The MONOCHROME Team’s Favorites of Watches and Wonders 2025

Watches and Wonders 2025 is about to shut its doorways and it’s time for Crew MONOCHROME to fly again residence after probably the most intense weeks of the yr. We’ve seen lots of of watches, if not hundreds, printed manner over 100 articles, took a number of hundreds of pictures and printed over a dozen movies on YouTube. However it’s time now to settle a bit and easily mentioned what had been the watches that gave us one of the best impression, the watches we, on a private stage, favored essentially the most. The temporary to Frank, Xavier, Robin and Brice, the core members of the group was easy: no constraints, simply choose the three watches that you just’d need in your wrist. 

Observe: this choice relies on our personal preferences. We are going to come again with extra of those choices within the coming days, masking particular matters – technical, design, reasonably priced… So keep tuned.

Brice – Patek Philippe Calatrava 6196P

Why…? As a result of it’s the essence of the gown watch by Patek, a watch that’s traditional, restrained, discreet – but with a contact extra boldness this yr – and the direct descendant of the emblematic and necessary reference 96, and the watch that lastly replaces the too-long-discontinued reference 5196. This yr, Patek brings again this traditional reference in a barely bigger 38mm case manufactured from platinum, measuring solely 9.3mm in thickness. Sure, it’s a bit greater than previously however contemplating the enlarged case, and the truth that inside beats a contemporary motion with 65h energy reserve, we are able to pardon that. After which comes the dial, in a good-looking rose gold opaline color, with hanging anthracite polished markers – which didn’t make unanimity throughout the group…

For extra particulars, please seek the advice of our article right here.

Frank – Chopard L.U.C Quattro Platinum

Why…? As a result of the Quattro has at all times been probably the most fascinating motion of the Fleurier manufacture, with its spectacular 9-day energy reserve stacked in 4 mainsprings, and but extraordinarily compact proportions (28.6mm by solely 3.75mm), with excellent ending. For the 25 years of this motion, Chopard gave a really tasteful revamp, in a platinum case of solely 39mm x 10mm. The perfect is the dial, which has been solely redesigned and new has a grained texture, streamlined markers and fingers, and an influence reserve hidden on the again. The watch is trendy, elegant, refined and but packs a punch with its mild blue dial and good gray strap. A winner.

For extra particulars, please seek the advice of our article right here.

Robin – Parmigiani Toric Perpetual Calendar Gold

Why…? As a result of the model has discovered its fashion and manages to combine refined, minimalistic design with a contact of discreet luxurious, whereas on the similar time bringing mechanical magnificence – as a Parmigiani watch at all times does. The brand new course has introduced a improbable design consistency and the brand new Toric Perpetual Calendar, with its good-looking mixture of colors and supplies (particularly within the gold edition-, in addition to a streamlined show for the calendar, is easy glorious to look, put on and use. The again reveals a motion with the identical thought of design, with bridges manufactured from gold and ending in a moderately hanging manner.

For extra particulars, please seek the advice of our article right here.

Xavier – Vacheron Constantin Solaria Grande Complication

Why…? Nicely, just because it’s the most complex wristwatch ever created. However apart from its 41 issues throughout two dials and 1,521 elements for the motion, there’s extra to the VC Solaria. The model has managed to offer it a contemporary twist, a design that feels up to date and technical, but in addition a really respectable legibility – no less than contemplating the loopy quantity of indications on each dials. The checklist of marvels… 6 time indications, 8 perpetual calendar indications, 3 lunar indicaitons, 14 astronomical indications, 5 chiming features, split-seconds chronograph. And plenty of, many extra. A real feast of miniaturization and watchmaking, which ought to be praised regardless that it’s inaccessible and distinctive.

For extra particulars, please seek the advice of our article right here.

Brice – Rolex Perpetual 1908 Settimo bracelet

Why…? As a result of it is without doubt one of the most elegant watches on metallic bracelet of the yr. This new bracelet for Rolex, named the Settimo, was a shock and is, within the metallic, easy beautiful. Supple, dressy, vintage-looking and beautifully executed. It wears like a attraction, and appears improbable hooked up to the already very interesting 1908 Perpetual watch. One other shock comes from the truth that Rolex brings it on straight end-links and never its normal stable end-links, however this opened look between the case and the bracelet provides to the classic attraction, with a little bit of a Homosexual Frères contact. The hid clasp can also be beautiful visually, regardless that it means no micro-adjustment system. For now, it solely is available in yellow gold, with a selection of white or black dial. And it absolutely doesn’t come low-cost…

For extra particulars, please seek the advice of our article right here.

Frank – Patek Philippe Calatrava 8-Day 5328G

Why…? As a result of it’s a visually and mechanically good watch. The mixture of the trendy Calatrava fashion, first launched in 2022 with the Annual Calendar Journey Time 5326G – sure, this sharp case with clous de Paris on the aspect is really one thing particular – with a robust hand-wound motion (which is derived from the Gondolo 5200) is making fairly an entire package deal. Wanting by the caseback, the calibre 31-505 has a traditional and interesting pocket-watch look and the entrance of the dial, with a textured gradient blue dial with a number of issues packed in a intelligent manner is nothing in need of nice too. A contemporary Patek as we’d prefer to see extra typically.

For extra particulars, please seek the advice of our article right here.

Robin – A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus Honeygold

Why…? Due to the refined tone and flex of the Honeygold mixed to a heat, charmful tobacco brown dial, but in addition all the things constructive we at all times mentioned concerning the Odysseus: the practicality of the pushers, the good mixture of sportiness and daily-usability with mechanical Lange magnificence. This new version, worn on an identical gold bracelet, is actually not essentially the most discreet and never the lightest on the wrist however nonetheless has a sure subtleness regardless of its materials and colours. It’s as tasteful as a Lange sports activities watch can get and nonetheless retains what we love about this mannequin basically.

For extra particulars, please seek the advice of our article.

Xavier – Rolex Land-Dweller

Why…? Nicely, for a lot of causes. One, it’s a wholly new Rolex assortment and that’s not one thing we see typically. Second, it marks the return of Rolex within the built-in bracelet market. However Xavier actually expresses some reservations relating to the design – it’s not love at first sight and it’ll take a little bit of time to digest the watch as an entire. His most important purpose for together with the Land-Dweller on this choice is pure mechanical. Certainly, with the calibre 7135, Rolex launches a moderately revolutionary escapement, the Dynapulse, a sequential distribution escapement created from silicon, with two escape wheels displaying a extremely advanced geometry and a stability workers created from ceramic. The entire meeting, regardless of the 5Hz frequency (a primary for the model), is extremely environment friendly and the facility reserve stays to a snug 66h. Rolex has achieved the sudden right here, and totally on an industrial manufacturing scale that was hardly possible.

For extra particulars, please seek the advice of our article right here.

Brice – Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface Gold Milanese

Why…? As a result of it’s the first Reverso I’d actually wish to personal. The JLC Reverso is a watch that I’ve at all times loved seeing on different’s wrist however I’ve by no means managed to seek out the suitable mannequin for me. Placing the brand new Tribute Monoface Small Seconds with gold Milanese bracelet on the wrist might need lastly give the reply: that is the one. And it’s onerous for me to confess it, as gold watches will not be solely my factor. Right here although, the consistency of the design, the feel of the dial and its gold color, the flexility and luxury of the bracelet, in addition to the near-perfect proportions of the case – particularly the 7.5mm thickness – are making it probably the greatest Reverso available on the market.

For extra particulars, please seek the advice of our article right here.

Frank – A. Lange & Söhne Minute Repeater Perpetual

Why…? As a result of Frank wouldn’t be Frank if there was not one thing extremely technical in his choice. And this new Lange Minute Repeater Perpetual is kind of spectacular technically talking. In fact, there’s the minute repeater system – which sounds wonderful as I might expertise – and a motion that’s spectacular, even with its restrained frosted ornament. However the Lange Minute Repeater Perpetual is extra than simply mechanics, because it additionally brings all of the experience of the model in dial making. It comes with an extremely deep black enamel dial, a monochromatic look that Frank needed to approve (this web site isn’t named MONOCHROME with out causes) and a good-looking hand-engraved moon disc. A hanging watch, in all senses of the phrase.

For extra particulars, please seek the advice of our article right here.

Robin – Nomos Membership Sport Neomatik Worldtimer

Why…? As a result of it appears to be like improbable, contemporary and trendy, but in addition is without doubt one of the greatest “worth proposition” watches of the honest. Not that it’s notably accessible, however contemplating all you get in your cash, the Membership Sport Neomatik Worldtimer is actually spectacular… An in-house, skinny computerized motion, a traveller’s complication that’s extremely sensible with its correction pusher, a sporty look with nice ending, a cool metal bracelet, all of that for lower than 4,000 euros. Nicely achieved, Nomos. The watch is on the market in 6 colourful restricted editions, in addition to 2 traditional editions: darkish blue and silver. And the latter, with its playful and dynamic execution, made fairly an impression on Robin.

For extra particulars, please seek the advice of our article right here.

Xavier – Zenith G.F.J Calibre 135

Why…? As a result of Zenith is bringing again one in every of its most necessary actions – sure, the model has much more below its sleeve than simply the El Primero… The Le Locle-based model relaunches the Calibre 135, a legendary engine that was essentially the most awarded motion from the golden age of observatory chronometer competitions. It’s now again to life and modernized, with longer energy reserve, improved kinetic chain however nonetheless an outsized stability wheel that options regulation screws and nonetheless Charles Fleck’s attribute double arrow-shaped regulator for advantageous adjustment. The motion can also be fantastically completed and is available in a good-looking platinum case with nice proportions. It’s first introduced on this blue version for the model’s one hundred and sixtieth anniversary however extra traditional editions will come later.

For extra particulars, please seek the advice of our article right here.