STYLE OF TIME: The Evolution of Wristwatch Design

'A watch is a technical masterwork in which art is melded with science. Over the years, this creation becomes, and remains, a true object of desire.' A watch can also be viewed as a product whose stylistic code is linked to the aesthetics of a particular era. For example, the timepieces that emerged during the 1920s conveyed the linearity of Art Deco with their rectangular cases. Conceived in 1917 by Louis Cartier, the Tank has the shape of a First World War military Renault F-T 17. The chronometers and chronographs that spread beginning in the 1930s responded to the need for ever more precisely determined timings during car races, transatlantic flights and the Olympic games. Offerings by Eberhard, Longines, Omega, Patek Philippe and Rolex among others would satisfy these needs. The first of over 100 beautifully photographed collectable timepieces is a gold bracelet watch with diamonds and enamel made in 1868 by Patek Philippe, and the second image a group of six historical watches by IWC Schaffhausen. Pocket watches, hours and minute rotating discs, the first minute repeater wristwatch of 1892, a Lalique pocket watch in gold and enamel, the Cartier Santos of 1904 with one sapphire cabochon winding piece, Tiffany & Co. pendant watch necklaces from 1910, a Movado Ermeto watch with sliding panels opening to reveal a square dial with Arabic numerals among them. There are advertisements for the Rolex 'Oyster' for Everest leader's tribute to Rolex, the usually dark dials of the Blancpain, the first editions of the Submariner with its gold graphics and 'pencil' hands and convex crystal and caseback, the familiar blue and red bezel of the GMT-Master Rolex of 1955 and the beautiful jade dial of a Piaget in white gold from 1965. The Daytona, the Royal Oak Offshore, the Duomètre Chronograph 2007, the Bulgari Octo of 2012, the book is organised by decades. It ends with an exquisitely hand engraved and hand painted mother of pearl dial with black onyx counter and hand painted birds of the Bird Repeater by Jaquet Droz of 2012. An Antique Collectors Club Art Book first edition 2022, 268 huge pages packed with colour looking at fashion, technology, society and politics. 27 x 31cm. Highly collectable.