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Time Machines: How Watches Shaped The Modern World

Time Machines: How Watches Shaped The Modern World

Gestalten
№334
£59
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Experts Say

The expertly curated volume captures a wide swath of the watch world, from the power of the Submariner to the covetable luxury of the Patek Philippe Nautilus, with stunning companion images to match - Maxim

Why It Made The List

This is far more than just a coffee-table book. It’s a vivid tour through a century of watchmaking, tracing the evolution of wristwatches from practical instruments to cultural icons. The authors curate 100 landmark models from 1900 to today, exploring the design leaps, technical breakthroughs and stylistic shifts behind each one. The writing is sharp, the photography detailed and sumptuous, making every close up feel genuinely alive. It captures the artistry, ingenuity and cultural pull that keep watches relevant long after they stopped being essential tools. For anyone who loves watches, great design or the romance of mechanical craft, it is a deeply satisfying read and a wonderfully unique gift.

 

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SPECIFICATIONS

Format: 320 pages
Author(s): Blake Z. Rong and Sean Paul Lorentzen
Dimensions: 24 × 30 cm
Binding: Hardcover, stitch bound
Material: Full colour print on FSC certified paper
Publisher: Gestalten
Release Date: September 2025
Language: English
Subject Focus: The evolution of wristwatches from 1900 to today and their role as design objects and cultural icons

MORE DETAIL

A large-format design book that traces the evolution of the wristwatch and its role in shaping design, technology and culture during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

Published by Gestalten and edited by Blake Z. Rong and Sean Paul Lorentzen, it presents a curated selection of 100 iconic watches from 1900 to today, each one chosen for its impact on craftsmanship, design or social change.

The book is printed in full colour, stitch bound and comes in a hardcover format. It spans 320 pages and measures 24 × 30 cm, ensuring a generous layout for imagery and commentary.

The narrative is structured chronologically, examining how wristwatches moved beyond time-keeping to become tools of style, status and engineering, while reflecting broader cultural movements and technological shifts.

Produced on FSC-certified paper, it combines premium materials with visual clarity and editorial depth.

Rich, immersive and methodically researched, it offers both watch-enthusiasts and design-lovers a deeper look into how one object category captured innovation, identity and the passage of time.

SHIPPING AND RETURNS

SHIPPING OPTIONS

We offer free standard delivery (Tracked 48) on orders over £90.

Royal Mail Tracked 48 (2-3 business days): £2.95

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Royal Mail Next Day by 1pm (guaranteed delivery by 1pm next business day, if ordered by 2pm the business day before. Not available on bladed products): £12.95

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RETURNS

We offer 100-day returns, provided items are returned in a perfectly re-sellable condition (undamaged and in original condition with tags/packaging). For more detailed information on conditions of return and the process involved, please see our Returns policy page.

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