Though we take it for granted now, there was of course a time before the magic of the internet in which people interested in the admittedly niche hobby of watch collecting were forced to look for information in books. We know — tough to believe.
The best of these books were (and are — see this enormous Rolex tome as an example) heavily illustrated and information-dense reads that dealt with a particular facet of the watchmaking world at depth, and they helped school several generations of watch nerds about the intricacies of brands, movements, reference numbers and more, all before the rise of prominent blogs and websites.
Thankfully, books like these are still being published, the latest of which is Seat Time: Watches Inspired by Sailing, Yachting and Diving by Aaron Sigmond and Mark Bernardo. The second entry in a trilogy of watch-related books (the first, Drive Time: Watches Inspired by Automobiles, Motorcycles and Racing, came out in 2016, and the third, Air Time, will deal with aeronautically inspired watches), Sea Time provides a fascinating, detailed look at more than 100 maritime-related watches. The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, the Rolex Submariner, the Omega Seamaster, and numerous regatta timers, sailing watches and others are also covered.
Several brands, such as Rolex and Doxa, are covered at depth, as is the history of waterproofing in the watch industry and other relevant topics. Authors Aaron Sigmond, who has written extensively on timepieces, cigars and automobiles and Mark Bernardo, the digital media editor of WatchTime, one of the world’s premier timepiece websites, are incredibly knowledgeable on their subject matter, and what is admittedly an esoteric subject is tackled in an informative, playful and enjoyable fashion. Several prominent watch industry professionals also contributed chapters to the book.
If you need some quality horological reading to go along with your beach getaway this summer (or you’re looking for a perfect Father’s Day gift for a watch-loving dad), look no further than Sea Time.
Gear Patrol also recommends:
The Watch Buff’s Book of Trivia ($14)
A Man and His Watch ($24)
The Watch: Thoroughly Revised ($31)
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