Musical boxes have been made by master artisans since the 1700s, playing classical music, hymns, operatic arias and popular tunes by means of discs or cylinders. The industry started in Europe, flourishing in Switzerland, Germany, and Great Britain, finally crossing the Atlantic to America, before ending in the early 20th century. this book is the definitive reference for anyone interested in the history of music, mechanical music, and musical technology, with complete diagrams of the various types of mechanical movements used over the centuries, indexes of manufacturers, box styles, and tune sheets, complete American and British patent lists, tips on maintaining, repairing, and purchasing boxes, and a price guide. Many of the loveliest musical boxes ever crafted are illustrated in full color in this book, with hundreds more black and white photographs showing their mechanical workings. Eighty detailed diagrams explaining their functions help collectors use, maintain and repair the boxes in their collections.

The intensive research undertaken for this valuable book properly identifies forty-five Native American silversmiths and their hallmarks found on Southwest jewelry. Most of the marks date prior to the 1970s and some as early as the 1920s, along with the marks of traders, guilds, and the government. This fascinating read also provides the stories of the artists and institutions represented by these marks. Over 275 color and black-and-white images illustrate the marks in situ on the jewelry, along with images of artists, trading posts, and guild ads. The text explains why and when these marks were used. Among the important Navajo, Hopi, and Pueblo silversmiths whose lives and artworks are explored are Grant Jenkins, Fred Peshlakai, Juan De Dios, Da-Pah, Awa Tsireh, and others. The majority of the talented Indian silversmiths represented here left their homes on the reservation in the early twentieth century to work in cities and tourist venues. The profiles presented also feature a handful of contemporary artists who are recognized as master silversmiths.

In 1933, the Ingersoll-Waterbury Company produced a round Mickey Mouse wristwatch that is considered to be the first comic character watch. It started a movement that has continued for ninety years and shows little sign of letting up. This new and delightful book covers the history of character timepieces from the earliest clocks to the present day quartz wristwatches. With hundreds of beautiful color photographs it is a celebration of American imagination and artistry. Nearly every character watch from 1933 to 1972 is included, with some that have never before been reproduced in print. From 1972 to the present a wide selection of some of the best and most desirable of the 5000+ watches produced will jump off the page at you. Also covered are packaging, advertisements, and some of the ephemera developed with the watches. Organized chronologically, the book is divided into nine chapters. While principally concerned with wristwatches, each chapter also deals with pocket watches and clocks. The examples in the chapter are arranged alphabetically for each reference. At the end of each chapter is a section of lists to help the collector start his collection. A value guide is included. This book is written to enlighten, illuminate, and induce others to enjoy the comic watch hobby. A fun but important book for serious collectors, watch dealers, and students of Americana.

John Whitehurst was one of a select number of men of science living and working in the eighteenth century whose minds were as remarkable for their breadth as their talents were for their diversity. Although remembered today mainly as a notable clockmaker from Derby - the town in which he lived and worked for over forty years - Whitehurst was also an instrument maker, mechanical engineer, hydraulicist, home improver, meteorologist, the father of modern geology and he had a hand in the development of the steam engine. John Whitehurst FRS: Innovator, Scientist, Geologist and Clockmaker presents a brief life of this talented and engaging man, drawing together his varied attainments and describes his wide circle of acquaintances, many of whom were fellow members of the influential Lunar Society. Much that he achieved has left an intangible legacy, except, of course, his clocks and instruments. This side of Whitehurst has been described in great detail, as well as the clock-making of his family and his successors.Details are given of the many types of clocks that came from the Whitehurst workshops, from complex movements made for Matthew Boulton to simple hook-and-spike wall and watchmen clocks. The book's appendices include details on all known Whitehurst turret clocks and angle barometers, the firm's apprentices and its known numbered clocks. Since his death just over two centuries ago, his achievements have been largely neglected, and this book rehabilitates the reputation of a man whose ideas were of great importance in the development of scientific thought in the eighteenth century.

An exhaustive appraisal of the Rolex watch, including studies of vintage models, current designs and special editions. Learn how to spot fakes using the same clues as the experts. Invaluable to any watch-lover, especially aspiring Rolex collectors. Horological trends flit by faster than ever in today's fast-paced society. But Rolex does not rely on gimmicks; theirs is a more perennial allure, with a reputation built on traditions and hard-earned skill. A company that innovates while paying homage to their roots, every Rolex is the culmination of centuries of watchmaking expertise. Within this book you will find explanations of the making process, descriptions of the materials involved and expert commentary on what makes each Rolex wristwatch unique. The Book of Rolex demonstrates how each model fits its social milieu, present and past. It also addresses the multitude of fakes on the market, including the so-called 'Frankensteins' - watches made from a mixture of real parts and forgeries, which are notoriously hard to spot - imparting all the skills needed to pick counterfeits out of a line-up. A holistic view of Rolex watches, this book promises to be as timeless as the brand itself. Should you be considering a Rolex, this book will convince you of its worth as an investment.

This volume studies, in chronological order, three types of large clocks-wall, cabinet and free-standing, with particular attention to clocks from France, England, Holland, Scandinavia and the German-speaking countries. The emphasis is on French clocks due to recent great interest in the trade of these among collectors. The English clocks, still favored by a large group of collectors, are strongly represented here and there are several beautiful examples from Holland. The German speaking area, including Austria, Germany, and Switzerland are also well represented especially with clocks from south Germany-a delight for lovers and collectors of the Baroque and Rocco clocks. European Pendulum Clocks is essential for the collector of clocks, dealers, auction houses, museums, and anyone awed by the beauty and craftsmanship of these fascinating timepieces.

The history of Rolex is inextricably linked to its founder Hans Wilsdorf, who took the first steps in the world of Swiss watchmaking as he dreamed about a timepiece that could be worn around the wrist. This experimental research led Rolex to achieve its highest goals in both technological innovation and in the use of the finest materials alone. Its models have been photographed on the wrists of political leaders, sports champions, and film and fashion celebrities, transforming each Rolex into a fully-fledged status symbol, a synonym of elegance and precision. Including essays with a historical and technical slant, in-depth descriptions of the most representative pieces and a brief glossary, the pages in this book sparkle with golden hands, diamond-studded dials and patent-leather watchbands, illustrated in period photographs and macro-detail. The volume ends with a chapter dedicated to the most amazing auctions that saw the sale of the Geneva-based company's vintage watches. (Reprinting 10.02.2020)

In 1988, Aletta and Peter Stas founded Frederique Constant, a manufacturer based in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, that develops exceptional and affordable wristwatches. This book, presented in intimate interview form, reflects the passion and vision of the company's founders. Read about this family-run business, quite young compared to most Genevan brands, and peruse the timepieces that have contributed to its rapid rate of success. Their philosophy, from the very beginning, has been to reach out to a broader class of enthusiasts who want exquisite, timeless, and yet classical watches at sensible prices. Also browse gorgeous images and personal analyses of the high-end complications in the Ateliers deMonaco line, inluding Minute-Repeater, Perpetual Calendar, and various tourbillons, which Peter co-founded in 2009. In 2002 he and Aletta acquired Alpina, the 130-year-old, trusted sports watch manufacturer, also featured and thoroughly examined by model in this volume.

The early 2000s were an important period, spanning a time when mechanical watches had quite rightly retaken their place in the world market. We all may have a digital device in our pocket that is more accurate than a mechanical watch, but a timepiece has soul, personality, and history. The collection in this book is a step into the world of vintage watch collecting, with a range of photographs, intricate research, and accessible reference material that will intrigue both the casual and avid enthusiast. The collection showcases some of the most interesting, luxurious, and functional 20th-century (1930-1980) mechanical timepieces ever to be produced, including Heuer's Autavia, Rolex's Submariner, Gallet's MultiChron, Zenith's De Luca, and the Universal Space Compax.

Now in its revised sixth edition, this classic reference book is designed for the collector, with a historical survey, hundreds of color and black and white illustrations, a description of how mechanical wristwatches work, and a thorough glossary. Updated price ranges for various wristwatches are included, along with a chapter on fakes, knock-offs, and hybrids; even a chapter on the popular Swatch watches is included. Information on the preservation, care, and repair of wristwatches rounds out the volume, making it the most complete reference for novice and experienced collectors alike.

There are names in horological history that echo much more than just watches... Such is the case of Jaquet-Droz, 18th Swiss watchmakers with an international horizon, whose ceremonial clocks, prodigious androids, fashionable birdcages, pocket watches with moving scenes or collector's snuffboxes remain the stuff of dreams for passionate enthusiasts. Today, the Maison Jaquet Droz continues to draw its inspiration from this rich heritage in order to reinterpret techniques and aesthetics, pushing back the boundaries of watchmaking and representing a perpetual source of fascination for collectors. Based on the latest research on the subject and published on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the birth of Pierre Jaquet-Droz (1721-2021), this book offers a deep dive into the history of characters with a captivating journey. Born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, in what was then the principality of Neuchatel, Pierre Jaquet-Droz founded a watchmaking workshop and developed it through a combination of technical, artistic and commercial skills enabling it to reach international markets. His son Henry-Louis developed the family business and further diversified production, a significant portion of which found its way to China and its dignitaries, devotees of luxurious and ingenious mechanical marvels. This richly illustrated book aims to enable a rediscovery of their mechanical masterpieces as well as those of the Maison Jaquet Droz, whose rebirth and recent history are recounted here. These splendid historical and contemporary pieces embody a love of technical challenges and a taste for artistic refinement, adhering as much as possible to the sources of inspiration offered by nature. The Worlds of Jaquet Droz thus reveals part of the expansive universe of pre-industrial watchmaking while drawing parallels between past and present productions.

This beautiful and exciting book presents the most stunning and important Omega watches. A range of over 100 marvelous photographs, informative text, and technical details document more than 60 years of fascinating wristwatch design of one of the world's best known and most popular Swiss wristwatch manufacturers. Among the memorable wristwatches included here are the Speedmaster model that went to the moon and the James Bond edition that served on Her Majesty's Secret Service. The rest of the models covered include, first, the historical models, and the Legend Collection, Seamaster, Chronographs, Olympic Collection, and Elegant Watches. Technical information provided for each watch includes the reference number, movement, functions, case, remarks, and the estimated value in the year the model was produced. This book will be a joy for all who appreciate fine craftsmanship.

Paul Newman wore his Daytona Rolex 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 travelled the world conducting firsthand interviews and diving into exclusive collections to gather the never-before- told stories of 76 watches, complete with stunning original photography of every single piece.

Wrist chronographs are mechanical wristwatches that, in addition to their normal clockwork, have a mechanism that allows them to time short-term events. They are one of the most popular collecting areas in the broad spectrum of wristwatches because they are not yet too expensive and are available in large numbers. Until now they have not been studied systematically. Now Land and Meis offer this outstanding identification book. The text deals with the dial of the chronograph and all the indications that can possibly be read from it. There is also a technical section that shows the historical development of the chronograph mechanism. With collectors in mind the authors have arranged the illustrations by the indications on the dials. Pictures of the movements are always included with those of the chronographs. This book is a particularly useful identification book for collectors, dealers, and auction houses.

Introduced into a skeptical American marketplace early in the twentieth century, the wristwatch soon caught the consumer's imagination. It was not long before American watch manufacturers adopted the form and brought their ingenuity and creativity to bear on the style and design of the wristwatch. Fifty years of innovation and beauty follow, and this beautiful book brings you the story in word and picture. Illustrated with over 600 full color pictures, the authors have traced the history of the American wristwatch. Their original research brings life to some of the persons who influenced its development. Design periods are defined and the watches they engendered are amply illustrated giving the reader knowledge that is valuable, both for the appreciation and the collecting of these wristwatches.

Twentieth century Russian wristwatches are too costly for many native buyers, but they are still inexpensive for Western Collectors, and are becoming extremely popular. Watch faces commemorate all the great moments of Russian and Soviet history-from Yuri Gagarin's space flight to the Summit meeting between Gorbachev and George Bush-and celebrate Russian culture with images of native costumes from Chechnya to the Ukraine. Collectors have long clamored for a definitive reference and this new book will satisfy even the most avid enthusiast, with photographs of over 500 watches manufactured in Russia and the USSR during the second half of this century, and explanations of their styles, workings, and manufacturers. Poljot, Wostok, and Slava wristwatches are covered, along with a sampling of pocket watches, deck watches, and marine chronometers. This book is a must for serious collectors in the growing field of Russian timekeepers.

The first detailed discussion of the greatest timepieces from the exceptional collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art Among the world's great technological and imaginative achievements is the invention and development of the timepiece. Examining for the first time the Metropolitan Museum's unparalleled collection of European clocks and watches created from the early middle ages through the 19th century, this fascinating book enriches our understanding of the origins and evolution of these ingenious works. It showcases 54 extraordinary clocks, watches, and other timekeeping devices, each represented with an in-depth description and new photography showing the exterior as well as the inner mechanisms. Included are an ornate celestial timepiece that accurately predicts the trajectory of the sun, moon, and stars and a longcase clock by David Roentgen that shows the time in the ten most important cities of the day. These works, created by clockmakers, scientists, and artists in England, Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands, have been selected for their artistic beauty and design excellence, as well as for their sophisticated and awe-inspiring mechanics. Built upon decades of expert research, this publication is a long-overdue survey of these stunning visual and technological marvels. Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press Exhibition Schedule: The Metropolitan Museum of Art (10/26/15-05/22/16)

This celebration of high-end men's wristwatches is a collection of essays, timelines, and more than 250 color photographs. Aimed at collectors, watch enthusiasts, and anyone with an interest in fashion, the book ranges from in-depth looks at specific models, including classics and contemporary timepieces, to overviews of pilot's watches, diver's watches, and other watches developed for various purposes. Short essays and timelines take a look at pop culture, including topics such as cars and watches, watches in space, watches in films, famous advertising campaigns, and celebrities and their timepieces. Learn about today's customized watches, smart watches, and a watch that shows the time in words only. Featured watch brands include Audemars Piguet, Omega, Rolex, IWC, Patek Philippe, Hublot, Tag Hauer, and more. The author also presents his top 10 list for the ultimate watch collector.

An exciting area of collecting for clock and watch enthusiasts is literally opened up with this book. On the outside the automatic wristwatch is like its counterpart, but once the case is opened a different world appears. Here 200 watches are shown, each with three photos to show the dial, and the complete and partly disassembled movement. The book introduces all the Swiss manufacturers and provides an historical overview of the development of automatic watches from 1926 to 1978. Information on the functioning mechanism and construction of each design is offered along with the data needed to locate the watches chronologically.

The grandfather clock, an entirely new kind of furniture, first appeared in the late seventeenth century. From then on, with its long case to protect pendulum and weights, its rugged movement and large, clear indication of time, it has been a success story right up to the present day. Virtually none of these clocks is beyond repair and often the work required is within the scope of inexperienced owners. This is the first full-length book to cover repair and restoration of these attractive and often valuable antiques, including their casework. The first part outlines how to clean and service the clock 'works' and also how to refurbish the dial, while in the second part restoration or casework, both structural repairs and finishing, is considered. The illustrations are of two actual clocks (one eight-day and one thirty-hour) and work proceeding on them. The last part of the book sketches common variations from these particular examples. Armed with this book and appropriate tools (for work on both movement and case), the owner of a dilapidated grandfather clock will be encouraged and given the know-how to restore it to life as a useful and attractive clock and a prized possession.

The beauty of carriage clocks and their accompanying cases is an integral part of their design, but one aspect-their intricate movements-also displays solutions to mechanical problems that only the genius designer could solve. In this major new work by an expert clock historian and restorer, the reader will find over 400 exquisite color and 285 black-and-white photographs of hundreds of traveling clocks, as well as the explanations of all the major designers' work from the 17th century forward. Special chapters present the work of noted clockmakers Breguet, Garnier, Vulliamy, Cole, Frodsham, McCabe, Dent, white and more. Swiss, Austrian, French, English, and a few American traveling clocks are included. Since these clocks were technically advanced, scientific instruments of their day, they first were made for royal and wealthy patrons with the finest gilt, porcelain enamel, and jeweled materials. The book displays these fantastically beautiful works of art-miniature clocks as well as full-size ones-and more common popular styles available today.

The Academy of Independent Creators in Watchmaking (Academie Horlogere des Createurs Independants, AHCI) is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2020: that's over one-third of a century of total independence, creativity, exhibitions, and sharing watchmaking craftsmanship. Here, AHCI, the oldest organisation in the world devoted to protecting independent, artisanal watchmaking, presents an inside portrait of its members and candidates. They share their most iconic creations and their knowhow, give guided tours of their workshops, and offer a glimpse into their own private world. This dive into the beating heart of independent watchmaking is for all lovers of creativity and authenticity, be they connoisseurs of fine craftsmanship or experienced collectors willing to take the road less travelled.

This comprehensive and detailed reference guide to Rolex sports model watches is an indispensable asset to watch collectors and dealers. The only work of its kind, it covers the history of the Submariner, Sea-Dweller, Explorer, GMT-Master, Turn-O-Graph, Milgauss, and Cosmograph watches, from 1952 to 1990. The history of more than 140 vintage models is described in detail, with the watches shown in chronological order. Color photographs illustrate every watch model, with hundreds of diagrams providing clear and useful information about the development of each model. Twenty-two rare Rolex brochures are shown along with numerous catalog photographs and the associated sale prices of sports models sold at Christie(1)s and Sotheby's worldwide from 1997 to 2017. Also included is a current price guide for every model shown in the book. Rolex watches continue to dominate the collecting market, and this authoritative volume, now in its revised and expanded 4th edition, continues to be the essential resource for the Rolex collector, dealer, and auctioneer.

For more than a century, Rolex has stood apart as the most legendary brand of watch in the world. A Rolex conveys many things: a luxury timepiece, a tool of power for movers and shakers and the symbol of passage into adulthood. New labels pop up, styles come and go, but the brand at the top never changes. Ever the record setter-the Daytona that had belonged to Paul Newman was auctioned by Phillips in New York in October 2017 for $17.8 million- it comes as no surprise that Rolex is the most collected watch brand in the world. The Vintage Watch Company is the only store of its kind in the world, with a devoted client base of devoted Rolex aficionados, from royalty to sporting legends to stars of the silver screen. Throughout, father and son, John and David Silver have been carefully cataloguing and amassing one of the largest pictorial records of vintage Rolex watches in the world. Published to celebrate the company's 25th anniversary in late 2020, the book contains a unique pictorial collection of vintage Rolex watches that have passed through the shop during the past 25 years. More than 1800 watches have been photographed and are described in detail in the book. From early Rolex pocket watches to the world's first wristwatches, elegant in their simplicity yet revolutionary in their impact, to the very first Submariners, iconic Daytonas and jewel-encrusted Crown Collections, the mesmerizing archive of vintage timepieces charts the extraordinary rise of an extraordinary brand. Choose from the First Rolex Submariner, later coined the James Bond, or the Early GMT-Master made for Pan Am transatlantic pilots. Read about the First Explorers made famous by the 1953 Everest Expedition or the later Explorer II worn by Steve McQueen. Marvel at Early Vintage collections, from the Officer's Pocket Watch to the Ladies' Diamond; from the Oyster and the Stella & Stone collections, to the Sport Collection. This book is a perfect gift for all lovers of luxury retail as well as passionate collectors of Rolex watches who will want to read about the models they own.

"Moonwatch Only is certainly one of the best books ever written about a single watch model." - William Massena - Timezone.com "It is an indescribable reference work and a true must-have for every Speedmaster collector." - Forbes "This book sets a new standard. Not only for books on the Omega Speedmaster, but for watch books in general. I've never seen anything like it, and believe me when I tell you that I could fill an impressive sized wall with books on watches. Authors of other books or publishers should take a look at Moonwatch Only as well to see how it should be done." - Robert Jan Broer - FratelloWatches "The OMEGA Speedmaster Professional - the Moonwatch - has done things that no other timepiece has done and it's been worn in places that only a few human beings have been." - Captain Eugene Cernan, 'Last man on the moon' There are very few timepieces in the world that deserve a definitive and comprehensive book such as this one. The OMEGA Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch is one of them. Initially designed for automobile racing teams and engineers, the Omega Speedmaster embarked on a very different trajectory when NASA chose it to accompany astronauts heading for the Moon in 1965. Its involvement in the space adventure has propelled the Moonwatch to the top of the list of celebrated timepieces. After years of research and observation, the authors present a complete panorama of the Moonwatch in a systematic work that is both technical and attractive, making it the inescapable reference book for this legendary watch. This third edition has been enriched with numerous new features including a 16-page gallery of astronauts and their Speedmaster, QR codes to extend your exploration and a detailed story of a vintage Speedmaster.