5 comments about Collectible Wristwatches (Collectibles).

1. This is a lovely book for the price. 384 pages in a square format, each page shows a watch in color with a short caption. Other reviewers have commented that the there is very little technical information, very true but I think the book is aimed at buyers who want an introduction to collecting wristwatches. I got a copy because I'm interested in product design and as a publication designer I thought the book was nicely produced.

   Having looked through the book I am intrigued as to why nearly all of these watches are lacking in any kind of elegance. Even the expensive well known makes use dreadful typography for the numbers, have chunky looking minute and hour hands, thick cases and generally clutter the dials with unnecessary markings. I do think there are good looking watches though, page ninety-two shows a simple, elegant Patek Phillipe from the fifties and page sixty-six has a Vacheron Costantin. I'll continue to wear my neat Rotary GS 00898/03.

   Amazon has over six hundred books listed under Clocks and Watches, this inexpensive little book is a good start to your time-piece library.




2. Some of the not so complimentary reviews which I read about this book on Amazon.com do not do the book justice. I think Pannier's book is meant to show would-be watch collectors that collecting watches can be fun. It was never meant to be a comprehensive guide to any particular brand. I think Pannier chose a good selection of collectible watches. Five of the watches which I own happen to be featured in her book. Buy it, because it is a very relaxing book to read.



3. I had never realized before that all watches were made for men. Not a single watch appears in this book which was designed to be worn by women.

   (Almost?) all of the watches in the book were modern.

   I also agree with the other reviewer who indicated that information is scant to the point of non-existence. There is a brief introduction which is moderately interesting, but the rest of the book consists of a picture of one watch per page with precious little information about the watch; primarily the comments consist of comments on the watch's appearance, which I can see for myself.

   If you want a huge amount of information about watches, try Shugart. If you want a coffee table book with old and new watches, great pictures, but not much information, just an eye feast with a sense of design development over time, Judy isn't bad. If you like watches not just from the technical aspect but also as items of jewelry, Jeanenne Bell is coming out with a book in May that should satisfy.




4. Contents are low and false. Example, the book tells Vacheron Constantin is founded by Francois Constantin 1755, when it was Jean-Marc Vacheron. Charles Constatin entered the firm 1819(!).
   Lousy pics of uninteresting watches. It's now in the dustbin, where it belongs.
   Beware!!



5. A lot of the watches in this collection are fairly expensive, and I'm thinking that anyone who is collecting at this level would have no use for this book at all.

5 comments about A Movement in Time With Breitling & Rolex: An Unauthorized History.

1. I bought the book for the history on Breitling and that is exactly what I got. I have never read just an in-depth history on the company. The sections on how to identify fake watches I found exceptional. We seem to have so many replicas flooding the market nowadays. A new up to date book was needed. I have read the reviews here and see some are unhappy with the picture quality. I don't think they are the best, but this is the history of the watches and has pictures of early pioneers and watch wearers such as the red baron and his tri-plane. I doubt they had digital photography back then,
   I was not previously into 'Ball' watches but since reading the history I have now purchased one. I agree with some reviews here, it is not as good as the Hess/Dowling book, but good value for money.



2. The good points: The history on Rolex and Breitling I found enjoyable to read and very interesting. I liked the way the author matched certain events in history with the watches. The sections on how not to buy a fake will be helpful to me. The sections on Cartier and Omega I found interesting reading but this was not why I purchased the book.
   The bad points: Some of the picture quality was poor; this was a disappointment to me and let the book down.
   I was going to give it a 3 star but the jokes on watches at the back did make me laugh so I give it 3.5 stars.



3. If you are a knowledgeable (or even semi-knowledgable) watch person wanting to add to your library (or a person who thinks that a book, any book, should be proofread before being published) avoid this book - the pictures are worthless (I should have known by the out of focus cover shot), the writing/grammar beyond terrible and you will not learn one thing new. Plus the paper quality is below that of a 49 cent coloring book at Wal-Mart.
   
   Save your money and buy anything else.



4. There are not many (Three) books on Breitling watches. This has to be the best I have read, Yes it is the most current but it has the full Breitling watch history.
   It is a shame the author also included Rolex watches. I feel the Rolex is just hype and does not come close to Breitling. They just have a better marketing team.
   The book starts of the Breitling history when Leon Breitling was a child working in the cottage industry making watch parts for watch companies. It then expands throughout the life of Leon, his son and Grandson. To where the company is today. Throughout the various stages of world history, War and the birth of flight the author has included the watches and some very nice pictures of early pioneers wearing Breitling watches.
   I found the additional information on Cartier and Rolex interesting but it was not needed.



5. Book was shipped out and arrived in 3 days.
   Poor picture quality was my first impression, a few grammer errors noted.
   The history on Breitling and the role the company played during the ealry days of flight and both World Wars was very informative. It picked up here. Nothing new on the Rolex history. "How to spot a fake" was well written and I am sure will help many readers.

1 comments about French Bronze Clocks: 1700-1830.

1. Great book. Very detailled describing the beginning of french clockmakers and their history. Helped me just today in finding a wondeful original french clock at an antique market. Highly recommend.

5 comments about The Official Overstreet Indian Arrowheads Price Guide, 8th edition (Official Overstreet Indian Arrowhead Identification and Price Guide).

1. Purchased to study projectile points. I was not disapointed with the packed information and photos on this subject. Used as well, as a price guide for collectors, I none the less use it as a reference manual. It lists point artifacts from each part of the country broken down in groups of states. It then shows most of what is common for that area as far as shapes, sizes, etc. It is a good guide for the beginner to learn both projectile shapes and nomenclature. I carry it as a supplement to other books on archaeology and prehistoric American Native studies.............



2. This book and the whole collection of Overstreet guides are a unsubstantiated ruse! DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK. The author seeks to mislead and misdirect the general public by putting a monetary price on human history. is the value of an artifact monetary? Can riches be made from stealing the history of the public? This book would like you to think so.

   One large discrimination of this book is the fact that the prices within are set by a bunch of country yahoos sitting around a swap meet, spitting tabacky into priceless ming vases. The fact that there is little mention of the money it may cost you if you collect artifacts on public land and the fact that looting significant archaeological sites for arrowheads can land your butt in jail, is barely mentioned.

   Do yourself a favor, take a class in archaeology from your local junior college, pick up the Bruce Bradley video called Flintknapping or Andrefsky's lithic book from Cambridge and start making your own arrowheads. Then go to your local swap meet and sale them to dumbasses that buy this book!

   Remember price is only what you can get some country bumpkin to give you for an arrowhead, and looting sites on public or private land will only land you in jail, or even worse get you filled with lead from an angry landowner.




3. I bought this book to figure-out the monetary value of pot hunted artifacts, in order to change pothunters of federal and state crimes. Very informative. Thank you.



4. Despite the emotional opinions of some, on the whole monetary value issue, I found this book to be quite a valuable reference guide in terms of tool typing, and assessing style variations and aiding in establishing era. In fact I've not seen a more comprehensive reference guide. In addition to this being a fine guide for the collector, it is also a nice reference for the amateur or serious archeologist. I have participated in several responsible, (academic), archaeological digs and have witnessed more than one academic reference this book for regional typing purposes.
   
   The issue of affixing value to antiquities is always subjective (and it is reality on a Global scale) I believe the author is simply providing a range of what collectors have paid for certain examples. Again, this may be useful information to some collectors, or for Museum curators in establishing the 'street' value of collections for insurance purposes.



5. Since there are few references available on point types, this was added to my reference library. Disregarding the prices, for the types, descriptions, etc. I have the Texas type book also. What puzzles me is why Overstreet has listed some types for Texas, which are not covered in the current Texas book, nor any of the old books (and I have them back to the second or so book from the 1960s). Example is the Texas point type Overstreet calls Edwards. Not in any other Texas books I find. No explanation by Overstreet. Not a bad reference for types, just wish there was a better one available, more akin to the 1960s book from Texas.

3 comments about Grand Complications: High Quality Watchmaking (Grand Complications).

1. it would be perfect. As it is now, its just a (huge) coffee table book of very nice closeup pics of watches.



2. Stunning photography, great close-up detail, and thorough descriptions, makes this book a work of art, and an absolute must for any watch enthusiast.



3. This volume gives little text but loads of glossy photos of the inner workings (and outer beauty) of fine Swiss mechanical movement watches. These pictures are enough to send most watch afficianados into a frenzy. Take it from me. I'm married to one and he didn't put this book down for about two weeks. It was drooled over every chance he got. If you have one of these (watch nuts) at home, you may want to order this, as it will keep them out of your hair for the next couple of weeks and you can get things done. It also makes them more amenable to your suggestions. Have fun!

No comments about Warman's American Clocks Field Guide.

1 comments about Warman's Watches Field Guide: Values and Identification (Warman's Field Guides).

1. This book Was a disappointment although it is in a convenient format it is just a copy of Dean Judy's other book.

No comments about A Guide to Dating English Antique Clocks.

1 comments about Making & Repairing Wooden Clock Cases.

1. I needed to access the information contained in the above book. I found the contents satisified my requirments. I am very grateful to Amazon for the way they quickly organised the supply to my adress.

2 comments about Grand Complications: High Quality Watchmaking - Volume II (Grand Complications).

1. If you want your favorite watch enthusiast to love you forever, buy this book! You may be subjected to discussions about tourbillons, chronographs, repeaters, etc., but your amateur (or professional) horologist will be in seventh heaven just viewing these works of art for the wrist. While not a catalog, it really doesn't matter to a serious collector and they will spend many happy hours perusing their favorite jewels. Makes Timex look like a kiddy toy.



2. This is the third or fourth large format watch book I have bought and read cover to cover. This one has the least amount of text, and the largest pictures. The other books of this type tell you about the companies and the people running them, as well as an overview of the models they make. This book concentrates on the stars of this world, not the people. It has a large, high quality picture on each page of a stellar example watch, with a small amount of description of the watch and what it does besides tell time. I pulled out my magnifying glass and learned a lot about how the different makers present the complications. The book is divided into types of complications, and all the top brands'top models are grouped together by type of complication. I loved it when I was learning by looking close and comparing instead of reading a lot of words. I recommend this book for visual appreciation of high craftmanship.