Antique clocks, musical boxes and automata Books

Book SynopsisFor more than 25,000 years, mankind has sought to understand and measure the passing of time, in the process creating some of the most remarkable and beautiful timepieces. Now, in Nicholas Foulkes's lavishly illustrated book, the battle to tame time is brought vividly to life. From the baboon bone dating back to the palaeolithic era that marked the lunar cycle and on to the 3500-year-old water clock at Karnak, from our earliest days mankind has sought to track the passing of time. More recently, the struggles to measure longitude and to create a workable train timetable across the vast, open expanse of the United States have inspired new developments. In Time Tamed, Nicholas Foulkes reveals how we have done this by focusing on some of the most significant developments in timekeeping across the ages. He also highlights the most stunning and lavish clocks and watches in history - from Big Ben to Rolex - for telling the time hTrade Review'Downright fascinating...indispensable reading for horophiles of every stripe. Enthrallingly recounted' * Daily Telegraph *'Nicholas Foulkes' excellent book shows our fascination with time has been producing remarkable stories for thousands of years. The book is beautifully illustrated. A captivating look at a subject that has intrigued mankind since...well, since time began.' -- Mark Mason * Daily Mail *'It's a story...Foulkes tells with considerable panache, drawing on science, art and, of course, history to unravel the spellbinding story of humanity’s horological evolution' * GQ *'A wonderful account of how mankind has measured the fourth dimension these past few thousand years.' * Daily Mail *'An edifying, readable book that will not only delight watch lovers but enrich the relationship they have with the timepieces they own... This book is not just a history of time-measuring instruments: it’s a history of humanity itself, of its desperate attempts to harness the forces around it and find its place in the cosmos... A Christmas-list perennial.' * The Rake *

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Book SynopsisFor more than a century, Rolex has stood apart as the most legendary brand of watch in the world. A Rolex conveys many things: a luxury timepiece, a tool of power for movers and shakers and the symbol of passage into adulthood. New labels pop up, styles come and go, but the brand at the top never changes. Ever the record setter—the Daytona that had belonged to Paul Newman was auctioned by Phillips in New York in October 2017 for $17.8 million— it comes as no surprise that Rolex is the most collected watch brand in the world. The Vintage Watch Company is the only store of its kind in the world, with a devoted client base of devoted Rolex aficionados, from royalty to sporting legends to stars of the silver screen. Throughout, father and son, John and David Silver have been carefully cataloguing and amassing one of the largest pictorial records of vintage Rolex watches in the world. Published to celebrate the company's 25th anniversary in late 2020, the book contains a unique pictorial collection of vintage Rolex watches that have passed through the shop during the past 25 years. More than 1800 watches have been photographed and are described in detail in the book. From early Rolex pocket watches to the world’s first wristwatches, elegant in their simplicity yet revolutionary in their impact, to the very first Submariners, iconic Daytonas and jewel-encrusted Crown Collections, the mesmerizing archive of vintage timepieces charts the extraordinary rise of an extraordinary brand. Choose from the First Rolex Submariner, later coined the James Bond, or the Early GMT-Master made for Pan Am transatlantic pilots. Read about the First Explorers made famous by the 1953 Everest Expedition or the later Explorer II worn by Steve McQueen. Marvel at Early Vintage collections, from the Officer’s Pocket Watch to the Ladies’ Diamond; from the Oyster and the Stella & Stone collections, to the Sport Collection. This book is a perfect gift for all lovers of luxury retail as well as passionate collectors of Rolex watches who will want to read about the models they own.Trade Review'A gorgeously indulgent new coffee-table heavyweight.' -- Esquire'An ode, a love letter, and a paean to family tradition while also being a celebration of the longevity of the Rolex brand this tome is encyclopaedic and monumental in its scope.' -- Robb Report‘A must for any horologist’ -- BA Highlife

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Book SynopsisThe British Museum watch collection is unsurpassed anywhere in the world, and this brilliant book tells the story of the watch which spans an incredible 500 years.

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Book SynopsisThe remarkable story of George Daniels, the master craftsman who was born into poverty but raised himself to become the greatest watchmaker of the twentieth century.George Daniels (1926-2011) stands alone in modern times as the inventor of the revolutionary co-axial escapement, the first substantial advance in portable mechanical timekeeping over the lever escapement, which has dominated ever since its invention in 1759. Daniels''s love of mechanics embraced not only the minute, however - he was also a passionate collector and driver of historic motorcars.This revised and expanded edition of his autobiography also contains a new section that illustrates and discusses over thirty of the pocket and wrist-watches Daniels himself made over the years.Witness here the triumph of intelligence, ingenuity, matchless skill and singularity of purpose over the most unpromising of beginnings.Trade ReviewIt is a fascinating read about a truly fascinating man, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in horology, or even the tale of rags to riches through hard work and dedication. * Great British Watch Company *This is incredibly interesting to read through, and there are a great multitude of photographs in the book of various timepieces and diagrams of horological components. [...] I found George Daniels’ autobiography to be a truly engaging read and a wonderful insight into the mind of one of the greatest watchmakers of all time, and I would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in horology. * Watch Affinity *Table of ContentsIntroduction Publisher’s Note Foreword 1. All in Good Time 2. Introduction to Watches 3. A Change of Careers 4. Watches Versus Bentleys 5. Introduction to Breguet 6. The First Daniels Watch 7. Developing the Co-axial Escapement 8. Not Too Technical 9. Alfa and Omega 10. Wheels Postscript Working with George Afterword Complete Watch and Clock Production

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Book SynopsisMads Urup Gjødesen has written a book that contains all the knowledge he himself seeks in a book about Rolex sports models. This is information that is not readily available on the internet but requires many years of research and expertise to gather. Here is your shortcut without spending hundreds of hours online. The book is NOT a picture book with a lot of historical chit-chat and model presentations, like most other watch books. Instead, it is a next-level hardcore collection of ALL the information he has gathered over the past 20 years as a passionate collector, watch investor, and pro-dealer. It is unparalleled as the most geeky book on sports Rolexes worldwide and includes all the knowledge a collector needs to avoid making purchasing mistakes. Everything is, of course, documented with plenty of tables and detailed images.

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Book SynopsisAn updated and revised edition of this practical guide. Using as examples six of the most typical types of watch from a period spanning the late 18th century to the early 20th century, the author takes the intelligent enthusiast through the cleaning and repair process, step by careful step.

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Book Synopsis"...a beautiful book, filled with captivating images and explanatory text which never gets too dry or too technical..." - Revolution Despite the functional obsolescence of the mechanical wristwatch (our phones and computers tell more accurate time) the early 21st Century has seen a boom in the development, production, and appreciation of all things horological. Whether it is presented to the collector as an alternative investment, as a feat of micro-mechanical technology, or as a showcase of artisanal mastery, the mechanical wristwatch has never possessed more forms, functions or facets than it does today. The Wristwatch Handbook is written from the epicentre of a renaissance, a place in time between the Quartz revolution and the rise of the smart device - where the mechanical wristwatch is the antidote to the microprocessor and the permanent buzz of your inbox. From the multi-axis tourbillion, to the split-second chronograph, to the sidereal sky chart, The Wristwatch Handbook covers it all and does so with more than 470 rich illustrations from over 90 of the World's leading brands. The book is separated into two sections. The first section provides the reader with a comprehensive understanding of the mechanical movement. Its chapters explore power, transmission, distribution and regulation illustrating the basic concepts before considering the innovation and complexity that takes place further toward the cutting edge. From the fifty-day power reserve, to the constant force mechanism, and the 1,000Hz mechanical escapement, section 1 will allow the reader to understand and appreciate what is happening beneath the dial of their watch. Section two allows the reader to take this understanding and apply it to the vast range of complications (functions) that exist in modern horology. Each chapter showcases a distinct category of complication. For example, the regatta timer, pulsometer, and monopusher chronograph join a host of others in a chapter entitled 'Recording Lapses of Time'; The power reserve indicator, dynamograph, and crown position indicator are featured in a chapter for 'Power and Performance Indication'; The moon phase indicator, annual calendar, and planetarium can be found in the 'Astronomical Complications' chapter. Once the functional categories are exhausted, the final three chapters explore whimsical complications that have little regard for practical function, novelty time indication, and the 'super-complicated' watch - a rare breed of timepiece that houses an intimidating host of complications featured throughout the book. Upon completion of The Wristwatch Handbook the reader will be able to identify even the most exotic complication from across the room, and be able to share their appreciation and understanding of what makes it so useful and compelling. The Wristwatch Handbook is "brand agnostic", using only those watches that most aptly illustrate the given subject-matter. As a consequence the book places equal emphasis on the classic and the cutting edge, on watches produced in large volume or exclusive runs, by industry-leading technology or at the hand of a master. In doing so the book provides an unparalleled range of watches from over 90 brands, allowing the reader to determine for themselves which brands, complications, and styles they will build their collection from.Trade ReviewMany books focus on a single brand or even a single complication, while The Wristwatch Handbook aims to be as over- arching as possible. At 352 pages in large format, the handbook is a beautiful book, filled with captivating images and explanatory text which never gets too dry or too technical... The Wristwatch Handbook, $85 .00, published by ACC Art Books, is definitely worth consideration by anyone wanting to become serious about watches. Revolution Magazine

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Book SynopsisHervé Gallet is a Paris-based journalist with a specialist knowledge of high-end watchmaking. He was previously editor-in-chief of luxury magazine Soon.

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Book SynopsisThis extraordinary book reveals the secrets of automata mechanisms, which were developed over generations by makers who closely guarded their designs in the competitive business of automata making. Written by a specialist restorer, it gives a unique appreciation of the internal mechanisms that allow an automaton to move as if alive. Organised into popular subjects that are explored in entertaining detail, this book is a rich resource for makers, artists, restorers and collectors alike, as well as those who simply find themselves asking the question How does it do that?'Secrets of Automata is the culmination of its author's career-long fascination with automata mechanisms. Michael Start specialises in restoring clockwork figures and singing birds produced in Paris during the 19th century. It is no accident that this time and place became known as the golden age' of automata; the craftsmen of Paris competed with each other to capture a share of a growing global market for mechanical wond

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Book SynopsisNow repackaged in an attractive and great value-for-money format, this overview of twentieth-century horology combines stunning pictures of the most covetable time-pieces with the unparalleled expertise of a world-renowned vintage watch dealer. This impeccably researched and lavishly illustrated book traces the evolution of the watch across the twentieth century. It charts the early rise of the wristwatch, shows how the cataclysmic events of the 1929 Wall Street Crash unexpectedly led to a golden age of watch production, and demonstrates how the electronic watch, which almost destroyed the traditional industry, led to a mechanical watch renaissance in the last part of the century. Each chapter focuses on a specific decade, opening with an introduction to the era's stylistic and design highlights and then examines the development of specific genres of watches. Hundreds of color photographs include full-page close ups that reveal intricate details of form, texture, and design. Alexander Barter's vast knowledge informs his gripping texts, which discuss the major achievements in watch technology and design. This book also includes vintage advertisements and other promotional materials, helping to give a sense of the eras in which they were created. The perfect gift for watch aficionados, this beautiful and informative volume presents the world's finest watches with an elegance and depth befitting its subject.

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Book SynopsisA history of the world's most famous wristwatch manufacturer, known as the "watch with crown."

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This book is a step into the world of vintage watch collecting, with an amazing range of photographs, intricate research and accessible reference material that will intrigue both the casual and avid enthusiast" - David Aldous Cook, The Trader, October 2018"The language with which Gibbons speaks to his readers and the beautifully detailed photographs that accompany each entry make this anthology an interesting and engaging read for savvy collectors and horological newcomers alike." - Dana Blevins, NAWCC, August 2018"If you like vintage watches, you will very likely love this book" - Elizabeth Doerr, Quill & Pad

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Book SynopsisThis comprehensive and detailed reference guide to Rolex sports model watches is an indispensable asset.

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Book SynopsisFor the first time, Rolex has authorised a wide-ranging account and full history of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner watch, in the first of a series taking a deep dive into the watches of the iconic brand. Oyster Perpetual Submariner. The Watch That Unlocked The Deep, written by author, editor, and watch expert Nick Foulkes, is published by global design authority, Wallpaper*, which brings its sharp, cinematic eye to the project, creating new and original photography in collaboration with Rolex to run alongside testimonies from renowned witnesses to the Submariner''s illustrious 70-year history, including marine biologist Sylvia Earle, photographer David Doubilet, and aquanaut Dr Joe MacInnis further highlighting the role this iconic timepiece continues to play in the exploration and protection of the marine environment.

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Book SynopsisThe Art of Breguet is the complete, illustrated history of the work of Abraham Louis Breguet by the late George Daniels, who has provided a detailed study of Breguet’s horological philosophy that explains so many of the misunderstood aspects of his work. During the five hundred years that horology has been accepted as a separate art only a dozen or so men have made a positive contribution to its progress. Included in this little group of masters is the illustrious name of Abraham Louis Breguet (1747–1823), the arch-mécanicien in an age of mechanics. His contribution was as brilliant as it was original and, during a period when horological fashion was the slave of science, he lifted the watchmaker’s art to a new dimension of visual and technical excellence. In doing so, he radically changed the whole concept of horology and transformed it into an art form that won him the adulation of Europe. The unceasing search for perfection in the performance of his products led Breguet to the invention of mechanical principles that even today, are used in the design of the watch. His influence on the appearance and style of the watch was dramatic and his most complicated examples maintained the slim, elegant appearance that was to revolutionise watchmaking. Breguet’s extraordinary ability in all branches of horology achieved for him the reputation of a genius, the patronage of kings and – rarest of all – the respect of the horological world. His products have never lost favour and many, in constant use, have been handed down through generations to their present owners. The passing of the years, with their many changes of fashion, have not diminished the beauty of the proportions and appearance of Breguet’s work. Daniels describes in detail the complexity of Breguet’s art and, by so doing, supplants the mystique that has surrounded it with a clearer understanding of its function. Over one hundred line drawings illustrate the progress of technical development and each is accompanied by an analysis of the mechanism and its intended purpose. The history of the development of the internal and external appearance of the vast range of Breguet’s products is illustrated in a separate section, arranged in the order of manufacture to reveal the pattern of change in appearance. Each item is accompanied by a description of its external characteristics, mechanism, period of manufacture and, where possible, the date of sale. This reprinted edition, with a foreword by Emmanuel Breguet, has been long awaited and is addressed equally to the student and to the collector of Breguet’s work.Table of ContentsNote to Reprinted Edition Foreword by Emmanuel Breguet Preface Part One Abraham-Louis Breguet The House of Breguet Workshop Practice Part Two Versatility and Evolution of Style Colour Plates Principal Types and Styles Series Production Part Three Mechanical Techniques Glossary Appendix A Appendix B Index

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Book SynopsisBreitling is known for its characteristically masculine wristwatches and the book presents the most important models in Breitling history.

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Book SynopsisAn enthusiastsΓÇÖ guide to the best menΓÇÖs wristwatches by Audemars Piguet, Omega, Rolex, IWC, Patek Philippe, and others!

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Book SynopsisA celebration of some of the world's most exclusive and creative watches featuring 150 brands.

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Book SynopsisThis beautifully illustrated volume provides an in-depth look at horology: the scientific study of time and timekeeping.

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Book SynopsisA concise, detailed history of Rolex--one of the most coveted brands in the world!

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Book SynopsisAn updated edition of 23 of the most famous watch brands in the world!

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Book SynopsisThe essential guide for the collector of mechanical wristwatches, with complete information on over 1,400 models from 130 international brands.With Wristwatch Annual, collectors have at hand a wealth of information on the latest offerings from today's most important watch producers, from Swiss mainstays like Rolex and Patek Philippe to the maverick independent brands springing up across Europe and the US. The book is arranged alphabetically by producer, and the movement, functions, case, band, price, and variations of each pictured watch are fully described.This year's edition, like its predecessors, features a variety of additional articles on independent watchmaking, key personalities in the watch world, and the technical aspects of horology. An illustrated glossary and a primer on watch care help acclimate the reader to the world of fine timepieces.

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Book SynopsisThis practical, informative and beautifully illustrated book will be essential reading for all those with a passion for mechanical clocks. It will be of particular interest to both amateurs and professionals alike who wish to work on clock cases and restore them in the correct way according to modern best practice. The authors, both experienced horological restorers, examine in detail the restoration processes and provide detailed descriptions, and a wealth of photographs and diagrams. Difficult, and often misunderstood, areas of restoration and conservation are explained in the context of twenty-first thinking. The haphazard approach to clock case restoration, which has continued in some quarters almost to the present day, is no longer considered appropriate for preservation of the rapidly dwindling stock of clocks that represent our horological heritage. Accordingly, the authors emphasize that sensitive and sympathetic clock case restoration is essential and, indeed, is the most economically attractive approach to adopt.

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Book SynopsisTimepiece, jewellery and investment in one. In times of increasing digitalisation, when anyone can tell the time with a glance at their phone, analogue timepieces have become a real treasure. They look good and are an incredibly versatile accessory. There is a suitable model for every style. This book is a tribute to the ladies' watch, which can be a symbol of craftsmanship and status, as well as an irresistible piece of jewellery and a valuable everyday companion. The Wonderful World of Woman''s Watches sheds light on the history of women's watches, shows iconic models and the women who wear them and introduces influential women in the world of watchmaking. Of course, there is also a style guide.Text in English and German.

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Book SynopsisThe Revised Edition of the bestseller for the teNeues 40th anniversary.To mark the 40th anniversary of the first teNeues illustrated book, some all-time favourites from the past are reissued in an affordable, modern softcover edition that fits perfectly on any bookshelf. The Watch Book and The Watch Book II represent the beginning of a real success story. Together with the renowned wristwatch expert and historian Gisbert L. Brunner, high-quality illustrated books about the world of luxury watches have been produced ever since. These titles heralded the launch of the internationally renowned The Watch Book series in 2015 and the following year. Now the bestseller The Watch Book II ISBN 9783832734213 is being reissued and offers sophisticated aesthetics in a small format.Text in English, German and French.

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Book SynopsisThe history of Rolex is inextricably linked to its founder Hans Wilsdorf, who took the first steps in the world of Swiss watchmaking as he dreamed about a timepiece that could be worn around the wrist. This experimental research led Rolex to achieve its highest goals in both technological innovation and in the use of the finest materials alone. Its models have been photographed on the wrists of political leaders, sports champions, and film and fashion celebrities, transforming each Rolex into a fully-fledged status symbol, a synonym of elegance and precision. Including essays with a historical and technical slant, in-depth descriptions of the most representative pieces and a brief glossary, the pages in this book sparkle with golden hands, diamond-studded dials and patent-leather watchbands, illustrated in period photographs and macro-detail. The volume ends with a chapter dedicated to the most amazing auctions that saw the sale of the Geneva-based company's vintage watches.Trade ReviewThis book is a must-have for watch collectors and anyone who appreciates storied and celebrated brands. -- Joshua Espinoza Complex, December 30, 2014

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Book SynopsisMany clock repairers carry out excellent work but avoid cutting their own wheels and pinions, fearing it is too complicated and involved. This book, written by an experienced clock and tool maker, dispels those fears and gives a step-by-step guide to an extremely satisfying aspect of horology. This book is written for both the amateur and professional involved in the making and restoring of clocks, and for anyone who intends to start building up a workshop and requires a guide to the equipment and how to use it.

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Book SynopsisIn this virtual catalog of Rolex wristwatches, collectors and buyers will find 3,621 wristwatches in over 14 different model lines.

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Book SynopsisThe Revised Edition of the bestseller for the teNeues 40th anniversary.To mark the 40th anniversary of the first teNeues illustrated book, some all-time favourites from the past are reissued in an affordable, modern softcover edition that fits perfectly on any bookshelf. The Watch Book and The Watch Book II represent the beginning of a real success story. Together with the renowned wristwatch expert and historian Gisbert L. Brunner, high-quality illustrated books about the world of luxury watches have been produced ever since. These titles heralded the launch of the internationally renowned The Watch Book series in 2015 and the following year. Now the bestseller The Watch Book is being reissued and offers sophisticated aesthetics in a small format.Text in English, German and French.

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Book SynopsisThere are names in horological history that echo much more than just watches... Such is the case of Jaquet-Droz, 18th Swiss watchmakers with an international horizon, whose ceremonial clocks, prodigious androids, fashionable birdcages, pocket watches with moving scenes or collector’s snuffboxes remain the stuff of dreams for passionate enthusiasts. Today, the Maison Jaquet Droz continues to draw its inspiration from this rich heritage in order to reinterpret techniques and aesthetics, pushing back the boundaries of watchmaking and representing a perpetual source of fascination for collectors. Based on the latest research on the subject and published on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the birth of Pierre Jaquet-Droz (1721-2021), this book offers a deep dive into the history of characters with a captivating journey. Born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, in what was then the principality of Neuchâtel, Pierre Jaquet-Droz founded a watchmaking workshop and developed it through a combination of technical, artistic and commercial skills enabling it to reach international markets. His son Henry-Louis developed the family business and further diversified production, a significant portion of which found its way to China and its dignitaries, devotees of luxurious and ingenious mechanical marvels. This richly illustrated book aims to enable a rediscovery of their mechanical masterpieces as well as those of the Maison Jaquet Droz, whose rebirth and recent history are recounted here. These splendid historical and contemporary pieces embody a love of technical challenges and a taste for artistic refinement, adhering as much as possible to the sources of inspiration offered by nature. The Worlds of Jaquet Droz thus reveals part of the expansive universe of pre-industrial watchmaking while drawing parallels between past and present productions.

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