Book Description

'Wristwatches' narrates the birth and development of the time machines by focusing on timepieces which are worn on the arm. The introduction illustrates the place the watch plays in everyday life, with particular reference to its social impact on modern Western civilisation. The history of the wristwatch is a journey that, thanks to industrialisation has allowed the measurement of time to progress from bell towers and belfries to inside the homes and finally to the person. The remainder of the book illustrates the major watch brands, focusing on their manufacturing ability and aesthetic pursuits. Each collector values the progressive industry dynamics, the attention to detail and those particular qualities that enhance the rarity of the products. A story told through the company dynamics of 55 well-known brands, most of which are still active today, confirming the vitality of the industry. The wonderful watches illustrated in the volume prove the continuous technological and design advances developed by the pioneering epoch of the early 1900s which came to maturity in the '50s and '60s. The next innovation was quartz in the '70s and '80s, and then came the revival of passion for mechanical operations after the year 2000. High-complexity models, of essential style or as a result of technological and/or design experimentation are Calatrava by Patek Philippe, Royal Oak by Audemars Piguet, Santos and Tank by Cartier, Submarines by Rolex - just to name a few. Also mentioned is the colourful Swatch, a watch in which plastic and the most innovative materials are matched with the preciousness of gold and diamonds. The glossary and the bibliography in the last pages allow, in the end, to make this long journey into the world of timekeeping devices equipped with the fundamental notions of watches.