Five watch books to give as Christmas gifts
When the best watchmaking authors appear on Frank Sans C's set, the result is a series of books as precise as a chronometer. From the mechanical bible of Audemars Piguet to the rare watches of Paul Miquel, from the vintage charm of the 1950s according to Judikaël Hirel to the absolute quest for precision of Ferdinand Berthoud, not forgetting Bond and his mythical timepieces seen by Frédéric Liévain: a lively, passionate and delightfully ticking overview.
The Watch, Storie and Savoir Faire
With The Watch: Stories and Know-How, Audemars Piguet invites us on a journey that even a whirlwind couldn’t slow down. The book, somewhere between a bible, a glossary, and a declaration of love for haute horlogerie, manages the feat of captivating everyone. What strikes you first is its elegance: sumptuous visuals, meticulous composition, colourful illustrations, and that extra something that’s present but defies definition.
We turn the pages as we would admire a skeletal movement: with respect, fascination, and sometimes a slight smile of satisfaction. The text, precise without ever becoming dusty, reveals the inner workings of an art that never leaves anything to chance—except perhaps the exact moment when we realize we’ve just spent two hours on it without noticing.
Stories of master watchmakers, workshop anecdotes, innovations that have shaken the industry to its core: it’s all there, but with just the right touch of educational value. And then there’s that subtle, elegant, sometimes even knowing tone, which reminds us that precision doesn’t preclude humour—after all, if watchmakers have learned anything over the centuries, it’s that time always flies by too quickly… except when you’re assembling a movement by hand.
BRIEFLY
A book that will undoubtedly remain on the corner of my desk, a book that would have been very useful to me in my early days as a young journalist and will certainly remain so for some time!
€85 – Flammarion Editions
The Quest for Precision of Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud
The book The Quest for Precision, published to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud, immediately established itself as a reference work for enthusiasts of exceptional watchmaking. Far more than a simple commemorative volume, it offers a true immersion into the creative, historical, and technical world of a manufacture whose renaissance, orchestrated by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, has left its mark on watchmaking recently.
From the very first pages, the reader is struck by the wealth of images and the high editorial quality. Each photograph, crafted with almost museum-like precision, highlights the architecture of the calibres, the impeccable finish of the components, and the singular elegance that characterizes Ferdinand Berthoud creations. The book succeeds in making the very soul of the watches visible—almost tangible.
The text, exquisitely crafted, brilliantly blends historical rigour with narrative sensitivity. It reveals not only the legacy of the eponymous master watchmaker, but also the philosophy that guided the brand’s “resurrection.” The chapters devoted to marine chronometers, mechanical complications, and modern artisanal choices are consistently clear. The book surprises, even impresses.
BRIEFLY
This book is not merely a tribute: it is an invitation to contemplate time from its noblest perspective. An essential work for any collector, historian, or enthusiast of exceptional objects.
This is illustrated by an example with the program filmed inside the Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud workshops. Frank Sans C followed the creation of the Naissance d’une Montre 3 timepiece, a piece entirely handcrafted. A true horological masterpiece.
€195 – Assouline Editions
CHRONOMÉTRIE FERDINAND BERTHOUD’S WEBSITE
Le guide des montres vintage, les années 1950, l’âge d’or of Judikaël Hirel
With Le guide des montres vintage – Les années 1950, l’âge d’or, the journalist and watch expert Judikaël Hirel achieves a small feat: transforming a simple watch guide into a veritable time machine — without even needing a push button.
Flipping through this book is like opening a secret drawer filled with treasures: cream dials, polished cases, hands that seem to want to tell their stories. The author blends erudition and pleasure with a fluid and engaging style, capable of explaining a mechanical complication without sounding like a horological exam. Each page makes you want to pull out a magnifying glass, hunt for the perfect patina… or buy yet another watch “because this one, truly, is the last one.” The photos are superb, the anecdotes well-chosen, and the whole thing exudes a love of vintage without ever becoming dusty and nostalgic. The result: an indispensable guide, as elegant as a 1950s Omega and as endearing as an old Lip watch found in an attic.
IN BRIEF
If the 1950s were the golden age of watches, this book is clearly the gold standard.
The Vintage Watch Guide – The 1950s, the Golden Age – €30 – Editions du Cherche Midi
The Vintage Watch Guide (2024) – €28
EDITIONS DU CHERCHE MIDI’S WEBSITE
Les Montres Rares de Paul Miquel
In Rare Watches, Paul Miquel offers an accessible and well-documented exploration of the world of the most sought-after timepieces. Now in its 5th (French) edition, the book presents 100 watches that have left their mark on their era, whether through innovation, rarity, or simply their power to fascinate.
The author adopts an informative and rhythmic tone, avoiding unnecessary jargon. He recounts how certain timepieces became iconic, why they are so difficult to obtain, and what they reveal about the evolution of watchmaking culture. Throughout the book, he blends anecdotes, historical context, and technical analysis, always with a fluid narrative and the insight of a journalist who knows his subject inside and out. Naturally, he’s a seasoned watch journalist—and editor-in-chief of The Good Life magazine!
It offers a well-structured overview and provides an intelligent perspective on this world. Rare Watches stands out as a clear and engaging book on exceptional watchmaking. The author also possesses a storytelling ability that transforms these rare watches into compelling narratives, making the book accessible to all.
BRIEFLY
A well-crafted and stimulating book that inspires further exploration of the world of exceptional timepieces.
€69 euros – Gründ Editions
James Bond, l’espion qui aimait les montres of Frédéric Liévain
Frédéric Liévain’s James Bond, the Spy Who Loved Watches, is a book as elegant as a 007 tuxedo and as precise as a Rolex timed to the second. With a lively and well-researched style, the author immerses us in the fascinating world of James Bond’s watches, accessories that, beyond their simple ticking, become true mission partners—sometimes even more faithful than certain Bond girls.
In this updated version, he blends insightful analysis, delightful anecdotes, and cinematic references with disarming ease. He unequivocally succeeds in making the horological history of the world’s most famous spy captivating, without ever losing the reader in its intricacies. We discover how each watch, from Omega to Rolex, embodies a facet of the character and subtly reflects the evolution of the saga. The decidedly accessible tone lends the whole a distinctly British charm—a blend of seriousness, elegance, and a touch of irony. We close the book with the feeling of having attended a briefing by MI6 itself, but without the threat of a megalomaniacal villain lurking nearby.
BRIEFLY
James Bond, l’espion qui aimait les montres , is a little gem that will appeal to both watch enthusiasts and 007 fans. A book where you learn, you smile, and above all… you want to rewatch the series of the most famous secret agent and look at your watch with a little more style.
€49 – Cherche Midi Editions
CHERCHE MIDI EDITIONS’ WEBSITE
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