I love watches. I would like to believe that you know this by now. Currently I am waiting for a call from an authorized dealer of Tudor watches to receive my first high-end watch, namely, the Tudor Black Bay 54. I have seen it. I have tried it on my wrist. I have compared it with the Tudor Black Bay 58 and I have undoubtedly decided to buy it. When this faithful call is going to come? Hard to tell, I was hoping to receive it already in June. Now is July. Fingers crossed that during the next three to four weeks I may receive the call that many have described as surprising and overwhelming.
The state of my watch collection has already been described here, but nothing has been mentioned about my watch books. Below you will find a couple of watch-themed books that I have read over the years with a short review that I wrote right after reading it. Note that this is not my full collection. This article has a part of those books which I have read. Fortunately, there are still plenty of which I have not read. Frankly, I should have read “Watchmaking” by George Daniels by now. My wonderful woman gifted that book and it still sits and waits when I get the courage to finally go at it. Unfortunately, almost all of my watch books are back in Latvia, thus I hope that in a year or two I will be able to ship them to Brussels.
On a side note, my all-time favorite book is surprisingly by the one and only George Daniels. His autobiography “All In Good Time” is a pure joy to read. From rags to riches. Full of watches and his thought process when developing the co-axial escapement. His time in the military and his side gig as a watch repairer. I thoroughly enjoyed that book and I am tempted to re-reading it. Which for me would be a first. Since as of yet I have not read a single book twice. I have read chapters of books multiple times but never a book from cover to cover. Thus it would only be fitting that my first re-read would be a watch book.
Below you will find 10 books that I can wholeheartedly recommend reading and having in your collection.
1) First book: “All in Good Time: Reflections of a Watchmaker” by George Daniels
Review written after reading on 20 February 2021: To me this is one of the best if not the best autobiography I’ve read. I am a watch enthusiast, I like to read and learn about horology and to be able to read about the life of one of the greatest watchmakers is simply outstanding. There is nothing much to say really, I enjoyed this book immensely, if you are interested in watchmaking and horology – you will as well (even historic automobile fans will find enjoyment). Need to find a better job now to fill my watch thirst. I love this book. Pictures in it are splendid as well.
Safe to say that I did manage to find a better job. I found my dream job at the European Parliament.
2) “A Grand Complication: The Race to Build the World’s Most Legendary Watch” by Stacy Perman
Review written on 5 March 2021: This is a watch book, but it is also a biography. A biography of two men about their lives, fortunes and their desire to own the best and the most technically complicated and advanced watch of their time. Also, this book contains a brief(-ish) biography of Patek Philippe. So do I recommend it? Yes, of course. Is it for everyone? I would say no. You have to be interested or at least be slightly interested in watches in order to read through it. This is a book for every horophiles library.
I still stand by these words. A great, great book.
3) “A Moon Watch Story: The Extraordinary Destiny of The Omega Speedmaster”
Surprisingly enough I can’t find my review about this book. This was a gift by my wonderful woman. Since she knows that I would want to own an Omega Speedmaster and since I would not like to spend all of my current assets on one watch, this book is the next best thing. It has everything – photos, stories, descriptions and history. If you are a fan of the Speedmaster then this is a book worth having in your collection.
4) “Mister Swatch: Nicolas Hayak and The Secret Of His Success” by Jurg Wegelin
Review written on 9 September 2020: Before this book I thought that I know enough about the Swiss watch industry, about the quartz crisis and Switzerland. As is often the cases with sentences beginning with “before this book”, I was wrong. If you don’t know who is Nicolas Hayek, think of the most popular entrepreneur in your country and the most important man in an industry – Nicolas Hayek was that in Switzerland and in the watch industry, he saved it when banks, analysts and industry people thought that there is nothing to be saved; he came from nothing and became one of the most recognizable entrepreneurs of his day. This is not an authorized biography, but it is written by a prominent Swiss journalist who knows his grounds. A must read for anyone interested in watches, the watch industry and, of course, for anyone who likes biographies.
5) “The Watch Book ROLEX” by Gisbert L. Brunner
Review written on 25 December 2022: A good book about great watches and a great watch company. Why not “great” instead of “good”? To my opinion, this book missed an opportunity to tell a complete and thorough story of Hans Wilsdorf. Yes, it has a chapter about the founder and there are occasional references. When compared to the book about Breguet, the latter has an edge on information provided about the life of the founder. Why I say it “missed an opportunity”? Mainly because it feels as if this book with its form, shape and content would have been a perfect fit. Having said that, this book has great photos, it covers to my knowledge all mayor accomplishments of “the Crown” and it tells why a watch by Rolex costs as much and why there are such long waiting lists. If you have a watch book library, then this book is a must have, even though it is a bit short on Hans Wilsdorfs biography. Nevertheless, we must remember that this book was not intended as an authorized biography. We just need to hope that someday the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation will authorize something for all of us Rolex lovers to enjoy.
Fun fact: In a couple of months after reading this book I finally tried on my very first Rolex watch. The feeling was spectacular. I will own Rolex watches!
P.S. This wonderful book was also a gift from my partner in crime.
6) “Breguet: Watchmakers since 1775” by Emmanuel Breguet
Review written on 16 February 2021: I would not call this the best biography of any sorts. It was not written by a historian rather by a marketing manager at Breguet SA. Also the author is a seventh-generation descendant of Abraham-Louis Breguet. Although it is biased, the history and facts seem solid, the book provides a descent understanding of the “greatest watchmaker in history”, about his business, clients and difficulties during various domestic and foreign crisis. Also, numerous pictures of various vintage and contemporary timepieces and other additional inventions and papers produced by Breguet are generously provided. But is it better than the more modest autobiography of George Daniels? No. Also, I can’t seem to understand why Mr. Emmanuel Breguet said that “the only true innovation in the twentieth-century watchmaking” was the Swatch watch, when he perfectly knows that George Daniels created the co-axial escapement in the same century. And that the co-axial escapement was the first significant invention made since Breguet was alive. There are not many books on watchmaking, and even less on watchmakers and their business and lives. This book is a good biography of both the man – Abraham-Louis Breguet and of the business – Breguet.
Furthermore, this was also a gift by my amazing woman.
7) “Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem Of His Time” by Dava Sobel
Review written on 16 July 2020: This book comes as advertised. I knew nothing about the Longitude problem, about John Harrison, about H-3 or H-4 coming into this, but this book, even though it is roughly (only) 200 pages long is a delight to read to anyone remotely interested in horology, time and time-keeping. With this you get to know who was John Harrison, what he accomplished, why he accomplished it and how he accomplished it; why was longitude a problem and what obstacles did Harrison have to overcome to get his prize. This book must be part of anyone’s horological library. And it is finally a part of mine.
8) “A Man And His Watch” by Matt Hranek
Review written on 16 December 2019: A good book about men and their watches, but just one side note: the author called Stalin a “premier”, this fact rubbed me the wrong way and it gave a bad aftertaste. Also, almost all people in this book live in NYC. A semi-good addition in ones own personal library.
9) “Time Tamed” by Nicholas Foulkes
Review written on 7 December 2020: A really, really great book for all interested in time and horology. This is my first book by Mr. Nicholas Foulkes and I hope not my last (I want to get my hands on that Patek biography). I can’t really tell much. If you are interested on how people were telling time in various periods in history and if you want to know more about historically significant watches then this a must-read. This book was something like a great whisky, you don’t just read (drink) it, you savor every page.
10) “The Cartiers: The Untold Story of The Family Behind the Jewelry Empire” by Francesca Cartier Brickell
Review written on 29 April 2020: I had my doubts. The author is related to the subject of the book – so I thought that she is going to whitewash a lot. But. In the end. This book is superb – very well written and researched. Previously the only thing I knew about the House of Cartier was that they make and used to make great watches and that the Santos-Dumont (Cartier Santos) could be called the first pilots wristwatch. Zero to none about jewelry or the family that made the name. I recommend this book to anyone who is willing to learn about what it takes to make a successful international family company – only create, never copy and always be kind. A great biography.
There you have it. Ten books about watches, families, men and the art and science of telling time. Down the road I may write a second edition (and a third, a fourth etc.) about great books worth having in your bookshelf if one is passionate about horology.
All in good time.
Kind regards,
Olaaf
