5 New Books About the Crazy, Compelling World of Watch Obsessives
Watch aficionados are a passionate bunch. They’re hungry not only for the rush of acquiring a new timepiece, but also the thrill of the hunt for the next one. This spring, an exciting cache of new books provides great insight into the makers, models, and unique subcultures of the watch-collecting world.
Discovering Time: Stories from a Collector Community
by Richard Vinhais
This series of true stories about watch fans offers a witty and sometimes poignant peek into the psyche of collectors around the world. Discovering Time is less about the technical aspects and more about the watch collecting culture.
F.P. Journe – Invenit et Fecit
by Jean-Pierre Grosz
Committed connoisseurs will recognize the name of François-Paul Journe, the outspoken and brilliant independent watchmaker. This biography follows Journe’s indirect path to horological glory, from his wild childhood in Marseille to winning the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie (the Nobel Prize of watches) time and time again.
Rolex: The Impossible Collection
by Fabienne Reybaud
Rolex is probably the most coveted and collected brand in watch history. This deluxe 196-page, 14” x 17” edition is bound in Rolex green, and provides an amazing overview of the company’s most intriguing models, including images never before seen in print.
My Time
by Sandro Fratini
This title stands out on the bookshelf because it focuses on the fascinating collection of just one man — Sandro Fratini, the Italian denim entrepreneur who owns more than 2,000 wristwatches. The lavishly illustrated 688-page book, published in collaboration with Christie’s auction house, shows only about a third of his collection, but provides plenty of insights and advice for hunting down rare timepieces.
The Watch, Thoroughly Revised
by Gene Stone and Steven Pulvirant
When The Watch was first published in 2006, it was conceived as a starting point for novice collectors (and a reference guide for more seasoned souls). Since then the horological landscape has changed many times over. So Stone teamed up with Hodinkee managing editor Stephen Pulvirent to feature new brands and new models, and to address the secondary market for such established brands as Rolex, Patek Philippe, and TAG Heuer.
