Customer Reviews

Wristwatch Annual 2009: The Catalog of Producers, Prices, Models, and Specifications

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

 

 

If you're like me and you find watches to be absolutely amazing, then this is a great way to become familiar with the incredible number of manufacturers out there. This catalog does focus mostly on the European and the occasional US manufacturer. Obviously, most are Swiss, but there are the great gems from Russia, Germany, and Italy.

What this catalog does very well is provide terrific glossy photos of beautiful pieces. There's also a informative biography of the manufacturer, which usually provides a brief history and what makes that particular manufacturer unique. The details provided for each watch and/or movement are very helpful. And for those that aren't familiar with all the terms used, there's a glossary (albeit in a strange place) that can help describe what the many terms mean.

Now for my pros/cons

Pros
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- An incredible number of photos of each watch and movements (for those companies that manufacture their own movements).
- Great amount of detail on each watch/movement
- Perfect amount of biographical information about each manufacturer
- List price for nearly every watch. Many manufacturer catalogs are no longer including this information

Cons
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- Glossary is in the front of the catalog. Should be in the back
- The glossary is nice, but there are still many terms missing. One of them is 'sweeping seconds'. Now, I know what that is, but some newbies may not. There are a couple of other manufacturer-specific terms, which would be beneficial if they were in the main glossary
- The manufacturer bio should include as much information as possible, such as: website, address, phone numbers, etc... Instead, that information is located in the back of the catalog. It would be more useful to put that information on the bio page

Overall, this is a great catalog (more like a book!). If you're interested in watches and/or would like to learn more, this is a really great place to start.

This is my first Wristwatch Annual guide, and I am very impressed. I do not know much about wristwatches, except that I find them exceptionally gorgeous, and would love to have an entire collection.

The book is thick and heavy. The cover is glossy, and all the pages are nice and crisp. The quality of the paper feels like what you would find in a typical magazine. There are ads in the book for multiple watch brands, which is an added bonus since most of us really are buying this book just to see the pictures of the watches.

Each page displays about 6 watches, and details the specs of the watch, and MSRP. Each brand has a short history, and description followed by pictures of the watches. It doesn't display all the models available for each brand, but does show more of the recent ones. The pictures show only the face, and partially the band.

I don't know of any factual errors in the book as I do not know watches too well, but from what I see, I am satisfied. It's a great book for watch lovers, and you will be amazed at all the brands that are available. I highly recommend this book. Check out some of my pictures to get an idea of what the inside looks like.

TOP NOTCH PHOTOGRAPHY AND INFO ON LATEST HIGH END WATCHES. A MUST FOR A WATCH GEEK

There are countless models listed here, and it is great to see what new models have come along throughout the year. It's not a completely comprehensive guide by any means, but gives pics, details, prices, watch definitions, brand histories, and more for several brands. This does what it is meant to do and does it well.

This book is a useful reference tool for pricing and a little history of most watch brands.

I have read these books every year for the last five years. I still begin at the front and read every word to the back. I still break out my magnifying glass and peer at the pictures, looking for the details, both the brand specific details mentioned in the text, and others I find for myself. I still do not know how he figures which brands will make the book and which will be left out, because the lineup changes. I love learning, because each years text about each company is fresh. I also love looking close at good photography of beautiful watches. I still am fascinated by all the different ways a square inch can be decorated and by the mechanical and engineering marvels that can be dreamed up and realized. No matter how many words or pages the author devotes to a watch brand, I am always left with many questions. These books are wonderful coffee table fare, good for many hours of fascinating viewing, but they are not fact filled encyclopedias. That is why I am glad he includes many web addresses to use to find out more about the brands, the US stores that sell them, and people or publications whose web sites will be informative. DRMcGee

I thnk that watch lovers will love this book. For one thing, they list the prices for the watches. Nothing worse than seeing something you like and having to go online to try to get an idea what it might cost. Why other similar books don't do this is a mystery. It's not a secret. Just do the little extra work like this book does. I really enjoy this book.

I get the Wristwatch Annual every few years, changes are slow enough that I don't feel it necessary to buy every year. There are some organizational oddities in these volumes including putting contact info for the manufacturers in the back, a glossary in the front, and some hit or miss choices of watches to feature. That said, this is the go-to book for what is currently being manufactured in the way of quality wristwatches. Be aware that actually getting some of the watches, regardless of your financial status, is harder than it may seem. Many of the most interesting watches are sold out, or have long waiting lists.

It is an excellent magazine or book , whatever.It is very easy to pick something what you want . As a weakness is that does not comprises all the brands and some of them are missing at all. The rest is ok !! alex ioancio

Great photographs and information on new watch models from all the major Swiss and German Companies.Totally useless if you are seeking information on vintage models.