, by bringing attention to independent watchmakers that mainstream […]
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If 2024 showed that vintage design is still popular, 2025 proves it can still surprise us. While watchmakers continue to explore new materials and bold designs, vintage inspiration remains a significant creative influence. From Art Deco digital revivals to post-war classics, this year brought many exciting re-editions. Here are our picks for the six best […]
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Last year was already our most productive year when it comes to video content, but this year we did it all over again, plus a bit more! We published almost 100 videos and generated close to 6 million views with our channel, which is just amazing. We did tons of video reviews throughout the years, […]
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For about six years now, we have been entertaining you, hopefully, with our Petrolhead Corner stories. The idea came from the fact that at least three of us (Frank, Brice and I) are absolute car-nuts, as much as we are watch-nuts. We also felt it offered something of a break from the onslaught of news […]
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Watches with integrated bracelets and elegant-sports designs remain popular. While the hype seems to have cooled slightly, the category continues to be very competitive, but also creative. From big watchmaking brands refining icons to young independents challenging the rules, 2025 has produced a stellar mix of timepieces that combine innovation, design, and craftsmanship. We’ve selected […]
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The unabating appeal of pilot and military watches stems from several factors. The nostalgic, historical association of this genre with WWI and WWII pilots and soldiers is one factor, but so is the robust, utilitarian build of these watches, paired with uncluttered, high-contrast dials that prize legibility. 2025 has seen its fair share of cockpit […]
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Year after year, the popularity of the dive watch category shows no signs of decreasing. A classic for most brands and a must-have in any serious collection, owning a dive watch is always a great option for summer or weekends, even though most of us won’t even take it deeper than the bottom of a […]
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For globetrotters jumping across time zones, the most useful travel companion is a GMT or a more sophisticated world timer. Although cynics will counter that argument by whipping out a mobile phone or a smartwatch, there is nothing as reassuring and personal as your very own travel watch. Thanks to Louis Cottier’s ingenious solution in […]
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More a complication than a category or style of watch per se, the chronograph still ranks high in brands’ portfolios. As the end of the year is fast approaching, it’s time for the MONOCHROME team to elect its favourite watches of 2025, and that includes the best chronographs we’ve seen over the year. Plenty of […]
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As the end of the year draws nigh and the festive season is about to kick off, we need to look back at what has been a rather surprising dozen months for the watch industry. Although the market isn’t at its best, we’ve rarely seen so many watch launches. As every year, the MONOCHROME team […]
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By now, the history of the Dirty Dozen military watches is probably well known to just about everyone who would be reading an article like this, but here is a brief overview for any of you stragglers. Over 80 years ago, as World War II was raging on, the British Ministry of Defence (M.O.D.) saw […]
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Whenever we can shine a little light on something interesting that has to do with watches coming from the Netherlands, we tend to get a little bit extra excited. Call us chauvinistic, but we’re proud of the things that are being done in our small country. So when we learned that someone we knew quite […]
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When Mido introduced the Multifort 8 Two Crowns earlier this year, it was clear the brand had found a confident voice within the competitive world of integrated sports watches. Compact, slim, and thoughtfully detailed, it proved that good design, reliable movement and fair price still matter. Now, Mido expands the series with the Multifort 8 […]
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Continuing on from last week’s Just Because story showcasing a selection of the most tantalising backsides, we revisit the topic to show you some more of the finest movements we’ve seen in our year-round watch journey. We bring together watches from indies, as well as established brands, for the sheer joy of looking at the […]
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If you’re not a big watch nerd like us, you likely don’t give a lot of thought to the glass covering watch dials. It’s not just a generic window and a bigger deal than you might think, as we’ll see in this instalment of the ABCs of Time. Some enthusiasts even demand one type over another, […]
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After years of speculation, rumours, teasing and will-they-wont-they stories, it is finally here! Toyota’s ultimate performance car, the GR GT! And to put their money where their mouth is, they immediately released a GT3-spec race car alongside it, aptly named the GR GT3. And although looking at the brand’s current catalogue of mostly hybrid and […]
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Kari Voutilainen is one of the most respected names in independent watchmaking. Since founding his atelier in 2002 in the Swiss Jura, the Finnish-born genius has been creating timepieces that combine the best of traditional craftsmanship with true mechanical ingenuity. His watches won’t be mistaken for someone else’s work, with elaborate guilloché dials, exceptional finishing […]
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