‘The Millennium Watch Book’ is a coffee-table publication looking back over the watch industry’s triumphs between 2000 and 2020. It’s likely to be interesting for both watch enthusiasts and newbies; everyone is certain to enjoy looking back on these ticking memories of the last 20 years of watchmaking.
Very, very rarely does Elizabeth Doerr see a watch book where everything fits together in the way a book should: engaging, well-written text; very obviously carefully copyedited; great paper quality; good, clear, pleasing-to-the-eye design; super photography, and an engaging subject matter. And she’s happy to report it does here. ‘Retro Watches’ by Josh Sims and Mitch Greenblatt is a must-read for those interested in affordable, design-focused watches of a quirky bygone era.
This richly illustrated coffee table book weighing close to two kilograms is both an invaluable reference tool and a fascinating read. The chapters do not scrimp in detailed information, expert opinion, and rich historical illustrations: even the book’s structure points are a pure joy to read or simply thumb through. Elizabeth would recommend it heartily for anyone with even a passing interest in the subject and here’s why.
Any time is an appropriate time to gift a watch lover with a book containing well-written words and beautiful photos of watches. At Quill & Pad we love reading books as much as we love writing them (on occasion). Here is a selection of books we have reviewed and written, suitable for gifting or reading at any time of year.
‘F.P. Journe Invenit et Fecit’ by Jean-Pierre Grosz narrates the story of François-Paul Journe, one of the most successful independent watchmakers of our time. This book outlines both Journe’s incredible and – dare I say – courageous career and delves into his personal life, which wasn’t always rosy and light. A very atypical career that deserves the attention it receives with this book, Elizabeth finds it is a must-read.
At Quill & Pad we love reading books as much as we love making them (on occasion). Here is a good selection of books we have reviewed and we have written, suitable for gifting or reading at any time of year.
When Gene Stone wrote ‘The Watch’ in 2006 he was a passionate watch collector who noticed a lack of general-interest books on the subject, thinking to write something that both collectors and neophytes could enjoy. Twelve years later, it’s the bestselling watch book. And now Stephen Pulvirent (managing editor of Hodinkee) has teamed up with Stone to thoroughly revise ‘The Watch’ to release the aptly named ‘The Watch, Thoroughly Revised.’
The vintage watch train keeps rolling right along – in great part thanks to enthusiast authors like watchmaker Sébastien Chaulmontet (who co-wrote ‘Chronographs for Collectors’) and vintage forum owner Alistair Gibbons, who has just published a book on vintage watches called ‘Chasing Time.’ Find out much more about the book right here.
At Quill & Pad we love reading books as much as we love making them (on occasion). Here is a good selection of books we have reviewed and we have written, suitable for gifting or reading at any time of year.
“Eternity is the opposite of time, not its principle,” one of the main characters of ‘Signs of the Times’ says to Ferdinand Adolph Lange toward the end of this historical fiction novel by Christoph Scheuring. And if you love watches, watch history, and historical fiction, you are bound to love this book.
