Watches: A Guide by Hodinkee


Book Description

Over a short ten-year time-span, Hodinkee has positioned itself as the preeminent and most distinguished destination for modern and vintage wristwatch enthusiasts. Exiting a career in finance, Ben Clymer decided to fuse his horological and writing passions in order to start a blog discussing everything from new products to vintage wristwatch auctions. Titling his endeavor after the Czech word hodinky, which means ‘little watch,’ Clymer sought to create a platform that was casual and accessible to all levels of enthusiasts—within a few years The New York Times dubbed him the “High Priest of Horology.”




A Man & His Watch


Book Description

“I’ve paged through stacks of books on the history of watches. . . . But I hadn’t come across a book that actually moved me until I picked up A Man and His Watch. The volume is filled with heartfelt stories.” —T: The New York Times Style Magazine "There are a bunch of beautifully illustrated watch books out there, but A Man & His Watch by Matt Hranek is more than that. It speaks to the nature of watches as deeply personal items." —Gear Patrol, Coffee Table Books Our Staff Can’t Live Without Paul Newman wore his Rolex Daytona every single day for 35 years until his death in 2008. The iconic timepiece, probably the single most sought-after watch in the world, is now in the possession of his daughter Clea, who wears it every day in his memory. Franklin Roosevelt wore an elegant gold Tiffany watch, gifted to him by a friend on his birthday, to the famous Yalta Conference where he shook the hands of Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. JFK’s Omega worn to his presidential inauguration, Ralph Lauren’s watch purchased from Andy Warhol’s personal collection, Sir Edmund Hillary’s Rolex worn during the first-ever summit of Mt. Everest . . . these and many more compose the stories of the world’s most coveted watches captured in A Man and His Watch. Matthew Hranek, a watch collector and NYC men’s style fixture, has traveled the world conducting firsthand interviews and diving into exclusive collections to gather the never-before-told stories of 76 watches, completed with stunning original photography of every single piece. Through these intimate accounts and Hranek’s storytelling, the watches become more than just timepieces and status symbols; they represent historical moments, pioneering achievements, heirlooms, family mementos, gifts of affection, and lifelong friendships.




Air Time


Book Description

The first comprehensive reference for watch connoisseurs to explore a century of stylish timepieces inspired by and built for aviation, aeronautics and space exploration, and piloting. Air Time takes a keen look at more than ninety iconic timepieces that embody the spirit of flight, worn and made famous by the men and women who pioneered it, from daring balloonists and wartime jet pilots to jet-setters and astronauts. In a thoroughgoing look at nearly a century ofaviation-inspired timepieces--from 1904 to the present day-- WatchTime's Mark Bernardo interweaves history, technical insight, and the distinctive style of pilot watches into a first-of-its-kind comprehensive monograph. Chapters showcase historical milestones such as Cartier's development of the first men's wristwatch for Alberto Santos-Dumont; Charles Lindbergh's invention of the Longines Hour Angle; and the Omega Speedmaster, the first watch to land on the moon. Also featured are iconic timepieces, including the Breitling Navitimer, IWC Big Pilot's Watch, Breguet Type XX, and Rolex GMT-Master, up through current category timepieces such as in the collections of Bell & Ross, Longines, Bremont, Patek Philippe, Hamilton, and Zenith. Informative and compelling, this fascinating guide is the perfect gift for connoisseurs of timepieces, aviation, and globetrotting travel.




Retro Watches


Book Description

An accessible, design-savvy collector's guide to the world of unusual, rare and dazzlingly retro watches. Retro Watches is a popular, accessible collector's guide for anyone who wants to make a statement with the watch they wear, but who wants to choose a timepiece that is very different from the 'classic' and very mainstream watches by the major Swiss brands. It brings together the most intriguing, visually striking and 'out-there' watch designs from little-known but influential watch brands, along with overlooked but brilliant pieces from the major players. One hundred watch models are featured, specially photographed for the book and accompanied by accessible, informative texts discussing the watch's design, its intriguing features, and its rarity and value. The book also dives into the cultural and fashion history of watch design and the many innovations from the 60s, 70s and 80s.




Limited Edition Watches


Book Description

Welcome to a celebration of alternatively designed wrist- and pocket watches, which honors innovative craftsmanship within the world of modern horology. The 150 different brands featured in this unique book each have a double-page spread dedicated to rare, specially selected timepieces. Featured manufacturers include Patek Philippe, Jaeger LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin, Chopard, Tag Heuer, and Hublot. There is also a broad selection of avant-garde watchmakers like MB & F, Urwerk, and DeBethune. The design and technical information of each watch, ranging from simple to elaborate, is described in this lavish showcase of mostly high-end watch brands. A wristwatch made entirely of wooden parts, a timepiece designed after a Ferrari engine, and other one-of-a-kind movements, are just a few examples of the stunning variety of alternatively conceived men's and unisex watches. Many have not appeared in print before. This collection should appeal to both watch lovers and aficionados of good design.




The Impossible Collection of Watches


Book Description

In this stunning new addition to the Assouline series, British historian Nicholas Foulkes has selected the 100 breakthrough timepieces of the twentieth century. Featuring illustrious names such as Audemars Piguet, Blancpain, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Tag Heuer, this collection includes the 1915 Omega Lawrence of Arabia aviator chronograph, the 1962 Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaut, and the 1985 Ulysse Nardin Astrolabium. Beautiful timepieces invite us to join a story, and these examples unfold the narrative of one of the most dynamic periods in human history.




Worlds Most Expensive Watches


Book Description

More than a fashion accessory or means to tell the time, the wristwatch has become a statement of identity; politician or celebrity, scientist or sportsman, what you choose to wear on your wrist speaks volumes about who you are. The World's Most Expensive Watches presents some of the most extravagant, intricate, collectible, decadent, or just plain interesting modern-day timepieces that sit at the top of the price spectrum. Starting at a threshold price of about $200,000, it is a trip through the last decade or so of watches whose values soar incredibly to prices of $5 million dollars or more. Additionally, there is a selection of notable watches that yielded extremely high prices at auction - many of which are historically relevant. A stunning collection that is both informative and entertaining; with detailed descriptions of individual watches and articles that usefully deconstruct the price tag with an explanation of the relevance of craftsmanship and complexity of design, as well as the importance of exclusivity, prestige and collectibility. Prepare to be impressed by a larger-than-life-look at some relatively small items that command not only huge prices but kudos and respect, in all areas of a global society fascinated with using accessorizing to create identity.




Patek Philippe Steel Watches


Book Description

With this magnificent volume, watch expert and authority John Goldberger, author of 100 Superlative Rolex Watches, presents the most beautiful and remarkable watches ever fitted with steel cases by the Geneva-based watch company Patek Philippe. With the collaboration of the world's leading collectors and connoisseurs, the collection presented in this exclusive publication is the result of painstaking research, supplemented by professional photographs that show the most minute details and characteristics of the movement, case and dial of each timekeeper. With 187 superb examples, as well as over 900 color illustrations and 800 descriptive texts, this volume offers the watch collector and enthusiast invaluable information about the finest rare masterpieces of Patek Philippe's production, including recent research on referencenumbers, dials, movements, related calibers and each watch's year of production. Organized in 12 chapters, this tome covers a century of the company's quintessential spirit and style.




Wristwatch Chronometers


Book Description

A richly illustrated, detailed account of wristwatch chronometers and the rigorous testing they must undergo to become certified. Over 400 photos document this crowning achievement of the watchmakers art while information about testing methods, procedures, and guidelines make it clear how great a challenge it has been. A compilation of participating makers based on Swiss Testing Agencies' yearly reports from 1925 and the Swiss Observatories' reports is included as is a guide to current values.




Magic of Watches


Book Description

* A complete, informative primer on how watches work. Accessible for the amateur and meaty enough for the aficionado. What is a beautiful watch? How do you make a good choice? The Magic of Watches explains how and why these little objects are so precious, fascinating and exciting. The book presents paradoxes: why a one-million-dollar watch might be less precise and more fragile than one that costs 15 dollars. It comes back to the origins of the measurement of time: how did we go from the water clock to the wristwatch? The Magic of Watches is unique: it focuses in detail on the basics in order to understand and love watches better. Contents: 1. Welcome; 1.1 Why a book, why this one; 1.2 Why watches are magic; 1.3 How to use this book; 1.4 The first mission: To tell the time; 1.5 The challenge of measuring time; 1.6 The quartz revolution; 1960s); 1.7 Fantastic plastic (1980s); 1.8 The wristwatch, from instrument to artifact; 1.9 "Smart," or connected, watches (2010s); 2. Buying; 2.1 Ten reasons why you should get a watch; 2.2 Choosing; 2.3 Key elements; 2.4 Secondhand; 2.5 Selling your watch; 2.6 Knowledge; 3.Care; 3.1 Setting; 3.2 Maintenance and care; 3.3 Service and after-sales; 3.4 Repairs; 3.4 Travel; 3.5 Insurance; 4. Anatomy; 4.1 Display; 4.2 Indications; 4.3 Functions and complications; 4.4 Movement (Caliber); 4.5 Case; 4.6 Bracelets and Straps; 4.7 Materials.