This dazzling exploration of the work of renowned horologist Breguet is also a fascinating look at what makes watches and other timepieces tick. Abraham-Louis Breguet invented many of the standard components of today’s most prestigious watches, earning the title "The Father of Modern Horology." The self-winding watch, the gong spring, the first shock-protection device, and the enameled dial—all were created by Breguet. In addition, he invented the first travel clock, sold to Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798, and the first wristwatch, delivered to Caroline Murat, queen of Naples in 1812. Perhaps Breguet’s most famous timepiece is the "Marie-Antoinette" pocket watch, which took forty years to make and was the most complex watch of its time. This fascinating, elegantly designed volume features more than seventy watches and clocks that were constructed by the Breguet company, and it contains many insights into the inner workings that made these objects so innovative and valuable. Engaging essays explore Breguet’s personal history, the technologies he perfected, and his vast international reputation—which survives to this day. This beautiful overview of Breguet’s achievements will speak to anyone who treasures their watch—whether as an indispensable daily accessory, or as a prized piece of jewelry.

Founded in 1775 by Abraham-Louis Breguet, the firm of Breguet has occupied a unique position in the field of prestige watchmaking. Considered the greatest watchmaker of all time, Abraham-Louis Breguet was the father of modern watchmaking, an innovator in both the technical and aesthetic fields. A work of reference containing a wealth of previously unpublished information, this is also a sumptuous art book, distinguished by the elegance of its design and the excellence of its illustrations. In addition, the author skillfully combines the histories of art, technical developments, politics and economics to create an appealing and accessible narrative. Over 500 illustrations present a visual history of the principal creations produced by the Breguet workshops over the last two hundred and twenty years. Many of the pieces illustrated are held in private collections and are photographed here for the first time.

All in Good Time is the remarkable story of George Daniels (1926-2011), the master craftsman, who was born into poverty but raised himself to become the greatest watchmaker of the twentieth century. Daniels stands alone in modern times as the inventor of the revolutionary co-axial escapement, the first substantial advance in portable mechanical timekeeping over the lever escapement, which has dominated ever since its invention in 1759. Daniels's love of mechanics embraced not only the minute, however - he was also a passionate collector and driver of historic motorcars. This revised and expanded edition of his autobiography also contains a new section that illustrates and discusses over thirty of the pocket and wrist-watches Daniels himself made over the years. Witness here the triumph of intelligence, ingenuity, matchless skill and singularity of purpose over the most unpromising of beginnings.

This book has been considered by academicians and scholars of great significance and value to literature. This forms a part of the knowledge base for future generations. We have represented this book in the same form as it was first published. Hence any marks seen are left intentionally to preserve its true nature.

“The watch must be original in design and conception and, when completed, beautiful in appearance.” —George Daniels, Watchmaking Master watchmaker and inventor George Daniels (1926–2011) was regarded as the finest exponent of his craft in the world. Over the course of his career he laboriously constructed twenty-five mechanical watches using antiquated tools and creating almost every component by hand. Each is a work of great originality and exceptional beauty, and his creations are appreciated as milestones in the art of watchmaking. While admired for their lucidity of appearance and unadorned dials, Daniels’s watches feature a raft of exquisite complications, such as chronographs, thermometers and power reserve indicators. His more intricate designs also incorporate perpetual calendars and minute repeaters, as well as indictors displaying mean solar and sidereal time, the age and phases of the moon, and the equation of time. Most significant of all Daniels’s contributions to the field of mechanical horology is his revolutionary invention: the co-axial escapement. This, the first noteworthy advance in practical watch design since Thomas Mudge’s lever escapement of 1754, helped to save a mechanical watch industry in danger of being overwhelmed by mass-produced quartz wristwatches. Detailed photographs of all of Daniels’s unique watches (both dial and movement) can be seen here, along with rare and previously unpublished images from Daniels’s own archive of photographs and working drawings. Michael Clerizo worked closely with George Daniels in the preparation of this book, the artist recounting episodes from his life and career over their innumerable conversations at his home on the Isle of Man. That biography helps ensure the book is a fitting and authentic tribute to the greatest watchmaker of the modern era.

The first and most comprehensive step-by-step guide on the subject, Watchmaking has become a classic in its own right. This new edition is updated to include a new section which discusses and illustrates a variety of the author's own watches. The author's principal aim in writing this book has been to inspire and encourage the art of watchmaking, especially among a new generation of enthusiasts. The making of the precision timekeeper is described, step by step, and is illustrated at each stage with line drawings and brief explanatory captions. Great care has been taken to ensure the text is easy to follow and to avoid complicated technical descriptions.