Customer Reviews

Collectible Wristwatches (Collectibles)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This book is just a small photo book. It has a huge amount of pages, but each one has just one picture. It worths 10 bucks, but will not increase your knowledge about wristwatches, since its descripions are very poor ( it doesn't contain exact made year, caliber of movement etc ).
Flávio Maia

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.

The historical/technical information accompanying this photo gallery of watches is simply a sketch and will be well known to watch buffs. There is a gross error in the introduction to section II - Chronographs. The definition of a "chronometer" [a watch whose accuracy/reliability has been certifide by special horological labs] is mixed up with "chronograph" [a 'stop watch' type of movement].
All of that said - the 360+ color photographs [despite the meager descriptive text] are worth the price of the book.

Worst book I've ever seen.

Different catagories such as Mechanical, Automatic, Complicated etc.

Seems to concentrate on particular brands and throw's in a few other's to break up the monotony.

On automatics. Shows 3 pic's of the JLC Power reserve. rolex is represented by two vintage and 7 modern.

60% of the watches come from JLC, Lip and Rolex. 20% from Heuer, Omega and Zenith and some Breitling. Other 20% are from some know and unknown companies.

I'd ship it back, but the s/h cost wouldn't give me much of a refund.

One look was enough

At least the couch won't wobble anymore

DON

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!!

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.

More than 360 color photos, worth the price of the book. And in many cases "A picture is worth a thousand words".

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.

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.