A Sampling of some Watch Books

A sampling of some watch books

The Watch by Gene Stone

The Watch is a survey of the best vintage and contemporary men’s wristwatches that is as visually compelling as it is informative to read.

A well-made man’s wristwatch combines inspired design, technical innovation, and precise craftsmanship. Vintage watches are filled with sentiment and history, and are often passed from wrist to wrist across generations. Today, designers use cutting-edge techniques and materials to create some of the most complex miniature machines ever attempted.

Ranging from Patek Philippe and Rolex to Seiko and Swatch, and covering fifty brands in depth, the book provides essential wisdom on buying, collecting, and maintaining these timepieces. Illustrating the text are more than 500 photographs of men’s watches, including remarkable details of dials and movements, selected for their beauty and diversity from collections around the world.

Practical Watch Repairing by Donald De Carle

Basic watch theory. Hand wound mechanical watches are discussed. Covers common problems that are encountered and methods to correct them. Techniques for disassembly, diagnosis, cleaning and lubrication and reassembly of non-complicated watches. Illustrated.

The Concise Guide to Military Timepieces 1880-1990 by Z Wesolowski

Back by popular demand! The first illustrated guide devoted specifically to the highly collectible field of military watches and clocks. Filled with concise descriptions and explanations of more than 150 distinct models, and including a guide to current price ranges. Chapters cover, in chronological order: pocket and deck watches, wristwatches, aviators watches, chronographs, timers, stop watches, divers watches and clocks. An invaluable reference for collectors.

Rolex Wristwatches: An Unauthorized History by James M. Dowling, Jeffrey P. Hess

The name of Rolex is recognized around the world. It has become an icon of beauty, quality, accuracy, style, and taste. While there are other fine manufacturers of timepieces, none has reached this pinnacle of public respect and acclaim. The watches produced by Rolex over the last 90 years are celebrated in this lavishly illustrated new volume. Mssrs. Dowling and Hess, acknowledged Rolex authorities, have captured their beauty in full color photography. They accompany the most thorough and extensive history ever written of the company. Information for collectors and current market values of the watches makes this a truly useful volume and one that will be cherished by watch lovers around the world.

Vintage Rolex Sports Models: A Complete Visual Reference & Unauthorized History by Martin Skeet, Nick Urul

This comprehensive and detailed reference guide to Rolex's sports model watches is an indispensable asset to watch collectors and dealers. The only work of its kind, it covers the history of the Submariner, Explorer, GMT-Master, Turn-O-Graph, Milgauss, and Cosmograph watches, from 1952 to 1990. The history of more than a hundred and forty vintage models is described in detail, with the watches shown in chronological order. Color photographs illustrate every watch model, with hundreds of diagrams providing clear and useful information. Twenty-two rare Rolex brochures from private collections are shown, in addition to numerous catalog photographs and the sale prices of sports models sold at Christie's and Sotheby's over the last four years. Also included is a current price guide for every model shown in the book. At a time when Rolex watches dominate the collecting market, this authoritative volume is an essential and timely addition to the library of the Rolex collector and dealer.

Watchmaking by George Daniels

This is the second reprint of the standard work on watchmaking; indispensable to watchmakers and restorers of mechanical watches. George Daniels completed his first watch in 1969, arousing enough interest to generate a renaissance in the art and skills of designing and making individual watches. Watchmaking describes every aspect of the antique craft of watch construction. Line drawings detail every manufacturing technique employed, and completed watches and their component details are illustrated in color.

The author's principal aim in writing this book has been to inspire and encourage the art of watchmaking, especially among a new generation of enthusiasts. As a supreme master of this art, his advice is constantly sought both by students and watch repairers. His understanding of the problems that can beset the would-be watchmaker, especially in an age of mass production, his expert knowledge of the history of watchmaking, together with his concern for the continuation of the art, have convinced him of the need for a comprehensive study of the subject.

One of the most interesting aspects of George Daniel's work, which this book describes, is that he makes every component of the watch himself. In addition to explaining the techniques required, many of which he has evolved himself, Daniels describes the tools that will be necessary for working, both by hand and machine, and also defines the ideal workshop and its contents.

The making of the precision timekeeper is described, step by step, and is illustrated at each stage with line drawings and brief explanatory captions. The text is easy to follow and care has been taken to avoid complicated technical descriptions.

The Rolex Report: An Unauthorized Reference Book For The Rolex Enthusiast by John E. Brozek

The Rolex Report is the result of over 10 years of personal research, cram-packed with 288 pages of facts and figures with over 400 high-resolution illustrations. The book gives a chronological history of The Rolex Watch Company, as well as a look at each of the Rolex models including variations and evolutions over the years. In addition to identifying hundreds of Rolex watches and parts, it includes a unique resource for spotting counterfeit Rolex watches, with incredibly detailed side-by-side macro photos. Whether you're a serious collector, or just considering a Rolex in the future this is a must have resource.

Breitling Timepieces: 1884 to the Present by Benno Richter

Breitling-one watch has made this name famous worldwide, the Navitimer. In 1952 this watch was a real sensation, for the chronograph along with the calculator made it possible for the pilot to carry out all necessary calculations during the flight. This made the Navitimer a valuable on-board instrument at that time, and a valuable collectible today. But Breitling did not develop watches just for pilots and aircraft industry. This book shows the whole spectrum of the firm's products since its founding in 1884, and gives the reader an informed insight into more than 100 years of the firm's history. Many photos, old catalogs and advertising material support the informative text. With the help of reference numbers, the collector can also locate individual watches chronologically. This fascinating portrait of the Breitling firm will enthrall all who appreciate fine mechanical precision.

Timepieces: Masterpieces of Chronometry by David Christianson

Over the centuries, clocks have slowly, methodically and inextricably come to regulate every aspect of our lives. Timepieces tells the history of clocks and how the pursuit of an ever better clock has had a remarkable influence on scientific and technological developments. The 800-year journey to a perfect clock involved the greatest thinkers, scientists and mechanical geniuses, including those who improved the accuracy of mechanical clocks to such a degree that sailors could successfully determine longitude. That advance alone resulted in an explosion of travel, commerce and political expansion that would change the world map. Tracing the history of "the key machine of the modern industrial age" is a remarkable way to trace the histories of technology and society. Each chapter focuses on one era of the clock's growth. Illustrated with beautiful artworks and photographs from museums and clock collections, Timepieces is a thorough and attractive historical survey.

Omega Watches by John Goldberger

John Goldberger has been collecting and studying vintage watches for over 25 years, which means heís spent many happy hours at jewelersí shops, flea markets, conventions and auctions around the world. His comprehensive and detailed illustrated book on the Omega family of Swiss timepieces is an indispensable asset to others who share his obsession, and to those who would love to--to armchair collectors. Omega Watches covers the history of more than 240 vintage models, with emphasis on their outer aspects--including the shape and outline of each case and its dial and movements, which are governing features for the collector, as well as clues to exceptional internal design. Goldberg has created a beautiful visual guide to Omega timepieces from the classic pocketwatch to the modern chronograph. Starting with the first models of the past century, Omega Watches displays the beauty, complexity and the collectibility of classic watches such as the Speedmaster, first produced in 1957, and the Seamaster, both of which are still produced today. All examples depicted are from private collections.