No comments about The Official Price Guide to Clocks.

No comments about Miller's Wristwatches: How to Compare & Value (Miller's Collector's Guides).

5 comments about Collectible Wristwatches (Collectibles).

1. A lot of the watches in this collection are fairly expensive, and I'm thinking that anyone who is collecting at this level would have no use for this book at all.



2. Contents are low and false. Example, the book tells Vacheron Constantin is founded by Francois Constantin 1755, when it was Jean-Marc Vacheron. Charles Constatin entered the firm 1819(!).
   Lousy pics of uninteresting watches. It's now in the dustbin, where it belongs.
   Beware!!



3. I had never realized before that all watches were made for men. Not a single watch appears in this book which was designed to be worn by women.

   (Almost?) all of the watches in the book were modern.

   I also agree with the other reviewer who indicated that information is scant to the point of non-existence. There is a brief introduction which is moderately interesting, but the rest of the book consists of a picture of one watch per page with precious little information about the watch; primarily the comments consist of comments on the watch's appearance, which I can see for myself.

   If you want a huge amount of information about watches, try Shugart. If you want a coffee table book with old and new watches, great pictures, but not much information, just an eye feast with a sense of design development over time, Judy isn't bad. If you like watches not just from the technical aspect but also as items of jewelry, Jeanenne Bell is coming out with a book in May that should satisfy.




4. Some of the not so complimentary reviews which I read about this book on Amazon.com do not do the book justice. I think Pannier's book is meant to show would-be watch collectors that collecting watches can be fun. It was never meant to be a comprehensive guide to any particular brand. I think Pannier chose a good selection of collectible watches. Five of the watches which I own happen to be featured in her book. Buy it, because it is a very relaxing book to read.



5. This is a lovely book for the price. 384 pages in a square format, each page shows a watch in color with a short caption. Other reviewers have commented that the there is very little technical information, very true but I think the book is aimed at buyers who want an introduction to collecting wristwatches. I got a copy because I'm interested in product design and as a publication designer I thought the book was nicely produced.

   Having looked through the book I am intrigued as to why nearly all of these watches are lacking in any kind of elegance. Even the expensive well known makes use dreadful typography for the numbers, have chunky looking minute and hour hands, thick cases and generally clutter the dials with unnecessary markings. I do think there are good looking watches though, page ninety-two shows a simple, elegant Patek Phillipe from the fifties and page sixty-six has a Vacheron Costantin. I'll continue to wear my neat Rotary GS 00898/03.

   Amazon has over six hundred books listed under Clocks and Watches, this inexpensive little book is a good start to your time-piece library.

2 comments about The Watchmaker's and Model Engineer's Lathe: A User's Manual.

1. I can not say enough good things about Mr. de Carle.
   Thank you for your instruction.



2. This book is divided in two parts. The first half of the book covers the overall concepts and use of watchmaker's lathes. The second half reviews all the models that might be typically found. Not entirely encompassing list... but pretty close.

   If you are considering buying a watchmaker's lathe... this is a MUST HAVE book. Also, this is highly recommended for any one who likes lathes in general.

   It's obvious the author really cares about his subject. It is enjoyable to read. The diagrams are excellent.

   Crazy as this sounds, the photos are very good, but actually I thought the line art of the machines (like you see in the Wall Street Journal) is more understandable than regular photos.

   Originally published in 1952, it has been updated over the years in several editions. This fifth edition in 1998 incorporates much of the original material... in the areas of general concepts. Then it substantially revises the second half of the book regarding the lathes of the world that are generally found.

   The book lists lots of good resources in the back -- for manufacturers, etc.

   John

No comments about Wristwatches: A Handbook And Price Guide (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1 comments about Jaeger LeCoultre.

1. If you're looking at the Amazon entry for this book, you probably own, or are thinking about owning, a JLC watch, or two, or three, or...
   
   This is a big, beautiful coffee table book with great photos, images of old LeCoultre advertising, lots of modern artwork. There is ample history of the manufacture in the Vallee de Joux, the development of JLC's innovative timepieces (like the Reverso, the Futurematic, the Ultra Thin, the ATMOS clock) and calibres. I was a bit put off by the fact that the original Master Control series watches seem to get short shrift, while there is big glitzy photo spread of the current Master Control lineup (which appeals to me somewhat less, as it follows the current trend toward bigger, heavier, bling-ier watches). But then, this is pretty much a JLC puff piece, so the marketing guys no doubt wanted to showcase what is now on offer, not recently discontinued models.
   
   All in all, it's one of those books you can open and read, or just thumb through to gaze at pictures and photos, over and over again. IF you're catching the JLC bug or already have a bad case of it, that is.

2 comments about Grand Complications: High Quality Watchmaking - Volume II (Grand Complications).

1. This is the third or fourth large format watch book I have bought and read cover to cover. This one has the least amount of text, and the largest pictures. The other books of this type tell you about the companies and the people running them, as well as an overview of the models they make. This book concentrates on the stars of this world, not the people. It has a large, high quality picture on each page of a stellar example watch, with a small amount of description of the watch and what it does besides tell time. I pulled out my magnifying glass and learned a lot about how the different makers present the complications. The book is divided into types of complications, and all the top brands'top models are grouped together by type of complication. I loved it when I was learning by looking close and comparing instead of reading a lot of words. I recommend this book for visual appreciation of high craftmanship.



2. If you want your favorite watch enthusiast to love you forever, buy this book! You may be subjected to discussions about tourbillons, chronographs, repeaters, etc., but your amateur (or professional) horologist will be in seventh heaven just viewing these works of art for the wrist. While not a catalog, it really doesn't matter to a serious collector and they will spend many happy hours perusing their favorite jewels. Makes Timex look like a kiddy toy.

1 comments about The Secrets of Vacheron Constantin: 250 Years of History.

1. Not only is this book stunningly beautiful but it is well written and informative. The photographs are superb and the information given on the developments of watch technology through the various eras of V&C's 250 years are related to the historic context of the particular era. This is much more than a coffee table book, it is one that you will want to go back to and read over.

5 comments about Omega Watches.

1. Gave this as a Christmas gift and the receiptient was so thriled to get this product! Great Picutres



2. A very well written book. The price is high but it has great quality.
   Over 200 pictures. Not the best of quality on all, some are a lttle light but good information.
   A slight problem is that the book will soon date, it does not contain much history of the brand but good detail on different models.
   The author has done a great job to keep the book flowing form page to page.
   However much to my surprise no metion at all the Omega is owned by the Swatch group.



3. I recieved this as a gift and was really pleased. Its beautifully done. You should know its mostly pictures and captions. it seems to be a broad overview. I am just getting into watch collecting and like Omegas so this book was a fit for me.



4. Exciting Rare Omega Watches. Very Nice Photo, hot & Cool.
   CK 2915 as number one in the world.
   Thanks, Mr.X.



5. First, let me set the record straight because it is not true that this and Kreuzer's books are the only references on Omega watches. In fact, they are the two poorest.
   
   The best written source is, of course, Marco Richon's book, "Omega Saga" published by the Brandt Foundation and distributed by Omega (ISBN: 2-88380--010-3). However, this is available only in French. But I'm told Mr Richon is working on an English book about Omega.
   
   That being said, Goldberger's entry is interesting only because of the high quality of his pictures. They are numerous (approxinaltely 250 models are represented, consistent and professional.
   
   While the pictures are nice, there is practically no information at all on the watches themselves, the technology, or the history of Omega. No production dates for the timepieces are indicated, which might have provided at least some feeling for a historical timeline.
   
   We might also have been interested in Mr Golberger's experiences as a collector, and some knowledgeable information on the current market for vintage Omega timepieces.
   
   Maybe it's a good thing that text is scarce because where there is text, there are errors, not the least of which is that the author is named "Goldbeger" in his bio on the endpage. These 6 short lines have 6 errors in them, and I easily found at least seven more in the two-page Introduction by Mr Giampiero Negretti: clearly some copy reviewer did a very lousy job...

1 comments about Complicated Watches and Their Repair.

1. Not a very up to date book on watch repair. There are also very few pictures/diagrams available. For those wanting to buy a book about watch repair at a beginners level, I'd suggest you look elsewhere.