Hands of Time: A Watchmaker’s History of Time eBook

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Author : Rebecca Struthers
Genre : Clock and watch making

Summary : A 40,000-year journey through the history of time from an extraordinary watchmaker and historian *A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK* '5/5 A true joy. A work of staggering complexity and bewildering economy.' Telegraph 'A rattling, wonderful, decidedly non-nerdy read.' Observer 'Every page glitters' Spectator 'Mesmerising' New Statesman 'An exquisite book, as beautifully put together as one of the watches Rebecca Struthers describes with such eloquence... What a very wonderful book.' STEPHEN FRY 'Absolutely gorgeous. It blew my socks off' JAY BLADES 'An intensely personal, finely-tuned meditation. A beautiful book' EDMUND DE WAAL 'Beautiful, bewitching and brilliant' LARA MAIKLEM ______________________ In Hands of Time watchmaker and historian Rebecca Struthers welcomes us into the hidden world of watchmaking, and to a history of time that spans centuries and continents. The invention of timepieces was more significant for human culture than the printing press, or even the wheel. They have travelled the world with us, from the depths of the oceans to the summit of Everest, and even to the Moon. They regulate our daily lives and have sculpted the social and economic development of society in surprising and dramatic ways. From her workshop bench, Rebecca explores the ways in which timekeeping has indelibly shaped our attitudes to work, leisure, trade, politics, exploration and mortality, and introduces us to some extraordinary devices, each with their own story to tell. Hands of Time is an intricate exploration of the history, science, philosophy, and craft of timekeeping.

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Author : Rebecca Struthers
Genre : Technology & Engineering

Summary : "A hugely entertaining achievement." –Esquire “An engaging survey through a period of intellectual history that reveals as much about people who wear watches as the objects on their wrists." – Wall Street Journal "As impeccably crafted and precisely engineered as any of the watches on which the author has worked so lovingly over the years, this book is a joy to behold and a wonder to enjoy.” –Simon Winchester, author of The Perfectionists and Land An award-winning watchmaker—one of the few practicing the art in the world today—chronicles the invention of time through the centuries-long story of one of mankind’s most profound technological achievements: the watch. Timepieces have long accompanied us on our travels, from the depths of the oceans to the summit of Everest, the ice of the arctic to the sands of the deserts, outer space to the surface of the moon. The watch has sculpted the social and economic development of modern society; it is an object that, when disassembled, can give us new insights both into the motivations of inventors and craftsmen of the past, and, into the lives of the people who treasured them. Hands of Time is a journey through watchmaking history, from the earliest attempts at time-keeping, to the breakthrough in engineering that gave us the first watch, to today – where the timepieces hold cultural and historical significance beyond what its first creators could have imagined. Acclaimed watchmaker Rebecca Struthers uses the most important watches throughout history to explore their attendant paradigm shifts in how we think about time, indeed how we think about our own humanity. From an up-close look at the birth of the fakes and forgeries industry which marked the watch as a valuable commodity, to the watches that helped us navigate trade expeditions, she reveals how these instruments have shaped how we build and then consequently make our way through the world. A fusion of art and science, history and social commentary, this fascinating work, told in Struthers’s lively voice and illustrated with custom line drawings by her husband and fellow watchmaker Craig, is filled with her personal observations as an expert watchmaker—one of the few remaining at work in the world today. Horology is a vast subject—the “study of time.” This compelling history offers a fresh take, exploring not only these watches within their time, but the role they played in human development and the impact they had on the people who treasured them.

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Author : Matt Hranek
Genre : Design

Summary : “I’ve paged through stacks of books on the history of watches. . . . But I hadn’t come across a book that actually moved me until I picked up A Man and His Watch. The volume is filled with heartfelt stories.” —T: The New York Times Style Magazine Paul Newman wore his Rolex Daytona every single day for 35 years until his death in 2008. The iconic timepiece, probably the single most sought-after watch in the world, is now in the possession of his daughter Clea, who wears it every day in his memory. Franklin Roosevelt wore an elegant gold Tiffany watch, gifted to him by a friend on his birthday, to the famous Yalta Conference where he shook the hands of Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. JFK’s Omega worn to his presidential inauguration, Ralph Lauren’s watch purchased from Andy Warhol’s personal collection, Sir Edmund Hillary’s Rolex worn during the first-ever summit of Mt. Everest . . . these and many more compose the stories of the world’s most coveted watches captured in A Man and His Watch. Matthew Hranek, a watch collector and NYC men’s style fixture, has traveled the world conducting firsthand interviews and diving into exclusive collections to gather the never-before-told stories of 76 watches, completed with stunning original photography of every single piece. Through these intimate accounts and Hranek’s storytelling, the watches become more than just timepieces and status symbols; they represent historical moments, pioneering achievements, heirlooms, family mementos, gifts of affection, and lifelong friendships.

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Author : George Daniels
Genre : Art

Summary : The first and most comprehensive step-by-step guide on the subject, Watchmaking has become a classic in its own right. This new edition is updated to include a new section which discusses and illustrates a variety of the author's own watches. The author's principal aim in writing this book has been to inspire and encourage the art of watchmaking, especially among a new generation of enthusiasts. The making of the precision timekeeper is described, step by step, and is illustrated at each stage with line drawings and brief explanatory captions. Great care has been taken to ensure the text is easy to follow and to avoid complicated technical descriptions.

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Author : Maxima Gallery
Genre : ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES

Summary : Watchmakers: The Masters of Art Horology gathers the work of the most celebrated independent watchmakers in the world. Thirteen artisans, each a legend in the realm of haute horlogerie, tell their stories, describing the traditional working methods and prized watches upon which their reputations have been built. Photographs of the masters in their workshops bring their stories to life, along with detailed sketches and images of their watches in all their brilliant intricacy. Watchmakers also features insightful text from other leading figures of the independent watchmaking world, including Aurel Bacs of the Fondation Haute Horlogerie and Nicholas Faulkes, writer for Vanity Fair, The Telegraph and GQ, and author of the only authorised biography of Patek Philippe"--Provided by publisher

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Author : R. Schmidt
Genre : Wrist watches

Summary : 'The Wristwatch Handbook' provides the reader with a comprehensive anatomy of the mechanical wristwatch; every conceivable function and form. It is the foundational text for the novice and the reference book for the seasoned enthusiast. Where other books about watches focus on advising the collector, on a single brand, or on a timeline of key historical figures and events, 'The Wristwatch Handbook' takes a detailed look at mechanical wristwatch complications (functions) and leaves no stone unturned. The reader will gain the ability to identify a complicated watch from twenty paces and perform a top-to-bottom assessment of even the most exotic timepiece in a matter of seconds. Despite the functional obsolescence of the mechanical wristwatch (our phones, computers, even microwaves tell more accurate time), there are more varieties of mechanical watches available than ever before. Today, innovation is no longer exclusively preoccupied with accuracy; pioneer manufacturers are also exploring friction reduction, anti-magnetism, scratch resistance, dial decoration, exotic materials and so on.

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Author : Michael C. Harrold
Genre : Technology & Engineering

Summary : This overview of American watchmaking covers both the history of the industry and the history of American watch innovations during their heyday. Appendices include a list of American watch companies, with brief timelines, and a serial number chart. This is a must have for anyone with an interest in American watches.

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Author : Harold C. Kelly
Genre : Antiques & Collectibles

Summary : This vintage book contains a complete guide to horology. Horology is the science of measuring time and constructing timepieces. This volume contains information on all aspects ranging from basic principles to oiling, cleaning, adjusting, and much more. Written in simple language and profusely illustrated, "A Practical Course in Horology" will be of considerable utility to novices and apprentices. Contents include: "General Principles", "Wheel Work", "Gearing", "The Lever Escapement", "The Controlling Mechanism", "Practical Repairing", "Train Problems", "Jeweling", "Making a Balance Staff", "Pivoting", "Fitting Balance Springs", "Escapement Adjusting", "Cleaning and Oiling", "Preliminary Notes on Adjusting", et cetera. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on the history of clocks and watches.

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Author : Louis Nardin
Genre : Clocks and watches

Summary : * A complete, informative primer on how watches work. Accessible for the amateur and meaty enough for the aficionado. What is a beautiful watch? How do you make a good choice? The Magic of Watches explains how and why these little objects are so precious, fascinating and exciting. The book presents paradoxes: why a one-million-dollar watch might be less precise and more fragile than one that costs 15 dollars. It comes back to the origins of the measurement of time: how did we go from the water clock to the wristwatch? The Magic of Watches is unique: it focuses in detail on the basics in order to understand and love watches better. Contents: 1. Welcome; 1.1 Why a book, why this one; 1.2 Why watches are magic; 1.3 How to use this book; 1.4 The first mission: To tell the time; 1.5 The challenge of measuring time; 1.6 The quartz revolution; 1960s); 1.7 Fantastic plastic (1980s); 1.8 The wristwatch, from instrument to artifact; 1.9 "Smart," or connected, watches (2010s); 2. Buying; 2.1 Ten reasons why you should get a watch; 2.2 Choosing; 2.3 Key elements; 2.4 Secondhand; 2.5 Selling your watch; 2.6 Knowledge; 3.Care; 3.1 Setting; 3.2 Maintenance and care; 3.3 Service and after-sales; 3.4 Repairs; 3.4 Travel; 3.5 Insurance; 4. Anatomy; 4.1 Display; 4.2 Indications; 4.3 Functions and complications; 4.4 Movement (Caliber); 4.5 Case; 4.6 Bracelets and Straps; 4.7 Materials.

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Author : George Daniels
Genre : Antiques & Collectibles

Summary : Clutton and Daniels write expertly on the vast history of watches, through the changing tastes and styles of collectors and makers, as well as imparting their own knowledge on various technical aspects within the watches. The expansive historical section encompasses both decorative and mechanical aspects of mid-sixteenth to late twentieth century watches, including those by George Daniels himself, detailing the rich history behind more modern designs and fascinations. These later years include a variety of semi-experimental escapements, as well as covering the development of the precision watch and work leading to it by Ferdinand Berthoud and Pierre Le Roy, discussed alongside John Arnold in England, to satisfy the technical-minded collector. Horology and collecting have grown with the changing technologies, and watches continue to be produced to an exceptional technological standard. Precision watches from the 1730-1930 period are covered in detail, as well as high standard Swiss and American watches of the last hundred years; these highly complicated watches benefit greatly from having both colour and mono illustrations to clarify the details.