PublishedPrestel, November 2019 |
ISBN9783791385068 |
FormatHardcover, 336 pages |
Dimensions30.8cm × 24.5cm × 3.3cm |
Discover the stylistic evolution of the watch in this unparalleled guide to the greatest timepieces of the 20th century. Offering the perfect blend of high-quality imagery and impeccable research, this magnificent book takes readers through the 20th century to show how the watch, in all its forms, evolved.
It charts the early rise of the wristwatch, shows how the cataclysmic events of the 1929 Wall Street Crash unexpectedly led to a golden age of watch production, and demonstrates how the electronic watch, which almost destroyed the traditional industry, led to a mechanical watch renaissance in the last two decades of the 20th century. Each decade opens with an introduction to the era's stylistic and design highlights and then examines the development of specific genres of watches within each period. Hundreds of colour photographs in this book feature full page close ups that reveal intricate details of form, texture, and design. Author Alexander Barter's vast knowledge of the 20th-century watch informs his texts which discuss the major technological and design breakthroughs in a chronological format. This book also includes vintage advertisements and other promotional materials, helping to give a sense of the eras in which they were created. The perfect gift for watch aficionados, this beautiful and informative volume presents the world's finest watches with an elegance and depth befitting its subject. AUTHOR: Alexander Barter spent more than a decade at Sotheby's watch division, becoming its Deputy Worldwide Head in 2005. In 2009 he founded his own company, Black Bough. He is a member of the Antiquarian Horological Society and is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, the oldest surviving horological institution in the world. SELLING POINTS: . Shows the evolution of watch design in the 20th century. . Focuses solely on vintage watches and is designed to appeal to both the seasoned collector and those with a general interest in watches. . Will help the reader identify stylistic trends in watch design by decade as it traces the development of the wristwatch. 400 colour illustrations
