Palms of Time: A Watchmaker’s Historical past
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“A vastly entertaining achievement.” –Esquire
“A fascinating survey by a interval of mental historical past that reveals as a lot about individuals who put on watches because the objects on their wrists.” – Wall Avenue Journal
“As impeccably crafted and exactly engineered as any of the watches on which the creator has labored so lovingly through the years, this ebook is a pleasure to behold and a marvel to get pleasure from.” –Simon Winchester, creator of The Perfectionists and Land
An award-winning watchmaker—one of many few working towards the artwork on the earth in the present day—chronicles the invention of time by the centuries-long story of considered one of mankind’s most profound technological achievements: the watch.
Timepieces have lengthy accompanied us on our travels, from the depths of the oceans to the summit of Everest, the ice of the arctic to the sands of the deserts, outer house to the floor of the moon. The watch has sculpted the social and financial improvement of recent society; it’s an object that, when disassembled, can provide us new insights each into the motivations of inventors and craftsmen of the previous, and, into the lives of the individuals who treasured them.
Palms of Time is a journey by watchmaking historical past, from the earliest makes an attempt at time-keeping, to the breakthrough in engineering that gave us the primary watch, to in the present day – the place the timepieces maintain cultural and historic significance past what its first creators may have imagined. Acclaimed watchmaker Rebecca Struthers makes use of a very powerful watches all through historical past to discover their attendant paradigm shifts in how we take into consideration time, certainly how we take into consideration our personal humanity. From an up-close take a look at the beginning of the fakes and forgeries business which marked the watch as a helpful commodity, to the watches that helped us navigate commerce expeditions, she reveals how these devices have formed how we construct after which consequently make our approach by the world.
A fusion of artwork and science, historical past and social commentary, this fascinating work, instructed in Struthers’s energetic voice and illustrated with customized line drawings by her husband and fellow watchmaker Craig, is crammed together with her private observations as an professional watchmaker—one of many few remaining at work on the earth in the present day. Horology is an unlimited topic—the “research of time.” This compelling historical past affords a contemporary take, exploring not solely these watches inside their time, however the position they performed in human improvement and the affect that they had on the individuals who treasured them.
From the Writer
Writer : Harper (June 13, 2023)
Language : English
Hardcover : 288 pages
ISBN-10 : 0063048701
ISBN-13 : 978-0063048706
Merchandise Weight : 2.31 kilos
Dimensions : 6 x 0.97 x 9 inches
Clients say
Clients discover the ebook’s historical past of timekeeping fascinating and enlightening. They describe it as an pleasing learn with detailed data and insightful tales. Readers respect the creator’s writing model and respect the ebook’s deal with craftsmanship and watchmaking, reasonably than technical particulars.
13 reviews for Palms of Time: A Watchmaker’s Historical past
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Original price was: $35.00.$16.19Current price is: $16.19.
Salgud –
Excellent, thorough, well-written book on horology.
I have a collection of nine books on watches and horology and this one stands out as one of the best. I liked it so much that I originally bought it as a Kindle book, but before I’d even finished it, I ordered it in hardback as I wanted it in my library.First, I’ll tell you what it’s not because it’s not for everybody. It doesn’t have great descriptions of how watches work or details about sophisticated complications. There are no color photographs of watches, only drawings done very well by her husband. There are better books for those things.What it is is a very simple, well-written work with a somewhat detailed history of horology, not just watches. Rebecca Struthers mentions the earliest known horological device from 44,000 years ago. That’s not a typo! She cleverly intertwines her and her husband’s experience of becoming independent watchmakers in Great Britain with horological topics as well as some of the challenges they face in their craft. She even has a great sense of humor, something totally lacking in any of the other watch-related books I’ve read.Other than the more technical sections, Hands of Time reads like a thoroughly enjoyable novel, fun to sit and read. I will definitely reread it someday. I highly recommend it.
Harvey Johnson –
Enjoyable, as a hobbyist watch repairer
I had read somewhere that the author’s intent was to have a book for non-watchmakers so that they may better appreciate the trade. As a hobbiest, I was able to follow along, and some of the information was little basic, but I am hesitant to recommend that my non-watchmaking partner read it, as it does feel a little too technical? That said, there’s a huge glossary, so someone looking to understand the technical side of it should be able to. I loved the history side of things, and learned a fair bit that I hadn’t heard before from the internet, YouTube, etc..
John Spezzano –
Would get 5 Stars without the political injections
I can’t speak highly enough about what a wonderful history of timekeeping this book is. The author is a terrific writer who clearly knows her craft (watchmaker) as well as the history of her craft. Unfortunately we live in an age where everything is politicized, including, apparently, the history of timekeepers. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, I just wish the author had kept strictly to the topic of her book. Injecting politics into every aspect of our lives is the opposite of helpful to our day to day existence and the sheer entertainment of reading this otherwise fascinating book (that doesn’t need to get political) gets tainted when politics are unnecessarily injected. Aside from that it’s a really good book. But it would have been truly stellar without the politics.
Jim –
History of timekeeping
An interesting personal story and history of timekeeping.
Toni Marić –
Amazing book about life, history and watches
I have started to read this book just because i am huge mechanical watch enthusiast and I was hoping to learn more about wristwatches and their history.What I have got from this book was unbelievable story about women whose whole life was dedicated to this old and even romantic practice of watch reparing and watch making, awesome and really amazing history of measuring time and ofcourse watches and amazing lesson about cherising our time on this Earth.One of the best books that I have ever read in my life!
Authentic –
Very upset…
I strongly disliked the book when it ENDED!What a pleasure to read this – very fortunate.Not a technical handbook at all, but the chapter “How to Repair a Watch” was so practical and easy to understand (for those familiar with watch movements).Easy, captivating read that draws one deeper into the watch world and creates a sincere appreciation for old school, purist watchmakers.
Hanna Lupico –
Mesmerizing history of time and watch making
The amount of effort and attention that has gone into tracking time and developing ways to measure time is humbling. I had a greater appreciation for time, my own time and truly felt connected to the author by the end of the book. So much of what she shared about how she views her own time resonated with me. Truly grateful that Rebecca took the time to write this book.
JW Obermayer –
Interesting History of Watches and Watch Making
Very pleasant to read about the importance of timekeeping as society industrialized and ships traveled the world. Not too techy on watchmaking, just enough. She takes us into how clocks evolved from ship’s captains to playthings for the rich and well-off, to clocks and watches ( not so different than today). She comments on digital watches and their evolvement to today. Certainly worth the read. Makes me more appreciative of my father’s Stratford Watch (6 jewels) which he got as a gift at his Christian Confirmation in 1920 (or so). I had it serviced in 1974 in Park Ridge, Illinois. Keeps great time.
WEBER PERISSIN –
O livro é excelente … combina HISTÓRIA + RELOJOARIA.
wilson harris –
This book is so well written that I really hope there will be a follow up. I am an avid watch collector and really appreciated learning more about the history of watchmaking and some of the great watchmakers. What is amazing is that Rebecca and her husband Craig are also accomplished watchmakers. So she really knows what she is writing about. I found her writing style very engaging and easy to read. The sketches done by Craig are just beautiful and quite artistic. The personal side of this story also helps weave all the chapters together. All in all, a throughly well researched and well written book
John Malcolm –
This book taught me – someone who’s been fascinated by timepieces all his life – about watches, great and cheap, mechanical and electrical, even from those owned by kings and queens to paupers. A wide range, then, and told well by one of the very few female watchmakers/repairers in the country. Recommended.
Alex –
It is a true delight to read this fascinating book, which takes you on an incredible journey through the history of watchmaking. Told from the unique perspective of a watchmaker, the book is so well-written that it is both enjoyable and educational. I cannot recommend it highly enough, even to those unfamiliar with a passion for watches.
Jon Manning –
This book is amazing! I loved every minute of it, and when Stephen Fry calls it “exquisite”, you better believe him. Like watch making itself, the research for this book must have been meticulous. This has got to be the best history book I have read in the last 20 years. I will think of this book and Rebecca Struthers everytime I look at my watch now.