Gisbert Brunner

Few objects combine function, elegance, and status as well as a wristwatch. One's choice of chronograph reveals a great deal because it shows the value we place on the most precious resource of all-time. A blend of precise mechanics, craftsmanship, fine materials, and innovation distinguishes the truly superlative examples. In The Watch Book, readers can feast their eyes and minds on a magnificently-illustrated and well-documented chronicle of the world's best timepieces. First, we're treated to a brief discussion on the meaning of time and its measurement by ticking sets of gears and hands. Next we delve into more than 18 premium manufacturers, including Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Cartier. These biographies of the most important names in top-end timekeeping trace the progressive development from their earliest days right up to the latest innovations and current models. We explore just what makes these houses outstanding, learning about the remarkable breakthroughs that established them as the creme de la creme of the European watch industry.

The world of watches is in transition and so-called "smartwatches" are playing a larger role. But classic timepieces with mechanical movements won't disappear from people's wrists because the ticking of a mechanical watch has been and will continue to be the heartbeat of human culture. After the success of The Watch Book in 2015, this new follow-up volume, just as beautifully done, is a must-have. Informative text and many pictures highlight 24 additional watch brands and show their unique features and quirks. However, this book includes a much broader spectrum of timepieces than the previous volume: along with many watches that fall into the "affordable luxury" segment, there are also timepieces from the chronometric creme de la creme. Along with longstanding traditional brands, the book profiles newer ones whose unusual designs and exclusive technical developments have contributed to the history of the watch. This volume also includes a helpful glossary of important terms, making The Watch Book II an absolute must for timepiece experts and collectors, as well as for newcomers to the world of watch artistry.

No doubt about it, Rolex is a chronometric legend. The company was founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf, a Bavarian marketing genius who focused on innovation. Watch enthusiasts have Wilsdorf to thank for many outstanding models and technical advances, including the first officially-certified wristwatches, the waterproof Oyster housing, the Datejust, and sports watches like the Submariner diver's watch, which dates back more than fifty years. Although this book gives the company's incredible tradition its due, it also devotes ample space to the present. Crafted in-house to exacting specifications, Rolex's breadth of timepieces combine the utmost in sophisticated luxury with advanced precision. All this and much more is yours to enjoy in the third volume of the successful The Watch Book series.

The Watch Book I and II in one volume: Expansive knowledge from renowned watch expert and historian Gisbert L. Brunner alongside almost 1,000 high-quality color photographs brings together the latest innovations and most important names in top-end timekeeping under one roof. Few objects combine function, elegance, and status as well as a wristwatch. A blend of precise mechanics, craftsmanship, fine materials, and innovation distinguishes the truly superlative examples. With so-called smart watches playing a larger role, the world of watches is in transition. However, classic timepieces with mechanical movement will not disappear from people's wrists, because the ticking of a mechanical watch has been and will continue to be the heartbeat of human culture. After their individual success, the bestsellers The Watch Book I and The Watch Book II are finally available together in one comprehensive volume. Readers can feast their eyes and minds on a magnificently-illustrated and well-documented chronicle of the world's best timepieces. Portraits of more than 40 watch brands, from premium manufacturers Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Cartier to watches from the "affordable luxury" segment, right up to timepieces from the chronometric creme de la creme. We explore their unique features and quirks and learn about the remarkable breakthroughs and exclusive technical developments that have contributed to the history of the watch. This volume also includes a helpful glossary of important terms, making it an absolute must for both timepiece experts and collectors and those new to the world of watch artistry.

No doubt about it, Rolex is a chronometric legend. The company was founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf, a Bavarian marketing genius who focused on innovation. Watch enthusiasts have Wilsdorf to thank for many outstanding models and technical advances, including the first officially-certified wristwatches, the waterproof Oyster housing, the Datejust, and sports watches like the Submariner diver's watch, which dates back more than fifty years. Although this book gives the company's incredible tradition its due, it also devotes ample space to the present. Crafted in-house to exacting specifications, Rolex's breadth of timepieces combine the utmost in sophisticated luxury with advanced precision. All this and much more is yours to enjoy in the third volume of the successful The Watch Book series.

From stopwatches and alarms, to world clocks and calendar functions, to tourbillons that counter the effects of gravity, these so-called complications have been the crowning glory of fine watchmaking for centuries. The Watch Book - More than Time is an illustrated compendium of watchmaking that explores these most intricate elements of the horologist's craft through timing, astronomy, and striking. This volume is a unique and impressive addition to the book market and a lavish tribute to the mastery of horology.

No doubt about it, Rolex is a chronometric legend. The company was founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf, a Bavarian marketing genius who focused on innovation. Watch enthusiasts have Wilsdorf to thank for many outstanding models and technical advances, including the first officially-certified wristwatches, the waterproof Oyster housing, the Datejust, and sports watches like the Submariner diver's watch, which dates back more than fifty years. Although this book gives the company's incredible tradition its due, it also devotes ample space to the present. Crafted in-house to exacting specifications, Rolex's breadth of timepieces combine the utmost in sophisticated luxury with advanced precision. All this and much more is yours to enjoy in the third volume of the successful The Watch Book series.

Watch lovers and Rolex admirers delight! In this new edition of The Watch Book Rolex, expert Gisbert L. Brunner guides you through the wonderful world of this luxury watch brand with passion, attention to detail, and consistently impressive expertise. The waterproof "Oyster," the "Datejust," or the more than half-a-century-old diver's "Submariner": timepiece aficionado Brunner walks readers through the innovative technology and design behind iconic Rolex models. Brand-new entries from the Rolex 2020 and 2021 collection celebrate the latest crowns of Rolex achievement. With trilingual texts in German, English, and French and some 400 color and black-and-white photographs, this is a delight of a book for watch lovers, watch collectors, and Rolex devotees around the globe.

Volume II of The Watch Book follows on the successful and comprehensive earlier volume with a magnificently illustrated book about the additional functions and refinements of wristwatches. For centuries, so-called "complications" - any feature of a mechanical timepiece beyond the display of hours, minutes and seconds - have embodied the crowning glory of fine mechanical watchmaking. Among the earliest of these are alarm clocks and calendar movements. Moon phase displays have also been known for several centuries. Striking movements can be considered among the most complex and technically elaborate additional functions, while finishing techniques such as skeletonising, which is mainly done by hand, also characterise the high art of watchmaking. This superbly illustrated volume by watch expert and historian Gisbert L. Brunner is dedicated to advanced functions of mechanical timepieces, their historical development and special technical features. Topics covered in this book include: Hands and numerals; Spring; Astronomical display (moon phases etc.); Tides; Double balance; Alarm clock; Altitude/depth measurement; Skeletonisation.

- The standard work on the most important watch brands in the world - Revised new edition: 2 books in one volume - A must for all collectors and lovers of wristwatches For all chrono fans, collectors and watch enthusiasts, there is now the brilliant and completely revised new edition The Watch Book. The comprehensive coffee-table book replaces the earlier The Watch Book Compendium and combines The Watch Book I and II. As usual, the successful author Gisbert L. Brunner shines with his extensive expertise and brings his readers closer to the history of the wristwatch with more than 1,000 high-resolution photographs. With over 40 pieces, hardly any other illustrated book gathers more premium watch brands under one roof. The predecessors of The Watch Book have long been regarded as standard works by experts - because no other photo book depicts more of the noble timepieces. The author does not only show the luxury timepieces in a frontal and side view, as many catalogs have to offer. The reader often gets a direct view of the sophisticated mechanics of these small masterpieces of extraordinary craftsmanship. There is no more beautiful and artistic way to present accomplished technology. Gisbert invites his interested reader on a journey through time in the world of clocks. Beginning with the earliest beginnings of the art of watchmaking, we accompany him piece by piece into the modern age. Because even today, premium watches are a sign of style, taste and status symbol. Text in English, German and French.

The ultimate standard work on the Rolex brand is going into a new edition. The Watch Book Rolex has long been undisputedly one of the best coffee-table books when it comes to the luxury watch brand. In this superlative coffee-table book, Gisbert L. Brunner, known among experts as the “watch pope”, illuminates the history of the chronometric legend Rolex. In his usual artistic style, he explains what makes this brand unique and to what extent it has contributed to the technical development of the wristwatch. From the first officially certified wristwatch, to the waterproof “Oyster” case, to the technically sophisticated models of modern times, Gisbert covers everything the reader needs to know about the Rolex brand in impressive pictures and highly informative yet entertaining texts. In the third revised edition, the successful author has now also included the latest models of the legendary Submariner and Daytona series, the brand’s traditional lines, which are already celebrating their 70th and 60th anniversaries. Also included in this edition: the completely new 1908 line and the Celebrations dial, as well as numerous new references of classics such as the Sky-Dweller and GMT-Master II. Text in English, French and German.