The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I'm looking to pick up a few books for some reading over the soon to be cold winter nights up here in Canada.

I'm wondering what people have in their library as far as must have books.

So far I have Breitling "The Book" and a couple others, but wondering what suggestions people would like to make.

Let's hear it!

Longitude by Dava Sobel. Outlining the struggle of John Harrison in the invention and testing of the marine chronometer. What a freaking incredible story of perseverance.

Added to cart br549, thank you!

Any specific topics - it'll make it easier to reduce my list of 100 or so recommendations.

Looking to increase my general knowledge on the brand, movements, everythign really. I'm a quick learn, love the mechanics of it all. More model knowledge would be helpful.

So Breitling specific?

The 'bible' is Breitling, The history of a great brand by Benno Richter - multiple versions, but only the price guide is updated.

Wristwatches by Brunner and Pfeiffer-Belli is a great general resource and Wristwatch Chronometers by Van Osterhausen is also pretty good. A lot of the others are just glorified price guides.

The Wristwatch Annual is also a good summary of movements and watches from the major brands - 2011 one will be published in a couple of weeks.

There are some very good specialist books on brands, history of watchmaking, technical elements, biographies, etc but they tend to be very narrow scope.

Thanks for those recs, Roff, I've been lurking in this thread because I'm curious, so I shall see if I can get my hands on them, as well.

I'll add my thanks too as I'll have a look at a couple of those. I have one on watch repair by Gazeley which is really quite dense. If anyone's interested though I'll go and dig up the exact title.

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Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"

Thanks Roff, I'm going shoppin!

Please do Tim S, much appreciated!

In terms of watch repair then De Carle's are the best that I have ever come across - Practical Watch Repair and Practical Watch Adjusting being the most common. By far the best contemporary book on Watchmaking (and perhaps best ever) is George Daniel's book called Watchmaking. It costs a fortune resale, but there is supposedly a new edition being published in December and is available for pre-order - just be aware that I have had it on pre-order since before the original publication date of October 2009!

George Daniel's autobiography is also an interesting read - All in Good Time.

Added myself to the pre-order, have the other 2 de Carle. Thanks Roff!

One other point on books, don't waste your money on 'A moment in time with Breitling & Rolex' by Mark Cooper. I don't usually have strong negative opinions about things, but........

Apart from being an awful book, Mark Cooper got caught using different user IDs to give the book great reviews on Amazon. He is the worst kind of author on specialist subjects - an ignoramus who thinks that he has nothing to learn on the subject.

All three currently on sale on Amazon Justin

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- This is Ghost Rider requesting a fly-by. - Negative Ghost Rider. The pattern is full.

I have "The Book" by Girard perregaux. Very VERY well made book. It has the history of time/horology in general and history of GP plus information and such on the brand. I am not sure of the price, but I actually got it sent to me for free . LOVELY customer service if you ask me. You should try asking for it, if it's not free, I'm sure it's still worth every penny.

(note: I may be a bit biased since I love the brand...)

Roff,

Yes I read the reviews on that one, skipped it. Pre-ordered Breitling Highlights today as well. $15 meh, even if it's bad, no big deal!

F14D_Tomcat,

Placed a $500 order @ Amazon today lol.

cRaSiAn1030,

Have that one, love it! Glad you got it free!