Full Description
Volume II of The Watch Book follows on the successful and comprehensive earlier volume with a magnificently illustrated book about the additional functions and refinements of wristwatches. For centuries, so-called "complications" - any feature of a mechanical timepiece beyond the display of hours, minutes and seconds - have embodied the crowning glory of fine mechanical watchmaking. Among the earliest of these are alarm clocks and calendar movements. Moon phase displays have also been known for several centuries. Striking movements can be considered among the most complex and technically elaborate additional functions, while finishing techniques such as skeletonising, which is mainly done by hand, also characterise the high art of watchmaking. This superbly illustrated volume by watch expert and historian Gisbert L. Brunner is dedicated to advanced functions of mechanical timepieces, their historical development and special technical features. Topics covered in this book include: Hands and numerals; Spring; Astronomical display (moon phases etc.); Tides; Double balance; Alarm clock; Altitude/depth measurement; Skeletonisation.
Text in English and German.
Contents
4 Thoughts on Timepieces and Time ⋅ Gedanken zur Uhr und Zeit
10 Dial ⋅ Zifferblatt
Faces of Time ⋅ Zeit-Gesichter
40 Escapement ⋅ Hemmung
The Great Escape ⋅ Andersartig gehemmt
62 Mainspring ⋅ Zugfeder
The Power of the Spring ⋅ In der Feder steckt die Kraft
80 Phases of the Moon & Astronomy ⋅
Mondphasen & Astronomie
Sun, Moon and Stars ⋅ Sonne, Mond und Sterne
100 Tides ⋅ Gezeiten
Ebb and Flow ⋅ Von Ebbe und Flut
114 Double Balance ⋅ Doppelunruh
Two Better than One ⋅ Ein Fall für zwei
124 Alarm ⋅ Wecker
Time Signals ⋅ Zeit-Signale
154 Mechanical Spectacles · Mechanische Schauspiele
164 Altimeter & Depth Gauge · Höhen- & Tiefenmesser
Flying High ... ⋅ Hoch hinaus ...
178 Skeletons · Skelette
Ticking Skeletons ⋅ Tickende Skelette
198 Superlatives · Superlative
Small, Flat and Pretty Complicated ⋅
Klein, flach und ganz schön kompliziert
214 Credits & Glossary ⋅ Bildnachweise & Glossar
