Book Description
Every year brings hundreds of new wristwatch designs, with aesthetic and mechanical changes and improvements, limited edition watches, and new producers, keeping this field exciting for collectors. Following the success of last year's book, the new annual features over 1,700 of the world's most luxurious wristwatches and provides color photographs and complete specifications for each watch. With Wristwatch Annual, collectors have a wealth of information close at hand: the book is arranged alphabetically by producer, and within each producer's section are specifications and materials for each watch, including price, movement, special features, complications, case, dial, band, and available variations of a particular model. A glossary and pronunciation guide help acclimate the reader to the world of fine timepieces, and, for prospective buyers, the addresses of all featured producers are listed together.
The elegant photography and layout will encourage people to peruse the year's offerings for aesthetic appeal as well. The range of styles, from classic to modern, reflects the inclusive nature of this book, which watch collectors around the world will find both a handy reference and required reading.
Featured manufacturers: Alpina; Svend Anderson; Angular Momentum; Anonimo; Arnold & Son; Audemars Piguet; Ball Watch Company; Baume & Mercier; Bell & Ross; Ernst Benz; Blancpain; blu; Rainer Brand; Martin Braun; Breguet; Breitling; Carl F. Bucherer; Buti; Bvlgari; Nouvelle Horlogerie Calabrese; Cartier; Chase-Durer; Chopard; Chronoswiss; Frédérique Constant; Corum; Cuervo y Sobrinos; Cyclos; d.freemont; Davosa; de Bethune; de Grisogono; deWitt; Doxa; Dubey & Schaldenbrand; Roger Dubuis; Dunhill; Ebel; Eberhard & Co.; Epos; Louis Erard; Eterna; Jacques Etoile; Fabergé; Carlo Ferrara; Formex; Fortis; Gérald Genta; Gevril; Girard-Perregaux; Glashütte Original; Glycine; Graham; Hanhart; Harwood; Hermès; Hublot; IWC; Jacob & Co.; Jaeger-LeCoultre; Jaquet Droz; Daniel JeanRichard; F.P. Journe; Urban Jürgensen; Kobold; Kurth; Maurice Lacroix; A. Lange & Söhne; Limes; Longines; Marcello C.; Meistersinger; Mido; Richard Mille; Milus; Daniel Mink; Montblanc; H. Moser; Movado; Mühle; Franck Muller; Ulysse Nardin; NBY; Armand Nicolet; Rainer Nienaber; Nivrel; Nomos; Omega; Oris; Panerai; Parmigiani; Patek Philippe; Piaget; Paul Picot; Polijot-International; Porsche Design; Rado; Auguste Reymond; RGM; Rolex; Daniel Roth; Scalfaro; Jörg Schauer; Alain Silberstein; Sinn; Sothis; Stowa; Swiss Army; TAG Heuer; Temption; Tissot; Tudor; Tutima; Union; Vacheron Constantin; Ventura; Vollmer; George J von Burg; Harry Winston; Xemex; Dino Zei; Zenith; Zeno.
With additional reports on: B.R.M.; DeLaneau; Hautlence; Jean-Mairet & Gillman; Jacques Lemans; Giuliano Mazzuoli; Louis Moinet; Officina del Tempo; SWI.
Customer Reviews:
Wow!.......2007-08-23
I bought this just to see all the awesome watches out there. Some of these are in the hundred thousands. Wow. Great pictures and company info. If you enjoy watches in the least you must own this catalog its huge and has hundreds of pictures of watches you will never own, unless you have a few hundred thousand sitting around.
Wristwatch Annual 2007 review.......2007-08-09
Great pictures, a must for any watch enthusiast. Side note. Some of the actual specifications are not accurate.
If I only had the money........!!.......2007-07-05
The photography alone of these world class timepieces brings out the male urge to splurge. It's like being a kid in a candy store, you want one of everything! I've read the '05 and '06 editions and this one does not disappoint. Nice feature: a guide to the pronunciation of all those Swiss, German and French names. Even if you don't speak any of those languages you can say the names like a native. Any watch aficionado will spend many delightful hours soaking up all the facts, figures and history presented here.
Great book for the WIS.......2007-06-14
I really like the format, usually get the new one when it's released.
Buyers guide for horologists.......2007-06-06
Informative book on horology. I will definitely buy this every year.
Customer Reviews:
Great.......2004-03-04
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.
Excellent.......2004-02-28
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.
Excellent reference book........2002-02-12
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.
Excellent work by Gerd-R. Lang of Chronoswiss.......1999-08-24
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.
Book Description
Introduced into a skeptical American marketplace early in the twentieth century, the wristwatch soon caught the consumer's imagination. It was not long before American watch manufacturers adopted the form and brought their ingenuity and creativity to bear on the style and design of the wristwatch. Fifty years of innovation and beauty follow, and this beautiful book brings you the story in word and picture. Illustrated with over 600 full color pictures, the authors have traced the history of the American wristwatch. Their original research brings life to some of the persons who influenced its development. Design periods are defined and the watches they engendered are amply illustrated giving the reader knowledge that is valuable, both for the appreciation and the collecting of these wristwatches.
Book Description
The mechanical wristwatch is a cherished treasure. This newly updated classic book is designed for the collector, with a historical survey, a description of how mechanical wristwatches work, and a glossary. Updated prices for various watches are included, along with a chapter on fakes, knock-offs, and hybrids. Information on the preservation, care, and repair of the watch rounds out the volume, making it an excellent reference for novice and experienced collectors alike.
Customer Reviews:
An excellent resource for the antique wrist watch collector..........2006-10-02
....A thorough explanation of both the history of the wrist watch as well its mechanical evolution. Direct, easy, approachable, yet thorough, with a significant number of illustrations and photos of every description of watch from all the major European manufacturers from the early years thru modern times. If you collect wrist watches, this book is the Gold Standard.
In-depth guide meant especially for collectors .......2005-06-11
Now in a newly revised fifth edition, Wristwatches: History Of A Century's Development by Helmut Kahlert, Richard Muhe and Gisbert L. Brunner, is an extraordinary, high-quality, in-depth guide meant especially for collectors but also filled with fascinating information for lay readers curious about the technological, sociological, and economic factors that have not only contributed to the development of the wristwatch, but made the portable clock an important part of world history. Over 1990 black-and-white and color photographs abound throughout this lavish compendium, which includes extensively detailed essays on the origin of the wristwatch, its distinctive features versus the pocket watch, its basic construction and function, self-winding watches, special types of wristwatches, preservation and care of wristwatches, and much more. Express focus is given to various name brands and types of wristwatches throughout the past century, with many photos, capsule descriptions, and sample prices for classic watches. Wristwatches: History Of A Century's Development is truly an outstanding reference for hobbyists and historians alike.
Rise and Fall and the Rise Again of Mechanical Watchmaking.......2000-08-18
Wristwatches' is an excellent survey of the huge variety of watches that been developed this century. Highlights includes a consise history of the changes in design over the last 100 years and brief insights into how particular complications are constructed. However, for the english reader, for this is a translation from the original German editions, it has a few faults in it's germanocentricity. All of the historical advertising material displayed in the book is in German. It would have been more appropriate to include at least a few english language advertisments as it gives a lot of flavour to such a book. In addition there is a complete section on German wristwatch development which is a bit dry if this is not your particular interest. A major editorial fault is that the vast majority of photos have lost their numbering and you are left trying to match up the descriptions to each picture. For such a book this fault is a pity. However it is still one of the best guides for vintage and modern watch enthusiasts as it covers a vast range of models with a very useful, and fairly accurate, price guide.
Customer Reviews:
Great Reference.......2007-08-11
A wonderful resource book, exhaustive coverage of big and small wristwatch producers. This is a commercial book and all company's are written about favorably (not reality). One is best to research products/reviews online in addition to get a true picture of the products represented in this book. This is the best in my opinion of the watch annual books.
The strengths are: clear listing of all watch specs, often interesting blurb about each company, pronunciation list, company contact info, additional resource list (forums, dealers, etc.). Annual does not change that much yearly, might try buying last years annual and saving about 50% for very similar content.
Enjoy this wonderfully rich subject.
Pretty good compilation, but not very complete.......2007-07-09
Of course you can't include everything, but these annuals usually have some glaring omissions of watch lines, particularly American made.
Products available .......2006-08-10
I found the catalog very limited. A review should include all products available from a manufacturer or list variations of products displayed. For example, a watch made of stainless steel is also available and not just white gold.
The best guide in the market.......2006-06-29
After years of buying the equivalent in French and German, this is definitely the best guide, very complete, very well written. The prices are in US$, though. The most expensive watch, a Vacheron Constantin. 1.6 million dollars, production is limited to 7 watches. The mind boggles!
Representing the top of the watchmakers art........2006-03-23
Do not expect to find quartz electronic watches from the orient here. This is a catalog of the finest in traditional watch design from Europe, primarily Switzerland, Germany and France. Here are watches that are the ultimate in design, both mechanically and artistically. They are also the ultimate in price, intended for the well to do who wants to make a fashion statement that is also a supurb timekeeper. (I don't know the most expensive watch in the book, but the highest priced one I found was $783,100.)
The book is organized by manufacturer and gives the highlights of their current product line. It is profusely illustrated with color photographs on virtually every page. Of course not every watch of every manufacturer could be included on a book of any size. But then again, that's what the web is for.
Book Description
Every year hundreds of new wristwatches are introduced. Some feature innovative designs or mechanical improvements, and others are available only in limited editions, keeping the field interesting for collectors. Following the success of the previous edition, this new annual highlights hundreds of the year's most extraordinary wristwatches in close-up color photographs accompanied by complete specifications, giving collectors a wealth of up-to-date information, all in one volume. The specifications for each watch include price, movement, special features, complications, casings, dial, band, and available variations of a particular model. In addition, general histories of each manufacturer provide an overview of the company's background and style.
The annual's elegant photography and organization will encourage readers to peruse the year's offerings watch by watch. And the range of styles, from classic to modern, will appeal to watch enthusiasts the world over, who will find this current edition both a handy reference and required reading.
Included in the 2004 edition:
Audemars Piquet; Baume & Mercier; Bell & Ross; Bertolucci; Blancpain; Blu; Bonneville; Rainer Brand; Breguet; Breitling; Bulgari; Bunz Collection; Vencent Calabrese; Cartier; Charriol; Chase-Durer; J. Chevalier; Chopard; Chronoswiss; Frédérique, Constant; Corum; Davosa; Dubey & Schaldenbrand; Ph. Du Bois & Fils; Roger Dubuis; Dufeau; Dunhill; Ebel; Eberhard & Co.; Louis Érard; Eterna; Jacques Etoile; Fortis; Gerald Genta; Paul Gerber; Girard-Perregaux; Glashütte Original; Hanhart; Harwood; Hublot; Ikepod; IWC; Jaeger-LeCoultre; Daniel JeanRichard; Junghans; Urban Jurgensen; Kelek; Kobold; Kurth; Maurice Lacroix; A. Lange & Sohne; Longines; Jean Marcel; Marcello C.; Mido; Minerva; Montblanc; Movado; Mühle; Franck Muller; Ulysse Nardin; Rainer Nienaber; Nivrel; Nomos; Omega; Oris; Pacardt; Officine Panerai; Marmigiani Fleurier; Patek Philippe; Pequignet Perrelet; Piaget; Paul Picot; Poljot; Porsche Design; Rado; Revue Thommen; Auguste Reymond; RGM; Rolex; Daniel Roth; Jorg Schauer; Schwarz-Etienne; Alain Silberstein; Sinn Spezialuhren; Sothis; Stowa; TAG Heuer; Temption; Tissot; Tutima; Union Glashütte; Vacheron Constantin; Ventura; Raymond Weil; Harry Winston; Xemex; Zenith
Other Details: approximately 1,700 full-color illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
New to Hobby - Good Book.......2004-02-22
I am new to the hobby of horology and enjoy owning this book. It provides a lot of detail and good photos of all the major brands (the competing buying guides leave out some significant brands). Well done and worth buying BEFORE you spend 30 times its price (or more!) on a watch. See the different styles and open your eyes. Take the TIME to appreciate it!
The Bible of the Watch Industry, The Best tool available.......2003-12-29
This is an excellent tool if your a collector, admirer, in the biz or anyone considering a watch purchase. An incredible reference tool, great in helping one narrow down their likes and dislikes...my 3rd year in a row. There are a couple of others...however this one is the most objective and useful.
A great resource.......2003-06-17
I've bought each issue since I got interested in watches in 2000, even though the contents change very little from year to year. Another shortcoming of the annual is that the price information is neither complete nor accurate - you can usually get significant discounts on many of the watches featured. Nevertheless, it is great fun just to look at, and read about watches that I can only drool over :-P
Indispensable for the watch collector!.......2003-02-18
This is a great guide to learn your way around the fascinating World of watch collecting! This book includes all the "major" players in the watch industry - but unfortunately, it does not include some of the smaller "houses" (i.e. manufacturers).
I was surprised to read that it included some non-European makers like some from the USA.
One thing I noticed is that the book has several errors, just try matching some of the photos with the descriptions provided and you'll see what I mean! For the publishers and editors: get some quality control, pleeeaaasse!
I recommend it for the beginner and the advance watch collectors.
And yes, I do agree with another reviewer, there's no such thing as too many watches! :-)
Indispensable for the watch collector!.......2003-02-18
This is a great guide to learn your way around the fascinating World of watch collecting! This book includes all the "major" players in the watch industry - but unfortunately, it does not include some of the smaller "houses" (i.e. manufacturers).
I was surprised to read that it included some non-European makers like some from the USA.
One thing I noticed is that the book has several errors, just try matching some of the photos with the descriptions provided and you'll see what I mean! For the publishers and editors: get some quality control, pleeeaaasse!
I recommend it for the beginner and the advance watch collectors.
And yes, I do agree with another reviewer, there's no such thing as too many watches! :-)
Book Description
An exciting area of collecting for clock and watch enthusiasts is literally opened up with this book. On the outside the automatic wristwatch is like its counterpart, but once the case is opened a different world appears. Here 200 watches are shown, each with three photos to show the dial, and the complete and partly disassembled movement. The book introduces all the Swiss manufacturers and provides an historical overview of the development of automatic watches from 1926 to 1978. Information on the functioning mechanism and construction of each design is offered along with the data needed to locate the watches chronologically.
Customer Reviews:
Extensive research.......2005-03-18
Everthing previously written about the book is correct. What is not: the book does not have a price guide, like one reader said. After all, it's a watch movement's book! How can it have a price guide? The book have very good pictures, but 70% of them are in black and white. I didn't rate this book 5 stars, in fact, because it does not have german to english translations in the schemes of watch movements and pictures that have something written in german. Finally, the book is a little bit disorganized, since it does not have an index or different type fonts to "tell" you that you are in another chapter.
Added:
After reading the book, i found the price lists. It's one book's page...
Great book for collectors.......2004-07-03
This book provides a complete listing of movement caliber & historical information in a very straightforward fashion. It also includes close up photos of some 200 individual watches and also includes a helpful, though outdated, pricing guide. It is an indispensible reference book bound in top-quality heavy duty binding. I found it to be worth every penny I paid.
comprehensive.......2003-09-17
Well researched, technical details to a useful degree for collectors, list of calibers, good photos.
One of my favourites, be it for research on specific models or to just flick through from time to time.
Nice reference and coffee table book........1999-10-24
This is a great book for you Rolex and Omega lovers (as well as other fine Swiss watches). It covers only Swiss wristwatches but it does a nice job of it. Lots of black and white (as well as some color) close ups of faces and movements. There is a table to tell the approximate range of years when specific caliber movements were produced. I'm certainly not an expert but I would recommend this book for those who are getting into the hobby of collecting fine Swiss automatic movement (self-winding) watches.
P.S. Look elsewhere for information on modern quartz or early manual winding watches. If you like bumper and/or full rotor automatic winding wristwatches then this book is for you.
Great book for automatic movment reference!.......1998-03-20
A great book, with almost all the automatic movement ever made. With detailed technical info and great pictures, this book is certainly worth it.
Book Description
Whether a cherished heirloom or state-of-the-art design, sensible or frivolous, the watches people wear are often expressions of their personalities. Watches have long been desirable collector's items, as some of the vintage models in this book show.
Collectible Wristwatches features over 500 color photographs of watches, from rare and valuable early models to recent designer creations, from deep sea diver's watches to those worn by aviators. Each photograph is accompanied by a short text explaining the significance of the item. Whether you are a novice or the proud owner of a series of beautiful watches, this book is the perfect source of new ideas for what to look for next for your collection.
Customer Reviews:
Some nice pictures, but nothing of value to the collector.......2007-07-09
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.
Rubbish!.......2005-12-23
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!!
isn't that just like a frenchman?.......2004-02-10
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.
A lovely book which I read over and over again.......2003-12-28
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.
Excellent value for the price.......2002-05-03
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.
Book Description
This book is long overdue documentation on automatic wristwatches from countries other than Switzerland. These watches were always considered superior micro-mechanical products and posed a challenge to technicians. It was only a question of time, before the collectors' interest in these watches expanded from Swiss watches to those of other origins. A total of 123 watches are illustrated in three different views and are described in detail.
Customer Reviews:
Automatic Watches.......2007-01-11
Very good product. I have read the earlier volume on Swiss automatic wristwatches, and this one is of the same high quality.
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The Watch
Watches International: Volume VII (Watches International)
Wristwatch Annual 2006: The Catalog Of Producers, Prices, Models And Specifications
Watches International Volume VIII (Watches International)
Complete Price Guide to Watches
