There’s something magnetic about a well-placed coffee table book. It beckons to be opened, promising a rich visual and intellectual experience. But when that book is a high-end publication focusing on luxury watches, it’s not just a book, it becomes a stylish and compelling centerpiece for conversations in any home or office setting. What sets these watch-inspired books apart? For starters, they are exquisitely crafted with attention to detail, mirroring the meticulous craftsmanship of the high-end timepieces they celebrate. From the texture of the paper to the quality of the printing, each book is a masterpiece that pays homage to another form of art, the art of watchmaking.
These books go beyond aesthetics, diving deep into the intricate world of haute horology. Open the pages, and you’re transported into the history, craftsmanship, and innovation that define iconic brands like Rolex, Patek Philippe, and more. Each dives into the subtle designs, elaborate mechanics, and the stellar personalities behind each timepiece. Watch collectors and enthusiasts journey into a deeper understanding of the timepieces that have shaped our understanding of luxury and precision.
In a world where digital screens are everywhere, there’s a pleasure in flipping through high-quality pages, and feeling the weight of the book in your hands. Whether you’re a watch aficionado or a design enthusiast, these luxury watch-inspired coffee table books serve as both aesthetic and intellectual cornerstones, sparking dialogue and curiosity amongst those who share a passion for timepieces. Shop all of the books featured in this special by clicking the links below.
500 Years, 100 Watches
From two of the world’s leading experts on watch collecting, this supremely elegant and informative selection of one hundred watches traces the timepiece’s evolution as it highlights unusual, important, and beautifully crafted watches of the past half a millennium.
Editions Cercle d’Art Richard Mille
Richard Mille has created timepieces that are instantly recognizable thanks to its tech-forward approach to mechanical watchmaking. In this book, Richard Mille timepieces are explored through macro photography, highlighting all of the space-age materials and technology packed into the watches.
The Impossible Collection of Watches (2nd Edition)
For this update to the 2014 original edition, British historian and journalist Nicholas Foulkes has selected the 100 breakthrough timepieces developed since the advent of the twentieth century, weighing the virtues of rarity, costliness, innovative functions, historical importance, grand provenance and pleasing design.
De Bethune: The Art of Watchmaking
With a text by Arthur Touchot, a foreword by Wei Koh, founder of Revolution magazine and Grail Watch, as well as special contributions from De Bethune CEO Pierre Jacques and a cross section of watch industry notables and passionate collectors; Jean Arnault , Aurel Bacs, Swizz Beatz, Jean-Claude Biver, Ben Clymer, Victoria Gomelsky, Danny Govberg, Tim Mosso, Luc Pettavino, Michèle Rothen, Mohammed Seddiqi, Michael Strahan, Michael Tay, Kari Voutilainen and Suzanne Wong, De Bethune: The Art of Watchmaking invites readers to experience every single facet of this cult atelier, from founding to the future, manufacture to movements.
Royal Oak: From Iconoclast to Icon
This book presents the Royal Oak’s history from a broader cultural perspective, while shedding light on new archival materials uncovered by Audemars Piguet’s Heritage department alongside exclusive testimonies of long-standing friends of the brand. The lively narrative text is illustrated with imagery from six decades of groundbreaking art, architecture, fashion, music, and cultural history, paralleling the evolution of this trailblazing timepiece beloved by innovative tastemakers and influential celebrities around the globe.
The Watch Book: Compendium
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.
Rolex: The Impossible Collection
Selected by specialist Fabienne Reybaud, each of the exceptional Rolex watch models in this beautiful handcrafted Ultimate Collection volume showcase the most valuable and technically innovative models the luxury watchmaker has produced, including watches never seen in print before: From the first wristwatch dating to the early 1900s and the first Oyster Perpetual from 1931, to an Explorer worn during Sir Edmund Hillary’s expedition to the summit of Mt. Everest in 1953 and the Submariner worn by actor George Lazenby in the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, they are sure to astonish collectors the world over.
A Man & His Watch
Matthew Hranek, a watch collector and NYC men’s style fixture, has traveled the world conducting firsthand interviews and diving into exclusive collections to gather the never-before-told stories of 76 watches, completed with stunning original photography of every single piece. Through these intimate accounts and Hranek’s storytelling, the watches become more than just timepieces and status symbols; they represent historical moments, pioneering achievements, heirlooms, family mementos, gifts of affection, and lifelong friendships.
Watches: A Guide by Hodinkee
What started as a humble blog quickly transformed into a full-fledged magazine and e-comm hub for some of the world’s leading watch brands. Celebrating the decade milestone since Hodinkee’s founding, this book captures the storied expertise of the world’s leading experts on time. With chapters breaking down chronographs, dive watches, high design, and horological icons, this book is a connoisseur’s compendium for the timepiece veterans and novices alike.
Jaeger-LeCoultre: Reverso
As well as tracing the history of the watch and its evolution over the past nine decades – with more than 50 calibres and several hundred dials – the book explores the social milieu and cultural changes that provided the backdrop to the creation of the Reverso and, later, its continued reinvention. It shares the stories of more than a dozen Reverso owners who have personalized their watches in deeply meaningful ways.