Quite a while ago I was approached regarding an interesting project by my friend Anders Modig, who was in the throes of planning a large book project with the rather creative marketing and PR team at Glashütte Original. The book was to be a large compendium of, well, impressions of Glashütte Original by authors from ten different countries. And it was to be called ‘Impressions.’ So what’s it about?
This fascinating book closely examines a crucial 15 years in the life of the long, long career of Breguet, the brand. This is the unadulterated story of how the modern Breguet brand was created after the Chaumet brothers, Jacques and Pierre, acquired it in 1970 “for a modest sum.”
“Työ puhuu puolestaan.” This Finnish proverb means, “A man is valued by his work, not his words.” And it most definitely characterizes the introverted, Finnish master watchmaker Kari Voutilainen to the proverbial tee. ‘Kari Voutilainen Horlogerie d’Art’ is an epic book written by Theodore Diehl that would make a perfect gift for the horophile in your life!
During the launch of the bombastic Reference 57260 on September 17, 2015, Vacheron Constantin launched a second rhapsodic item: the truly encyclopedic oeuvre ‘Artists Of Time.’ This beautifully photographed 456-page tome takes an extensive look at both the inner workings of Vacheron Constantin’s craftsmanship and its grandiose history, telling the whole story of the only Swiss watchmaker to have been in continuous operation for 260 years.
“It is a very childish book . . . you have been warned!” my friend Kristian Haagen said to me when I inquired about ‘Hashtags and Watches.’ Haagen is one of the more colorful figures among the writers who follow the world of watches. Which means that he rarely does anything the way that anyone else would. ‘Hashtags and Watches’ is a perfect example.
Historian Dominique Fléchon has worked for the Richemont Group since 1994 and the FHH since 2006. He is a quiet achiever, therefore you may not be very aware of him. Fléchon has authored a comprehensive book on the history of watchmaking called ‘The Mastery of Time.’ This 456-page oeuvre makes the perfect gift for the horophile in your life.
Still looking for the perfect Christmas gift for your favorite WIS, collector, or watch lover? Look no further than the ultimate Omega Speedmaster reference book ‘Moonwatch Only: The Ultimate Omega Speedmaster Guide.’
If you’re looking for a fun work of fiction with a serious watch theme to take on your holidays, you might want to go for ‘The Grand Complication’ by Allen Kurzweil. ‘The Grand Complication’ is a quick read, steeped not only in the legends of modern watchmaking, but also appealing to bibliophiles with its many references to literature and libraries.