Customer Reviews

The Best of Time Rolex Wristwatches: An Unauthorized History (Schiffer Book for Collectors)

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There are few decent books available about Rolex watches. Therefore, Dowling and Hess' massive tome on the subject is an extremely welcome addition to the subject. Their book is definitely well-researched, producing what is currently the definitive book on Rolex. Brief but informative chapters about some of the most recognizable Rolex designs (e.g., Explorer, Submariner, Daytona, OysterQuartz...) are augmented by beautiful color reproductions of the models they discuss. Furthermore, the authors provide very informative chapters regarding the Perpetual movement, chronometers, and the history of the company. Simply stated, this is THE Rolex book. If you love Rolex, this book is a must.

While the book, as a whole, is excellent, there are still some areas that I feel prevent it from being a 5-star book. First, the chapters could have been expanded to include more information about the watches. For example, the chapter on the Sumariner and Sea-Dweller (Ch. 12), while providing the basic underlying premises and history for both models, is far too brief. As with some of the other chapters, the authors should have included more information, even if that meant deleting a few pictures. While the authors obviously uncovered a lot of new information (mostly technical, to their credit), their text also "recycles" facts that most Rolex aficionados already know. Perhaps the book is intended for the generalist as well as the specialist; however, the short chapters create a text that cannot fully meet the needs of either. Secondly, the book could have used some additional editing. The writing is acceptable, but for such an expensive book a few more drafts could have smoothed out the prose style, which is at times a little rough and detracts from the subject.

In sum, while I love this book because it is certainly the best book about Rolex that exists, it is also likely that it will not fully meet the needs of many people who purchase it. Maybe there is a need for two volumes: one that is intended for the novice, and one that is intended for the experienced collector. In this book, it seems as though Dowling and Hess try to placate everybody, but they do so with mixed success, revealing the book's limitations as well as its strengths. But go ahead and buy the book for its strengths alone--it is definitely worth it.

James Dowling et al have written one of the best books on Rolex watches available. Though not 100% accurate, it is well worth the wealth of information. If you like pictures of Rolex watches, this book is for you. Never have I seen so many interesting pics of Wilsdorf creations. If you're looking for a less expensive and smaller book chock full of Rolex data (no pics), then you might consider The Rolex Reference Guide - 2nd Edition by Charlie Jarman. But if you want gloss and in depth Rolex history, buy Dowling's book. Heck, go ahead and buy both!

For a comprehensive Rolex history with pictures, this is one of the best books out there. I definitely recommend this book for the Rolex enthusiast. Because it focuses mostly on history, the pictures are mostly of vintage models.

I own the 2nd edition (published 2001) and was excited when I saw the 3rd edition available (published 2006). I thought maybe there would be updates on the newer watches especially the 50th Anniversary Submariner and Day-Date (the green ones). To my disappointment, the 2nd and 3rd editions appeared to be identical except for the price guide at the end of the book. Yes, it's nice to have updated numbers, but I feel an updated edition should mention some updated watches as well.

A printing error on page 383 was not corrected in this 3rd edition either. That page shows a picture of an upside down Seadweller, but the print below the picture says "The Yachtmaster."

If you already own the 2nd edition and don't care for an updated price list, there's no need to spend $75+ for the 3rd edition. However, the 3rd edition is a good purchase for the first time buyer.

Overall I give the book 5 stars, but I'm giving it 4 stars here because of the lack of updates for the 3rd edition.

I was hoping for more detailed information. I am starting out as a rolex collector and hoped this book would be of more help in teaching me the basics of rolex watch identification. Having corresponded with the author and visited his website, it is apparent that he is a big fan of the older watches, and this book appears to lean toward them. Still, an interesting read - but a little expensive not to provide more detailed information geared toward the collector.

This book does a good job with a subject that's full of detail. It's good but not great. I feel the book is more geared to the collector of early Rolex watches. If one is a fan of a modern Rolex, it's dissapointing. There's not enough detail about lines such as the Date or Airking. More space is devoted to obscure watches like the Milgauss or Tru-Beat. Some information about Rolex in general, such as when the coronet first was used and how it came to be, is quite minimal. This is the corporate symbol and it's barely mentioned. Most of the pictures are good but some are too dark, poorly focused, or magnified too little. There is also too much repitition of photos of virtualy identical pieces. If there's a 2nd edition written, please, more detail, more modern, and less redundancy.

This is an outstanding book for the novice or experienced collector. It's packed with facts, photos and fantastic details.

Each model is adequately covered and prices are cited as well. Especially, since this volume often is available in good or excellent condition from the used market, it gives those with small pocket books a classic entrance into the fascination with Rolex watches.

Rolex, with one of the first effective waterproofing movements, rose from a small operation to a name now recognized worldwide on a level with Coke, Levis, and other such products.

To collectors, Rolex is a good watch, but certainly not a great watch, compared to rare and exotic models especially made for the carriage trade.

Patek-Philippe, the standard to which many collectors measure as the "holy grail" of great watches, for example, produces far fewer pieces than do Rolex and Omega, and, of course, at supremely higher prices.

Rolex, on the other hand, is one of the more respected brands produced on an assembly line. Their sales remain high because Rolex approaches change cautiously. The line does NOT proliferate with new models and designs each year. Its quality control is fantastic for a production line watch, but none has super complications, either.

Rolexes are certified chronometers, meaning for mechanical watches, their accuracy is usually acceptable: + or -5 seconds daily for those formerly used to absolutely exact quartz, radio-receiving WWV watches, that sell in Wal-Mart for less than $100, keep perfect time, but look like they cost that, too.

Rolex recently gained the title of "manufacture" (not, manufacturer, although that's what it means) A "manufacture" is "watchspeak" that refers to a watch production house that builds its own movements. Rolex finally ditched the last of its outside movements with the popluar Cosmograph Daytona when it switched from Zenith movements to those made in-house by Rolex itself. That's a move that improves acceptance of Rolex by watchmakers and collectors. Rolex and Omega, both, stay at the top of the charts for high respect and strong popularity among myriad other mass-producers of upper-middle priced watches, some that market at more than Rolexes. Rolexes that grow in price toward 6-figures, usually either feature lots of diamonds, or they're old, rare examples, of collector pieces in superb condition.

Hand-produced watches that become 6 or even 7-figure watches as soon as they hit the market in tiny qualities are sought by very wealthy, world-class collectors, while Rolex on the other hand, has a name far more recognizable as a "good" watch than any one of more than 50 manufactures that sell for much higher prices. Those watches are far more exotic, and usually are mind-blogingly complex pieces, often with multi-axis tourbillon-assisted movements. (Tourbillon also is spelled correctly; NOT tourbillion, but a hard-to-make piece to fight gravity for accuracy.)

Exotics for the world-class Rolls-Royce and Ferrari crowds, simply are not available in the more practical application catalogs of GM, Chrysler or Ford autos, or those of Omega and Rolex watches.

This book does show some of the more valued, old watches, with some discussion, but its main focus is on the prospective wearer of Rolexes, also with tips and illustations that should help draw attention to the proliferation of counterfeits out there. A friend, who is a watchmaker in a city, says that he sees several fakes weekly that many sad buyers have paid dear money for on Internet auctions. There are, however, many honorable used Rolex sellers, and often on Ebay. Spot them by their high scores and the tremenduous volume of 99+percent approval rates.

If you see a Rolex that is just too cheap, or is "new," it most likely is either a fake, or it requires extensive, expensive repairs, or it's possibly stolen. Rolex has no authorized outlets allowed to sell new watches on Ebay, I'm told. This book helps you recognize each genuine Rolex model so that your next purchase will be a positive, pleasurable expierience.

There is NO Rolex owner or collector who would be anything other than very proud to own this book. Right now, it's THE standard out there! If you can afford only one Rolex book, this is it.

My ownly gripe is its weight. Because of that, it's hard to read in bed, for instance, and is best read seated upright at a table. If you're serious, you'll want to do that anyway so you can take notes on a pad beside it.

Its worth every penny if you want a reference book on Rolex. No book comes close.
The pictures and quality are fantastic, It is a reference book and not a book that is light reading, its full of heavy detail on every Rolex ever made up to 1999.
Another edition should be due about now, for updates.
I 100% recommend to any Rolex enhusiast, Rolex dealer or Rolex collector. There simply is no book with more detail on the market.

I have the 3rd edition. Poor quality production for the cost - the first 20 pages of my copy had deep creases the length of the pages.
Content was good if not detailed to the degree I expected. Very limited on the modern Rolex but it was good to see the representation of the more unique historical pieces. Photography was good, but overall I couldn't help thinking the Brozek book, Rolex Report is the better reference value.

A truly magnificent book. Anyone who collects books will know the feeling when I say that there are only a few books which stand out as genuinely satisfying purchases, and such a propitious confluence of need, expectation and gratification, when it occurs, is rare indeed. Perfection however does not exist, so I do wish that it had more on 'newer' Rolexes, and if ever Messrs Dowling and Hess ever decided to correct this very minor blemish for a revised second edition, they may put my name down for a copy. Until then, this is THE Rolex book to have.

Similar to Rolex watches on which this book focuses, it's heavy, quite large, and overpriced. Again similar to Rolex watches, it does the job fairly well. Generally good to excellent photography traces the evolution of Wilsdorf's watches from "unknown," to a famous name. Furthermore, Wilsdorf understood the value of publc relations and advertising campaigns to boost his product to what's probably the most recognized brand of Swiss mechanical watches. While the book is lavish in its photographic presentations, there are too few words. Especially with watches, I want to know original and current selling prices, too. I yearned for a newer edition. Of course there can't be one every year, but this volume is better suited to the collector of older watches. I'd love one highlighting post-2005 Rolexes. But, you sure can't slight the research accomplished. Tops in that regard, few cover older Rolexes as completely. As a photographer who owns six Rolex watches, I appreciate the photography, and respect the teeth-pulling exercises the authors no doubt went through to locate the pictures. I prefer smaller books that are more conveniently sized for reading and storage. My library leans like the famous tower due to myriad so-called "table- or coffeetable-top" books that are oversized. Sometimes, as is this publication, that's the only way I find the material I seek: books about cars and watches. A slick, perhaps thicker, paperback edition possible to read lying down beats hell out of these large, cloth bound, impractical volumes. This book, at its price, is a product only a "watch buff" or a Rolex fan will likely cough up $125.00 to own. I'm both, plus I got it for $75: a "bargain," I suppose, maybe much in the same way Rolexes are when compared with several finer Swiss timepieces, such as Patek Philippe, a brand against which all watches are weighed,watchmakers often say. Rolexes are no Patek Philippes, of course, but they don't sell new for $100,000, $200,000, $300,000 or more, either, and sans diamonds as well! As a "gearhead" and watch hound for more than 50 years, I say a Rolex is similar to a Dodge pickup loaded with leather, GPS, Sirius and all the toys. They're tough, rough, practical. As mechanical devices go, they're reliable as granite. Each has a strong, masculine, but very attractive presence, and either one that's serviced religiously will work a century more. This isn't the best watch book I own, nor is it even the best Rolex book I have, but those of us dedicated to horology and Rolexes may say, as did I: "To hell with its dimensions, ungainly weight and price: I gotta' have it!" Unless Auntie Maude is the bearded weight lifter at the circus, don't send her after it. Plan to sit at a table to flip through it comfortably. (Be sure to order the 3rd edition, circa 2006!)