Customer Reviews

Watches, Volume 4

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is an excellent guide if anyone wishes to purchase some of the world's most prestigous watches. Most of the watches listed in the guide are over $10,000. I think this guide is great for watch lovers since the pictures and the descriptions are very clear in the guide.

Similar in style and feel to Peter Braun's Wristwatch Annual 1999 and 2000, this book is another example of a reasonably detailed "catalogue" of the ranges of a variety of (mostly) Swiss watch brands. If the potential buyer can, I would recommend buying Braun's book also, as there are sufficient differences to make this worthwhile. Well worth the money!

Being a devoted watch lover, I was really thrilled in receiving "Watches, Volume 4" over the mail. Nevertheless, I was quite disappointed after looking through the content. I can't see or understand why would reviewers rate this book with 5 stars. I felt as if it was put together without much dedication. It seemed to be a scrapbook of wristwatches. The layout and introduction of each brand watch wasn't properly done. Worst of all, the pictures are definetly terrible. Don't know where they obtained the photos but some of them have no resolution at all and are quite blurry (seemed as if they scanned the pictures). Articles were mediocre. Nevertheless, I would definetly recommend Wristwatch Annual 2001 by Peter Braun. It has a better layout, good detail, and excellent photos of the brands introduced. If I were to only have one of them, Annual is far superior than Watches. If I were a teacher I would grade the editor of Annual with an "A" and Watches would at best get a "C" for its hard work.

I find very useful this book; includes more than 50 brands with specific information of all their models, from the calibers to even prices in most of the cases. I really think is a must-have for everybody interested in learn more about wristwatches.

The book has pale pictures, less information about watch models than many other books.

one Review above says "Most of the major luxury brands are represented providing companies' background histories"

Well, this is absolutely UN-TRUE, at least was not true in Volume 4 (Which I bought).

Not a word about the watch's companies or histories or anything, just bad photos and short descriptions that will give you information no more than that of it's maker advertisement.

Maybe it was entirely my own mistake, but i didn't realize all the previous reviews were from at least year 2000 which is 3 years ago. I guess i was dissapointed upon receiving the book to find that the book was far from comprehensive. I would even say it falls quite far short of it. A lot of models seem to have been left out and more emphasis is placed on special collections or editions of a particular brand then the actual selection of models offered by a particular brand. Being a admirer of Panerai i was dissapointed to find only one page dedicated to this beautiful watch. Many others brands also were given mere mention by 1-2 pages of advertisement and nothing else.

This book is definitely not for those who are new to watches or just want a book to help them to decide their first important purchase. Really very outdated.... even the section on Rolex seem to me severely limited.

But possibly i am judging the book based on what i know now which is probably quite a few years ahead of when the book was last published.

This is not only interesting reading, it's also an incredible resource for anyone interested in buying a nice watch. It covers the $1-2,000 watches as well as the $250,000 minute repeaters and tourbillons. It has a great reference with the phone numbers of all the manufacturers too. Where else can you compare the movement thickness of the $1 million Gerald Genta Grand Complication to that of the $350,000 IWC Il Destriero? Great pictures as well!

Great pictures and details of watch movements and materials, usually with prices. A must for any collector or even someone looking for that one of a kind piece that may suit their needs. Only drawbacks - Some of the newer, what I consider high end brands are not included and the extra leaflet that comes with it shows no prices. More or less useless (leaflet only) unless you are rich and don't care about cost. I don't credit any of these problems to the publisher/author. The industry is fast paced and I am impressed they have as much info as they have. I Call it "My bible to watches"

Great Reference, great scans, a must for a wristwatch buff. There are some minor brands missing that -may- be worthed to include.

We have been very pleased with all three issues of "Watches". The magazine is well designed and provides a wealth of information on watches and movements. Most of the major luxury brands are represented providing companies' background histories. The magazines serve us well as reference guides, as well as, sales tools. "Watches" have had a great success with out clients, many of who are avid watch collectors