Watchmaking

The papers in the bottom corner were bent. I didn’t spend 250 AED to get a book with bent corner papers :)

This is THE bible on watchmaking. There is simply no other book on the planet that covers the traditional techniques and craft of watchmaking to this level of breath and detail written by none other than the master himself.So why not 5 stars? A few reasons, the aspiring watchmaker who is seriously considering entering the watchmaking profession and knows anything about the industry will not be reading reviews on Amazon for this George Daniels book, it's simply a must, no two ways and will have already bought it.My review is geared more towards the watch/horology enthusiast who has no intention of becoming a full time watchmaker but is curious on the history of movements, high level traditional watchmaking techniques and pros and cons of the technicals of various movements, maybe likes to tinker with watch movements etc.It's apt to mention that I have a masters in mechanical engineering and a keen watch enthusiast. I am no stranger to reading technical journals and consider myself a nerd. However, for me, this book was unreadable. It assumes already a high level of knowledge of watchmaking and dives straight into amplitude calculations, frictional coefficients etc pages and pages of dry technical language that is borderline incomprehensible unless you're literally following along with making the part/drafting the technical drawing. For example, I was at least expecting some sort of diagram of a conventional mechanical watch, a diagram for tourbillon etc labelling each component, what it does etc, but this is assumed knowledge. It's not something that can be read at leisure, it's more like a reference manual.So to conclude it's the best of it's kind, but it's a book that get blindly recommended simply because of the George Daniels name by people who I suspect haven't properly read the book. It's not a book for everyone, or even most. If you're reading this review, chances are it's not for you.If you're interested in the development of movements through time, diagrams, uses in watches, history etc I highly recommend The Wristwatch Handbook

This book is for you if:You are at the verge of making your own watchWant to know how a watch is madeYou're a watch nerd and everything that has the word 'watch ' in it, needs to be bought.On the serious note, this book is fantastically detailed and a good source of knowledge when it comes to watch making and the tools you'll need to do so. So, if this is what you want to know. The work and knowledge behind watch making, then this book is a must have.But, if your looking for a book talking about the history of the movements and how a mechanical watch and its different complications work in detail. Then this book is not for you.

I bought this for my watch mad partner and he is ecstatic! Although he will probably never have the tools and equipment to make practical use of the information, he thoroughly enjoys reading it when he isn’t tinkering with watches himself. However if you are looking for practical help with watch repairing for the knowledgeable amateur, there are probably simpler and more useful books around.

I bought this book for my fiancé’s brother for his birthday and he loves it. There are plenty of picture illustrations throughout the book and it’s suitable for beginners.

This is a really good book, documenting the process by which each part of a hand made automatic watch is produced.In an age of mass production, CNC, Spark erosion, drum polishing etc, this book captures a fading art: the true craftsman making a top quality watch from metal bar. Model makers and those involved in small machines can learn so much from this book.