During the last weekend I had a closer look at “The Watch Book” that was published recently. Gisbert L. Brunner and Christian Pfeiffer-Belli, the two authors, have a natural authority, they can express themselves clearly and provide their knowledge to their readers.
I must admit I do have big respect of my two colleagues. Gisbert L. Brunner and Christian Pfeiffer-Belli are two authorities, two big experts in the field of watchmaking and the two very first journalists that started publishing regularly about watches already in the early 1980s.
In my library I have almost every book these two gentlemen published so far. Their newest book named “The Watch Book” again is a must and a fantastic source of ticking knowledge. Some of the most well known brands and their products are featured … The only small flaw is the fact that in the book some of the big names are missing. Hopefully there will be a second edition that will complete the excellent overview published so far.
So Gisbert if you read this, be sure not to neglect to publish a second edition of “The Watch Book” together with your friend and colleague Pfeiffer-Belli. I hope this watch book will then include all the other big names missing today…
These are the brands being covered in “The Watch Book“:
- Audemars Piguet
- Breguet
- Breitling
- Cartier
- Chopard
- Glashütte Original
- Hublot
- IWC
- Jaeger-LeCoultre
- A. Lange & Söhne
- Montblanc
- Omega
- Panerai
- Patek Philippe
- Piaget
- Rolex
- Vacheron Constantin
- Zenith
Let me show you four randomly selected pages taken from the book…
For example Breguet:
or Patek Philippe …
Texts in English, French and German … 25 x 32 cm … 256 pages … 740 pictures … 69,90 Euro … ISBN 978-3-8327-9858-1 … published by teNeues
Do it easy. The brands traitened by Hisbert and Christian really do not need a book. Just open 10 magazines and you have all the information about them. When comes the book over the intereting watches?
Certainly the Marques chosen for their book are BIG names. Perhaps names like Ulysse Nardin, Armin Strong, F. P. Journe, Hublot and many others arn’t BIG enough and fall into the novelty or boutique category?
I guess they had to draw the line somewhere and decided to limit themselves to a nice coffee table book about watches everyone knows.
The complete book of the watch industry then and now would be encyclopedic in scope and size.
Why not start Wikiwatch, Alexander?
Guy
Well, it seems like the choice of the featured brands is somewhat arbitrary. Or maybe sponsored?
There are some really BIG names missing, for example Longines and TAG Heuer, both ranking in the top 7 in terms of turnover!
Watch-wiki exists, at least in German: http://www.uhren-wiki.net/index.php?title=Hauptseite
This would make a great Christmas present. I’ll add it to my list and perhaps my wife can obtain it.
Knowing my luck, it won’t be available in the US until after the holiday.