Appreciation for fine timepieces ripens with the knowledge of the history of the great manufacturers, of which Audemars Piguet, A Lange & Söhne, Breguet, Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin rank at the top. The collection of books in this article contains some of the most famous names in horology and some of the most beautiful timepieces ever created. This article hopes to give an audience to these books that may not be familiar with them, thus we will take just a little peek at each book and some of the gems buried within their pages.

The pocketwatch section consists of 100 pages, almost all in color, of perpetual calendars, minute repeaters, chronographs, jump hours and simple pocketwatches - a collection with few peers. The wristwatch sections boasts another 100 pages of wonderful AP timepieces, displaying the same range of complications and beauty found in the pocketwatch section.

The last section of the book contains the post-war history of the company and the re-establishment as Lange Uhren GmbH and features such timepieces as the Lange 1, Langematik and Saxonia. There is also an appendix of Lange registered designs and patents.

The reference reference - a pair of books as finely crafted and finished as any Calatrava, bound in Iris canvas, gilded top edges, a ribbon page marker in the Geneva colors - the atomic clock of watch books. Volume I was published in four separate editions, French, English, German and Italian - Volume II contains the French, English, German and Italian translations concurrently.

From the origins of the firm in the 1800s to the present day, Volume I covers the history, technical achievements and artistry of Patek Philippe and Cie, including a history of the modern stem-winding system, patented inventions of Adrien Philippe, patented designs of Patek Philippe, Tourbillons and Karrusels, complicated pockewatches such as Breguet's Maria Antoinette, Leroy's Montre ultra-compliquée and the Patek Calibre 89, a list of movement numbers from 1839 and 1971 and a parade of pocketwatches.

Volume II, again covers the history of Patek Philippe and Cie, then focuses on the wristwatch, including: a history of the wristwatch,  Patek Philippe's contribution to the development of the wristwatch, patents related to the wristwatch and a table of historic reference numbers. Of course the pictorial parade continues from Volume I; featuring sections on the sundry Patek wristwatch calibers from the simple movements to the world-timers, chronographs, perpetual calendars and minute repeaters.

The second section entitled The Watches of Vacheron Constantin: Art and Craftsmanship Since 1755 is subsetted into 4 chapters: 1. Watchmaker, 2. Casemaker, 3. Dial Maker and 4. Clockmaker. A lion's share of the photographs in these sections were specially taken for the book's publication - a quick glance will tell you that few companies today can boast of such a repertoire of miniature works of art and beauty. To the best of my knowledge the book is published in English, French, German and Italian.  

The Vacheron Museum section contains fifty-eight pages of Vacheron art, more than one-hundred color illustrations of the museum's treasures. The last section of the book contains one-hundred and twenty pages from the Vacheron Archives, featuring 2000 black and white illustrations of VC pocketwatches and wristwatches. The World of Vacheron Constantin was published in French, German, English, Italian and Spanish.

Though these books may take some sleuthing to possess, the rewards are well worth the hunt. If you are fortunate to own an Audemars Piguet, a Lange, a Breguet, a Patek or a Vacheron one of these books will help bring you closer to your timepiece; if you do not own an Audemars Piguet, a Lange, a Breguet, a Patek or a Vacheron these books may help you to come closer to ownership. If AP, Lange, Breguet, PP and VC are not your bag then these books are just plain enjoyable and a pleasure to own; if you appreciate beautiful timepieces you will appreciate these books.