The Style of Time - The Evolution of Wristwatch Design

Time is a great mystery. A changeable element, which expands or vanishes, but that appears concrete as it is marked by the passing of seconds, minutes, hours, days, and years. The path toward the capture of minutes and seconds coincided with the phases of scientific evolution that allowed man to manufacture watches that are increasingly reliable, but that are also in tune with changes in customs, social needs, and aesthetic canons.

This book covers the art of watch manufactory as well as 60 great models, covering both their technical evolution and style trends. In each chapter in-depth studies will guide the reader to the history of the most important manufacturers, the personalities linked to the models treated, technical innovations, styles of the period, or records achieved by the wristwatches: from the watch that helped Charles Lindbergh during the first transatlantic solo flight, to the one worn by Sir Edmund Hillary on the top of Mount Everest, the most iconic models will be discussed in detail.

1900s; 1910s; 1920s; 1930s; 1940s; 1950s; 1960s; 1970s; 1980s; 1990s; 2000s; 1904 Cartier Santos; 1906 Audemar piguet Minute Repeater; 1908 Cartier Tonneau; 1915 Breitling Chronograph; 1919 Eberhard Chronograph; 1923 Patek Philippe 130 Chronograph; 1926 Rolex Oyster; 1928 Rolex Prince; 1926 Breguet 1262 Jump Hour; 1926 Vacheron Constantin Minute Repeater; 1931 Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso; 1931 Rolex Perpetual; 1936 IWC Pilot’s Watch; 1931 Longines Hour Angle; 1931 Omega Marine; 1938 Panerai Radiomir; 1938 Patek Philippe Calatrava; 1939 IWC Portugieser; 1945 Rolex Datejust; 1947 Rolex Dato Compax; 1942 Breitling Chronomat; 1947 Eberhard Extra-Fort; 1940 Patek Philippe 1463 Chrono; 1953 Blancpain Fifty Fathoms; 1952 Breitling Navitimer; 1956 Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox; 1954 Rolex GMT Master; 1954 Rolex Submariner; 1956 Rolex Day-Date; 1955 IWC Ingenieur; 1957 Omega Speedmaster; 1960 Patek Philippe 3424 Asymmetrical Wristwatch; 1963 Rolex 6239 Daytona; 1969 Zenith El Primero; 1967 Cartier Crash; 1967 Omega De Ville; 1967 IWC Aquatimer; 1971 Patek Philippe Golden Circle/Ellipse; 1972 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak; 1971 Omega Seamaster 600 (PloProf); 1977 Bulgari Bulgari Bulgari; 1971 Rolex Explorer II Steve Mc Queen; 1981 Patek Philippe Nautilus; 1983 Cartier Panthere; 1989 Patek Philippe The Officier; 1983 Swatch Early models; 1987 Blancpain Caliber 1185 Chronograph; 1997 Patek Philippe Aquanaut; 1995 Breguet 3355 Tourbillon; 1992 Audemar Piguet Star Wheel; 1993 Panerai Luminor; 1997 Eberhard 8 Jour; 1991 Girard Perregaux Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges; 2000 Vacheron Constantin Malte; 2001 Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon; 2002 Patek Philippe The Celestial; 2001 Breguet 1801 Tourbillon; 2006 Breguet Double Tourbillon; 2007 Rolex Yacht Meister; 2010 Bulgari Octo; 2010 Rolex Submariner Jewellery; 2012 Jaquet Droz Bird Repeater.