Home, 2006-03-18
By Per Torphammer, good
I searched some time for a good book on the basics of working with watches, but had a hard time finding anything not out of print of very dated, but in the end I found this. It is a small 100 page book written by an amateur in an easy to understand language and with many high quality drawings with good explanations,
The book can be ordered directly from the author's homepage: http://w1.470.telia.com/~u47026218/BOOK/Book_PR/Book_PR.htm.
By Kristian Haagen, in danish, excellent photos
A book on the story and models of ten watch companies (AP, Cartier, D&S, Heuer, JLC, Panerai, PP, Roger Dubois, Rolex, and VC). The text is well-written in a non-technical casual language with a focus on history and the photos are among the best in any book on watches.
The book can now be found in danish bookshops for around eur 10, and that is a steal.
By Otto Mortensen, in danish, excellent
This is the definitive technical book on Jens Olsen's clock. Well-written and filled with formulas, drawings, and photos (the photos are good for a book from 1957.).
Some parts of the book can be found online: http://www.nikandjok.dk/verdensur/verdensur.html.
By Dava Sobel, excellent
A biography on John Harrison and his famous precision clocks and watches build to make it possible for navigators to find the longitude. It is good story, but it lacks details on the clocks and watches (it should at least have had an appendix with 5-10 pages about the techical details). I respect Harrison highly, but every time I read about his story I think it is presented a little to black and white, and his enemies too cruel. Was Nevil Maskelyne and the others really so evil? Was it really unfair to require that Harrison should turn over his design and show it was possible to build more than a few timepieces?
By Donald de Carle, ok-excellent
Dated, but still one of the best books for amateur watchmakers (mainly because there is a lack of modern alternatives). The drawings are excellent.
By David S. Landes, excellent
The definitive work on the cultural, technological, and manufacturing aspects of measuring time and making clocks and watches. This could easily have ended up as a boring book, but Landes is an excellent author who presents the material in vivid and excellent writing.
By John Knudsen, in danish, masterpiece
This is a great book that tells the story of the Jürgensen dynasty and documents most of the watches, clocks, and other instruments produced by the danish-based companies. The text is great, the photos among the best in any book on watches, and the quality of the book itself is excellent.
By George Daniels, masterpiece
Everyone seriously interested in watchmaking should own this book. George Daniels is not only a legend but also a good writer and has teamed up with a master illustrator. The book explains most of the processes necessary to create a watch from raw materials including the theory behind a number of escapements and complications.
The only problem with this book is the quality of the photos of Daniels' masterpieces, they are good, but not as good as the pieces of art deserves.
Ebner Publishing Group, http://www.watchtime.com
The magazine I have chosen to subscribe to.
Abbeville Press Publishers, ok-good
Nothing special but one of the better guides to the watch models produced by a number of companies, from low end to high end. One of the things I like about this guide, is that it lists base calibers for many of the watches that uses ebauches.