No comments about 100 Superlative Rolex Watches.

5 comments about Breitling: The History of a Great Brand of Watches 1884 to the Present.

1. I should have read the reviews here first.
   When you pay nealry forty bucks you get a 12 year old book with black and pictures. The majority are just scans of Breitling watch adverts.
   Its a complete waste of money.
   THE CONTENT:
   Thats all I can say about that nothing. No History, no details on movements or watch types. This has to be the mother of all lemons.



2. maybe I should change the title of the review, It was not written, its mostly just a book of old black and white pictures. I was very disappointed. For the price, I would not suggest it.



3. I like watches and must admit I was a lttle disapointed. It has some nice pictures, but not much information.
   It has too many pictures from the advertisers and sadly is very out of date now, but I will keep it. I see some reviews go gack as far as 1999,I guess I should have seen how old this book was before I bought it. Its very outdated.



4. I was a little surprised by the book, it's now 12 years old and outdated, the pictures are all black and white, and it does not have much writing, I read it from cover to cover in about 1.5 hours. The pictures are good quality, although many are from Breitling advertisements.
   It would be nice to see it updated, in color and have some history behind it. It does not explain anything about the Breitling Emergency watch, it just shows a picture! I was a little disappointed.



5. Some nice pictures in here. Not much writing, I seemed to flip throught it in about an hour.
   Pictures are of very good quality, but all black & white, I would recommend if you are a collector, I think its a little out dated now.

1 comments about Precision Pendulum Clocks: The Quest for Accurate Timekeeping (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. Book Review by Fortunat F. Mueller-Maerki, Sussex NJ

   Precision Pendulum Clocks, The Quest for Accurate Timekeeping,
   by Derek Roberts.

   Schiffer Publishing, Atglen PA, published 2003, ISBN 0-7643-1636-2, 24x31 cm, 224 pages; Glossary, Index,

   Purchase for ca. [with money]at amazon.com. ...

   The subtitle of this book "The Quest for Accurate Timekeeping" neatly sums up the very essence, the raison d'être, for the art and science of mechanical. Given the central importance of the subject, it is hard to understand why there has not been any serious, in-depth book published on precision horology in 25 years (since Erbrich, Präzisionspenduluhren, 1978, was published, but only in German), and never a book in English. Not only the precision timekeeping enthusiasts, but any serious horologist, owes Derek Roberts thanks for having finally filled this gap. Anybody familiar with prior books by Roberts, such as his volumes on Skeleton Clocks, Mystery Clocks, or Carriage Clocks will have high expectations, and will not be disappointed.

   However I must point out that the title is somewhat misleading. Roberts set out to produce the comprehensive treatise on precision timekeeping, a vast and broad subject, and after many years of research, collecting material and writing he had produced a work that could never fit into one volume, and indeed he had planed this to be a three volume work. Schiffer Publishing balked at that concept and forced the author to publish it as three separate books. (The second and third, named "English Precision Pendulum Clocks" and "Precision Pendulum Clocks: France, Germany, America and Recent Advancements", are due out in intervals of half a year). The publisher must have felt that there were better market opportunities in selling at first one book only. Marketing considerations must also have driven the misleading title; something along the lines of "An introduction to Precision ..." or "An overview of Precision ..." would have been more accurate and more descriptive for this book. Furthermore it soon becomes clear to the reader that abandoning the original "one-title, three volumes" concept came late in the production, because the text repeatedly refers to examples in the yet unpublished companion books. In one instance the reader is told to go to chapter 28 (in a 10 chapter book) for further information. To this reviewer such sloppiness in the final editing is slightly annoying.

   Once the reader however realizes that the text was designed to set the stage, to merely introduce the topic of precision timekeeping, it becomes clear that such goal is achieved in a superb manner. The specialist reader will find a concise and very readable introduction, while the more casual horologist may well be content with getting a good overview of the subject, without the burden of the details and technicalities of the volumes yet to be published.

   Unlike in his earlier books, Roberts does not attempt to write it all himself; actually 4 of the 10 chapters appear under the byline of eminent experts in their specialized fields (Jonathan Betts on Astronomy and Precision Time; John Martin on Escapements; Denys Vaughn on Electric Clocks, and A.D. Stewart provides a 200 year timeline style summary of the subject). The core of this volume - and the core in the quest for the perfect pendulum clock - is the 50 page chapter on the compensated pendulum, dealing with all the various approaches to both temperature and barometric compensation. This subject obviously is also close to the heart of the author. The last two chapters deal with the achievements of Thompion and Graham (the early strivers in the UK for more perfect pendulums) and Harrison (the first horologist utterly devoted to perfect timekeeping).

   The value of the book is as much in its illustrations as it is in the text. Some 280+ illustrations have been carefully selected to illustrate the points made, with careful attention to assuring that the photograph taken clearly shows the feature described in the text. Many illustrations are functional, technical diagrams, with captions (often in the style of "Lever A, lifts the Notch B, releasing pin C, letting wheel E turn ...") sometimes taking more space than the image. Clearly Roberts has taken as much effort and pride to get the illustrations and captions right, as he has devoted to the text. He follows the convention of showing most of the sample clocks he describes in several images, often from different angles, all under one illustration number.

   The book succeeds in working well for various types of readers: On one level it is an enjoyable "coffee table" book with pretty pictures of superb world-class clocks, as well as interesting tid-bits of technical knowledge to be learned by the casual, unsystematic browser. Unlike most books appealing also to the superficial reader, Roberts however also succeeds in producing a scholarly text that stands up to highest scrutiny for the individual who is willing to read every caption and pursue every footnote. The references to sources and further bibliographic resources (grouped at the end of every chapter) are voluminous; the compensated pendulum chapter alone lists 32 publications providing additional details.

   "Precision Pendulum Clocks: The Quest for Accurate Timekeeping", and its future companion volumes, are indeed destined to become the standard text on the subject, and should be part of any well rounded horological library.

   Fortunat Mueller-Maerki, Sussex NJ

No comments about Warman's Watches Field Guide (Warman's Field Guides).

5 comments about The Concise Guide to Military Timepieces 1880-1990.

1. A nice book, with good photos and useful information. I am a beginner in this area, but I have to admit that the book has a lot to offer. Of course there are enough watches missing, but it is an overall good work. The prices seem to be out-of-date.
   Highly recommended, though!



2. -In my opinion, is an interesting book about military watches.All the explanation are good and is simple to reed.I dindn't find much information about german pilot watch of the second war two: not much about Hanhart and others watches.The same for german watches of werhmacht; you can find information about in my opinion could be longer.In general, i think is a very interesting book!!!



3. A good concise book with lots of quality pictures and and idea of value in sterling. A worthwhile investment for collectors. My only complaint is that it is almost completely dedicated to watches. Only a small section in the back gives any information about all the ship's, tank, airplane and other clocks of military interest.



4. Well done reference book for Military Horologists. It is the first illustrated guide devoted specifically to the highly collectable field of military watches and clocks. Covers deck watches, pocket, wrist and clocks. Current prices are provided (in Sterling) for timepieces covered. This book is highly recommended to all fellow military timepiece collectors!



5. Well done reference book for Military Horologists. It is the first illustrated guide devoted specifically to the highly collectable field of military watches and clocks. Covers deck watches, pocket, wrist and clocks. Current prices are provided (in Sterling) for timepieces covered. This book is highly recommended to all fellow military timepiece collectors! -- Chris, chronometer.net

4 comments about Watches International: Volume VII (Watches International).

1. While this book is heavy on pictures (and just heavy), it lacks some interesting brands and it doesn't have prices (even suggest retail helps establish a base line). There are better books on watches on the market but the price is low enough to make it (for me) not all bad.
   
   You can do better - keep clicking !



2. How about some new information? And lately, it seems like this collection is nothing more than the same as last year, with a few pages of what's popular this year added in. Where's a comprehensive book?



3. to be honest the book is filled with wonderful color pictures and descriptions of the watches.this is a good book to have for reference. I do perfer wristwatch annual as they include the prices. but for the money tis is a good book for someone who either collects or appreciates fine watches. a very nice overview



4. This book is a very comprehensive volume of today's finest watch brands and timepieces. There are at least two major brand omissions, including my favorite watch brand, Omega.
   
   There is not a single mention of Omega or Blancpain in the entire book. This leads me to believe that the book is really a pay to play advertising vehicle and these brands either chose not to participate or were intentionally left out. For me, with Omega missing, the book became a disappointment.

5 comments about A Movement in Time With Breitling & Rolex: An Unauthorized History.

1. There are not many (Three) books on Breitling watches. This has to be the best I have read, Yes it is the most current but it has the full Breitling watch history.
   It is a shame the author also included Rolex watches. I feel the Rolex is just hype and does not come close to Breitling. They just have a better marketing team.
   The book starts of the Breitling history when Leon Breitling was a child working in the cottage industry making watch parts for watch companies. It then expands throughout the life of Leon, his son and Grandson. To where the company is today. Throughout the various stages of world history, War and the birth of flight the author has included the watches and some very nice pictures of early pioneers wearing Breitling watches.
   I found the additional information on Cartier and Rolex interesting but it was not needed.



2. If you are a knowledgeable (or even semi-knowledgable) watch person wanting to add to your library (or a person who thinks that a book, any book, should be proofread before being published) avoid this book - the pictures are worthless (I should have known by the out of focus cover shot), the writing/grammar beyond terrible and you will not learn one thing new. Plus the paper quality is below that of a 49 cent coloring book at Wal-Mart.
   
   Save your money and buy anything else.



3. The good points: The history on Rolex and Breitling I found enjoyable to read and very interesting. I liked the way the author matched certain events in history with the watches. The sections on how not to buy a fake will be helpful to me. The sections on Cartier and Omega I found interesting reading but this was not why I purchased the book.
   The bad points: Some of the picture quality was poor; this was a disappointment to me and let the book down.
   I was going to give it a 3 star but the jokes on watches at the back did make me laugh so I give it 3.5 stars.



4. I bought the book for the history on Breitling and that is exactly what I got. I have never read just an in-depth history on the company. The sections on how to identify fake watches I found exceptional. We seem to have so many replicas flooding the market nowadays. A new up to date book was needed. I have read the reviews here and see some are unhappy with the picture quality. I don't think they are the best, but this is the history of the watches and has pictures of early pioneers and watch wearers such as the red baron and his tri-plane. I doubt they had digital photography back then,
   I was not previously into 'Ball' watches but since reading the history I have now purchased one. I agree with some reviews here, it is not as good as the Hess/Dowling book, but good value for money.



5. This book is absolutely worthless as collector guide and is probably better suited to leveling the legs on a wobbly table than as a serious Rolex or Breitling reference. It is self published using one of those instant printing companies, Infinity Publishing. As such, it has had no professional editing and the print quality is similar to what you might turn out on an office photocopier. The blurry, distorted amateur B&W photos are useless and I would speculate that many of the included Rolex catalog and publicity photos were reproduced illegally, without the consent of the copyright owners. The poor images are accompanied by incoherent meandering text that is riddled with spelling and grammatical errors, numerous incorrect facts and repetition of common wivestales.
   
   I was outraged to see that the author, Mark Cooper, a vacuum cleaner salesman in Florida (aka "MarkFlorida"), originally shilled fake reviews of his own book. These self-reviews were removed by Amazon after lots of customer complaints, however the author quickly replaced them with fake reviews from his family and friends, containing the same comments and misspellings. In addition, he had the audacity to post negative reviews for several competing books sold Amazon.
   
   Sadly, this book doesn't deserve a place on any bookshelf. There are many excellent Rolex and Breitling collector guides sold on Amazon. This just isn't one of them

3 comments about Encyclopedia of Antique American Clocks, Second Edition.

1. compared to the first book, which is a wonderful book, this one was a waste of time -- i wish i had a chance to look at it before i bought it -- i would not have bought it -- j.d.h.



2. Brand new, year 2001 encyclopedia for clock enthusiasts. It features 352 pages and more than 700 black and white photos and a special full color section. There's plenty of informative text with data on clock types, clock making, leading clock makers, clock histories, wall and classic clocks, shelf clocks and novelty clocks. The pictures provided are large and sharp, making identification easy. Clock lovers will find this a useful work.



3. The Encyclopedia Of Antique American Clocks offers collectors and dealers with a superbly illustrated and comprehensive guide to American clocks. Organized by clock type and category, this authoritative guide offers detailed entry descriptions and current market values, as well as being enhanced with more than 700 photographs including a 16-page color section). The Encyclopedia Of Antique American Clocks is an essential pictorial reference to this specialized category of nostalgic collectibles and includes informative chapters on clock types, the history of clock making, and collectible clocks from the smaller clock makers as well. A glossary, bibliography, photo index, and resources list also contribute to making The Encyclopedia Of Antique American Clocks thoroughly "user friendly" and highly recommended.

2 comments about Cult Watches: The World's Enduring Classics.

1. Balfour highlights 30 of the world's leading watches with half a dozen or so color photographs so clear details of the watch faces can be seen and with essays on each watch's history and individuals who have played a role in its becoming a leading watch. "Leading" means watches which are expensive, but which also stand out for their design and craftsmanship and are desired by wealthy individuals around the world who have an appreciation for high quality and modern fashion design. Balfour is a prominent observer of the field of leading watches who besides doing frequent lectures and broadcasts, has written for GQ and Newsweek International. He is also the main watch-industry correspondent for the Financial Times.
   
   In addition to highlighting the 30 watches, the handsome book contains considerable secondary material of interest to collectors at all levels; including newcomers to this glamorous field involving auctions and investment purchases as well as retail sales. In the Introduction, Balfour cites several watchmakers such as Alain Silberstein who necessarily, but regrettably were left out of the limit of 30 watches. While not receiving the full treatment of the highlighted watches, worthwhile information is given on these (i. e., they are not simply mentioned). In the section "Collecting and investing" of the Introduction, Balfour describes categories of watches such as sports watches, military watches, and car watches. Of an appearance and production quality of a coffee-table art or fashion book, "Cult Watches" has enough basic and authoritative content to be a primer and reference as well.
   
   Some of the watchmakers are household names; while others are recondite to all but the most active and experienced collectors. Cartier, Rolex, and Bulova are known by most. Breguer, Girard-Perregaux, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Tissot are not generally familiar. Balfour gives all of the chosen 30 watches, familiar or unfamiliar, equal treatment on the basis of his expertise and enthusiasm for this popular fashion field. Anyone attracted to it will enjoy and learn from the book.



2. For watch enthusiasts of vintage pieces and ones that date back to the 70s and 80s this book is for you, it also includes newer timepieces but not as in depth.

5 comments about Chronograph Wristwatches: To Stop Time.

1. excellent book for the pro or just for the interested amateur. great pics,descriptions and info. worth every penny.



2. This is a great book for those interested in chronograph watches. The pictures are very good and the detail on the movements is exceptional. The format of the book is rather large, but not too thick. Quality printing and binding. Nearly a must-have for watch collectors and horologists.



3. This book is geared to the watch collector and repairer, which is exactly what I was looking for. It has an excellent description of the major dials and movements with nice large pictures. The information is detailed, in-depth and informative. A professional book. It is large format, not too thick, but the glossy pages (which is a good thing) make it heavy. For the collector / repairer of chronographs, this is a must-have book.



4. Overall an excellent book on chronographs, which is a cross between a coffee table book and a reference work. As a collector, I refer to it a lot.

   Unfortunately, the translation is poor, and there are many inconsistencies which can make it hard to follow descriptions: for example, the same component in the chronograph mechanism may be referred to by several different names. Also, the final editing of the English version leaves a lot to be desired, especially in a book of this price. Having said this, it's still a very good book, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.




5. This book illustrates the intricacies of chronograhs in great detail and with much attention given to not-so-well-known facts. Master Watchmaker Gerd-Ruediger Lang is the founder and manager of Chronoswiss Uhren GmbH in Munich, Germany and his attention to detail can both be found in this book and in his watches, which are famous throughout the world.