Masters of Contemporary Watchmaking Hardcover – November 16, 2009

Let me start by simply stating that I love watches. I have an obsession. It's an obsession that cannot be overcome by just buying more watches either. And, books like this do not help...This book is truly spectacular. The sheer size and weight alone is impressive enough. The images depicted are something you just can't get by looking at or in a watch. Nor can you get such great information about some of the greatest living watchmakers of our time. The author did a terrific job of capturing each of the watchmakers stories. Including very candid information from such controversial masters such as Franck Muller.A good portion of this book provides a deep look into the minds of several great watchmakers. In addition, towards the end, several other watchmakers are introduced as are their time pieces. Speaking of the time pieces, the images provide very large and high resolution views of some amazing movements. One can quickly forget how small the parts are when viewing at such a large scale.If you have a passion for watches, then you cannot go wrong by buying this book. If you have a love of anything mechanical, then you will quickly learn to appreciate the fine art of watchmaking.

If you're a watch lover like me, this is the book to get. From George Daniels to Kari Voutilainen, from Svend Andersen to Vianney Halter, Michael Clerizo's comprehensive text transports the reader into a micromechanical world not often seen. The book describes in detail what drives these amazing artisans, raising them up as modern day da Vinci's. A must read for anyone who has ever been interested in watchmaking.

One of the compulsory reading books for anyone interested in Independent Watchmaking. Michael has compiled a great account, with lovely pictures, of these guy's life work. Compelling stuff and required reading for those who want to learn about the real watchmakers creating haute Horology, that do what they want to do and are able to continue on doing what they feel have to do.

This is a lovely book with wonderful photographs. I actually have this book on the coffee table in my office. I would recommend this book for any watch collector who recognizes the names of the watchmakers profiled, and has some understanding of how watches work. This is not a technical guide to watchmaking or complications. It consists of profiles of watchmakers with photographs of some of their creations.

I can only echo the praise heaped on this book by others - the photos and examples are revelatory. My three-star rating stems from an altogether different issue: much of the text is on the small side, and a great deal of it is printed on a colored background - a combination which makes the book almost wholly unreadable to my old eyes. I may struggle through the chapter on George Daniels, and I have certainly enjoyed the very fine photography - but a book I can't read? I'm very much afraid my copy goes to the second-hand bookstore up the street.

The shear beauty and craftsmanship of these small, complicated and mechanical timepieces depicted in this book, seem almost miraculous, and wonder to look at and enjoy! Such excellent photography of such masterpieces! A book to proudly own and keep on your coffee table!

The text presentation in this book is about the worst I've seen. The printing is within a circular outline rather than in normal columnar format, so each line is a different length . A brown background with off-white print is difficult enough to read. Some pages then have line drawings superimposed over the text, in almost the same color as the text. This makes it even more difficult and annoying to read, and supplies no useful information.Good photos, but overall disappointing.

It is a photography book of impressive pieces and stories and motivations of its creators. The photographic quality and the format of the book help to enjoy it. This is art, not technique.