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Hands of Time: A Watchmaker's History

Description:

"A hugely entertaining achievement." –Esquire

“An engaging survey through a period of intellectual history that reveals as much about people who wear watches as the objects on their wrists." – Wall Street Journal

"As impeccably crafted and precisely engineered as any of the watches on which the author has worked so lovingly over the years, this book is a joy to behold and a wonder to enjoy.” –Simon Winchester, author of The Perfectionists and Land

An award-winning watchmaker—one of the few practicing the art in the world today—chronicles the invention of time through the centuries-long story of one of mankind’s most profound technological achievements: the watch.

Timepieces have long 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 space to the surface of the moon. The watch has sculpted the social and economic development of modern society; it is an object that, when disassembled, can give us new insights both into the motivations of inventors and craftsmen of the past, and, into the lives of the people who treasured them.

Hands of Time is a journey through watchmaking history, from the earliest attempts at time-keeping, to the breakthrough in engineering that gave us the first watch, to today – where the timepieces hold cultural and historical significance beyond what its first creators could have imagined. Acclaimed watchmaker Rebecca Struthers uses the most important watches throughout history to explore their attendant paradigm shifts in how we think about time, indeed how we think about our own humanity. From an up-close look at the birth of the fakes and forgeries industry which marked the watch as a valuable commodity, to the watches that helped us navigate trade expeditions, she reveals how these instruments have shaped how we build and then consequently make our way through the world.

A fusion of art and science, history and social commentary, this fascinating work, told in Struthers’s lively voice and illustrated with custom line drawings by her husband and fellow watchmaker Craig, is filled with her personal observations as an expert watchmaker—one of the few remaining at work in the world today. Horology is a vast subject—the “study of time.” This compelling history offers a fresh take, exploring not only these watches within their time, but the role they played in human development and the impact they had on the people who treasured them. 


Editorial Reviews

Review

"Hands of Time is smart, curious, digressive and brisk: an engaging survey through a period of intellectual history that reveals as much about people who wear watches as the objects on their wrists." — Wall Street Journal

"There is a tendency for watch writing to be a closed shop – to get bogged down in the technicalities of watches and watches alone. Hands of Time puts them into cultural and historical context, combines that with the story of Rebecca’s singular career, and assembles the parts against a backdrop of the whole history of time. It’s also a really fun read." — Esquire

"Skillfully moving between the minuscule world of watchmaking and the sweep of history, Hands of Time is an enlightening study of “the closest relationship we had with a machine” before the advent of mobile phones. It charts humanity’s shifting relationship with time, while showing that watches have always connoted more than time-telling." — The Economist

"Full of tales of royal intrigue and social history, it charts the story of watchmaking through the centuries and reflects on how time affects us all."
Vogue

"Watchmaker and antiquarian horologist Struthers debuts with a vivid history of her craft.... Heartfelt and deeply knowledgeable, this is an elegant tribute to a timeless art form." — Publishers Weekly

"A beautiful story about beautiful things from someone who knows everything there is to know about the field." — Kirkus Reviews

"Each chapter of her exquisitely crafted history explores a pivotal moment in watchmaking from the past 500 years." — Nature

"As impeccably crafted and precisely engineered as any of the watches on which the author has worked so lovingly over the years, this book is a joy to behold and a wonder to enjoy.” — Simon Winchester, author of The Perfectionists and Land

“An intensely personal, finely-tuned meditation on making and time-keeping. This is a beautiful book." — Edmund de Waal, author of The Hare with Amber Eyes

“From 40,000 year old bone etchings, through the first tick-tock and into the nanoscale atomic world of 21st century clocks, Hands of Time is a meticulously written and captivating history. Struthers brings her unique perspective as artisan and engineer to explore both the evolution of mechanisms and the complicated ways in which timekeeping has changed human life: the more we measure this intangible cosmic property, the more precious it becomes.” — Rebecca Wragg Sykes, author of Kindred

“As an engineer I was enthralled by the intricate mechanisms Dr. Struthers brings to life so vividly. But what really struck me is her personal journey in horology, and her fascinating stories of how timepieces affected society and culture, ultimately shaping our modern lives.” — Roma Agrawal, author of How Was That Built?

“As exquisitely-crafted as a Georgian pocket-watch, this fascinating book weaves the threads of personal memoir with the story of a profession that has until now been almost entirely overlooked. Through the lens of watch-making, a new understanding of our world history emerges. Beautifully written and endlessly fascinating, it feels like this was a story waiting to be written.” — Tracy Borman, author of Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I

“Rebecca Struthers dismantles and reassembles time as she would an antique pocket watch. Beautiful, bewitching and brilliant.” — Lara Maiklem, author of Mudlarking: Lost and Found on the River Thames

"An exquisite book, as beautifully put together as one of the watches whose mechanisms Rebecca describes." — Stephen Fry

“An absolutely gorgeous book about craft, time and history. Hands of Time really captures what it means to be a craftsperson and why it matters. It blew my socks off.” — Jay Blades

"This is a work of staggering complexity and bewildering economy – highly deserving of the time you give it." — Telegraph (UK)

"Every page glitters with details of her experience and the people she has learned from. The book is evidence of a lifelong labor of love, and reading it is time well spent." — The Spectator

"Dr.Struthers serves up a gripping history of timekeeping that starts with the personal, but then embarks upon a journey spanning centuries of modern humanity, examining how timepieces have shaped us – not just in service to our quotidian lives, but politically and economically, too. With a scope that reaches from prehistoric 40,000-year-old bone etchings recording lunar cycles to the Dutch horological “forgeries” of her thesis, it is all addressed with a lightness of touch that has seen Dr. Struthers’ debut scoring “Book of the Week” on BBC Radio 4’." — Mr Porter

About the Author

Rebecca Struthers is a watchmaker and historian from Birmingham, England. She cofounded her workshop, Struthers Watchmakers, in 2012, with her husband, Craig. Together they use heritage equipment and traditional artisan techniques to restore antiquarian pieces and craft bespoke watches. In 2017 Rebecca became the first watchmaker in British history to earn a PhD in horology. Rebecca is one of the few remaining horologists in the world making timepieces from scratch. She lives in Staffordshire with Craig; her dog, Archie; cats Isla and Alabama; and Morrissey the mouse.

Reviews:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, thorough, well-written book on horology.

S. · January 9, 2024

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.

4.0 out of 5 stars Would get 5 Stars without the political injections

J.S. · October 31, 2024

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, as a hobbyist watch repairer

H.J. · August 6, 2024

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..

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book about life, history and watches

T.M. · August 15, 2023

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!

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading

J. · April 14, 2024

This book explores keeping track of time and how it changed society from prehistoric calendar sticks to today's atomic clocks.She writes of the early water clocks, candle clocks and sand clocks. Some of these were extremely intricate and animated, for an example an elephant clock with moving riders.She moves on to the mechanical clocks of all kinds from town public towers to the eventual development of the wrist watch. There is a lot of detail and many side stories of the watch makers and customers. Enjoyable

4.0 out of 5 stars Mesmerizing history of time and watch making

H.L. · November 29, 2023

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very upset…

A. · January 16, 2024

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting History of Watches and Watch Making

J.O. · July 6, 2023

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.

An Amazing Journey through the History of Watchmaking

A. · September 12, 2023

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.

A comprehensive exploration of Horology enriched by the authors story: worth the time

A. · August 27, 2023

This is a captivating exploration of horology that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone seeking a comprehensive overview. Reading it, I was left in awe of human innovation and with a heightened appreciation for time’s role in our lives. The book covers a range from satellite clocks accounting for relativity to diverse cultural perceptions of time, enriching my worldview with its insights. This is a testament to a great read; it has sparked numerous questions and topics I’m eager to delve into. My only wish is that the author, Rebecca Struthers, had delved even more extensively into certain subjects, like cultural perspectives on time. I hope that she writes a second book that fills in more detail within the broad strokes of the first!While I anticipated a tone reminiscent of “Sapiens,” the author surprised me by weaving in personal anecdotes from her journey in watchmaking. Her candid accounts of being a female watchmaker in a predominantly male domain, grappling with anxiety, and establishing a small business in a dwindling industry added depth to the narrative. Rebecca underscores how watchmakers often embed personal touches in their creations, reflecting the unique imprint she’s made on this book. Her style elevated the book from merely informative to profoundly beautiful, prompting me to reflect on the intricate devices that accompany us, and their wearers and makers, in all their imperfect humanity, through time.

Truly an absorbing read!

D. · September 29, 2025

What a lovely and informative read, especially if you are interested in watches

This is an amazing read!

J.M. · August 11, 2024

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.

A closer look at time

N. · November 22, 2023

Whether you are interested in why people appreciate luxurious watches, absolutely accurate timing, or concepts of timing, you will find this volume fascinating. It is unlike any book on the subject of watchmakers and will make you think about why we use clocks and watches.

Hands of Time: A Watchmaker's History

Product ID: U0063048701
Condition: New

4.6

AED23619

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Type: Hardcover
Availability: In Stock

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Order today to get by 7-14 business days

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Imported From: United States

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BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.

All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.

All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.

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Hands of Time: A Watchmaker's History

Product ID: U0063048701
Condition: New

4.6

Hands of Time: A Watchmaker's History-0
Type: Hardcover

AED23619

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by 7-14 business days

This item qualifies for free delivery

Returns & Warranty policies

Imported From: United States

At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.

BOLO is not an authorized or official retailer for most brands, nor are we affiliated with manufacturers unless specifically stated on a product page. Instead, we source verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.

Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.

If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support. We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.

Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.

All product information, images, descriptions, and reviews originate from the manufacturer or from trusted sellers overseas. BOLO is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized retailer for most brands listed on our website unless stated otherwise.

While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.

Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.

BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.

All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.

All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.

Description:

"A hugely entertaining achievement." –Esquire

“An engaging survey through a period of intellectual history that reveals as much about people who wear watches as the objects on their wrists." – Wall Street Journal

"As impeccably crafted and precisely engineered as any of the watches on which the author has worked so lovingly over the years, this book is a joy to behold and a wonder to enjoy.” –Simon Winchester, author of The Perfectionists and Land

An award-winning watchmaker—one of the few practicing the art in the world today—chronicles the invention of time through the centuries-long story of one of mankind’s most profound technological achievements: the watch.

Timepieces have long 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 space to the surface of the moon. The watch has sculpted the social and economic development of modern society; it is an object that, when disassembled, can give us new insights both into the motivations of inventors and craftsmen of the past, and, into the lives of the people who treasured them.

Hands of Time is a journey through watchmaking history, from the earliest attempts at time-keeping, to the breakthrough in engineering that gave us the first watch, to today – where the timepieces hold cultural and historical significance beyond what its first creators could have imagined. Acclaimed watchmaker Rebecca Struthers uses the most important watches throughout history to explore their attendant paradigm shifts in how we think about time, indeed how we think about our own humanity. From an up-close look at the birth of the fakes and forgeries industry which marked the watch as a valuable commodity, to the watches that helped us navigate trade expeditions, she reveals how these instruments have shaped how we build and then consequently make our way through the world.

A fusion of art and science, history and social commentary, this fascinating work, told in Struthers’s lively voice and illustrated with custom line drawings by her husband and fellow watchmaker Craig, is filled with her personal observations as an expert watchmaker—one of the few remaining at work in the world today. Horology is a vast subject—the “study of time.” This compelling history offers a fresh take, exploring not only these watches within their time, but the role they played in human development and the impact they had on the people who treasured them. 


Editorial Reviews

Review

"Hands of Time is smart, curious, digressive and brisk: an engaging survey through a period of intellectual history that reveals as much about people who wear watches as the objects on their wrists." — Wall Street Journal

"There is a tendency for watch writing to be a closed shop – to get bogged down in the technicalities of watches and watches alone. Hands of Time puts them into cultural and historical context, combines that with the story of Rebecca’s singular career, and assembles the parts against a backdrop of the whole history of time. It’s also a really fun read." — Esquire

"Skillfully moving between the minuscule world of watchmaking and the sweep of history, Hands of Time is an enlightening study of “the closest relationship we had with a machine” before the advent of mobile phones. It charts humanity’s shifting relationship with time, while showing that watches have always connoted more than time-telling." — The Economist

"Full of tales of royal intrigue and social history, it charts the story of watchmaking through the centuries and reflects on how time affects us all."
Vogue

"Watchmaker and antiquarian horologist Struthers debuts with a vivid history of her craft.... Heartfelt and deeply knowledgeable, this is an elegant tribute to a timeless art form." — Publishers Weekly

"A beautiful story about beautiful things from someone who knows everything there is to know about the field." — Kirkus Reviews

"Each chapter of her exquisitely crafted history explores a pivotal moment in watchmaking from the past 500 years." — Nature

"As impeccably crafted and precisely engineered as any of the watches on which the author has worked so lovingly over the years, this book is a joy to behold and a wonder to enjoy.” — Simon Winchester, author of The Perfectionists and Land

“An intensely personal, finely-tuned meditation on making and time-keeping. This is a beautiful book." — Edmund de Waal, author of The Hare with Amber Eyes

“From 40,000 year old bone etchings, through the first tick-tock and into the nanoscale atomic world of 21st century clocks, Hands of Time is a meticulously written and captivating history. Struthers brings her unique perspective as artisan and engineer to explore both the evolution of mechanisms and the complicated ways in which timekeeping has changed human life: the more we measure this intangible cosmic property, the more precious it becomes.” — Rebecca Wragg Sykes, author of Kindred

“As an engineer I was enthralled by the intricate mechanisms Dr. Struthers brings to life so vividly. But what really struck me is her personal journey in horology, and her fascinating stories of how timepieces affected society and culture, ultimately shaping our modern lives.” — Roma Agrawal, author of How Was That Built?

“As exquisitely-crafted as a Georgian pocket-watch, this fascinating book weaves the threads of personal memoir with the story of a profession that has until now been almost entirely overlooked. Through the lens of watch-making, a new understanding of our world history emerges. Beautifully written and endlessly fascinating, it feels like this was a story waiting to be written.” — Tracy Borman, author of Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I

“Rebecca Struthers dismantles and reassembles time as she would an antique pocket watch. Beautiful, bewitching and brilliant.” — Lara Maiklem, author of Mudlarking: Lost and Found on the River Thames

"An exquisite book, as beautifully put together as one of the watches whose mechanisms Rebecca describes." — Stephen Fry

“An absolutely gorgeous book about craft, time and history. Hands of Time really captures what it means to be a craftsperson and why it matters. It blew my socks off.” — Jay Blades

"This is a work of staggering complexity and bewildering economy – highly deserving of the time you give it." — Telegraph (UK)

"Every page glitters with details of her experience and the people she has learned from. The book is evidence of a lifelong labor of love, and reading it is time well spent." — The Spectator

"Dr.Struthers serves up a gripping history of timekeeping that starts with the personal, but then embarks upon a journey spanning centuries of modern humanity, examining how timepieces have shaped us – not just in service to our quotidian lives, but politically and economically, too. With a scope that reaches from prehistoric 40,000-year-old bone etchings recording lunar cycles to the Dutch horological “forgeries” of her thesis, it is all addressed with a lightness of touch that has seen Dr. Struthers’ debut scoring “Book of the Week” on BBC Radio 4’." — Mr Porter

About the Author

Rebecca Struthers is a watchmaker and historian from Birmingham, England. She cofounded her workshop, Struthers Watchmakers, in 2012, with her husband, Craig. Together they use heritage equipment and traditional artisan techniques to restore antiquarian pieces and craft bespoke watches. In 2017 Rebecca became the first watchmaker in British history to earn a PhD in horology. Rebecca is one of the few remaining horologists in the world making timepieces from scratch. She lives in Staffordshire with Craig; her dog, Archie; cats Isla and Alabama; and Morrissey the mouse.

Reviews:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, thorough, well-written book on horology.

S. · January 9, 2024

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.

4.0 out of 5 stars Would get 5 Stars without the political injections

J.S. · October 31, 2024

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, as a hobbyist watch repairer

H.J. · August 6, 2024

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..

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book about life, history and watches

T.M. · August 15, 2023

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!

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading

J. · April 14, 2024

This book explores keeping track of time and how it changed society from prehistoric calendar sticks to today's atomic clocks.She writes of the early water clocks, candle clocks and sand clocks. Some of these were extremely intricate and animated, for an example an elephant clock with moving riders.She moves on to the mechanical clocks of all kinds from town public towers to the eventual development of the wrist watch. There is a lot of detail and many side stories of the watch makers and customers. Enjoyable

4.0 out of 5 stars Mesmerizing history of time and watch making

H.L. · November 29, 2023

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very upset…

A. · January 16, 2024

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting History of Watches and Watch Making

J.O. · July 6, 2023

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.

An Amazing Journey through the History of Watchmaking

A. · September 12, 2023

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.

A comprehensive exploration of Horology enriched by the authors story: worth the time

A. · August 27, 2023

This is a captivating exploration of horology that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone seeking a comprehensive overview. Reading it, I was left in awe of human innovation and with a heightened appreciation for time’s role in our lives. The book covers a range from satellite clocks accounting for relativity to diverse cultural perceptions of time, enriching my worldview with its insights. This is a testament to a great read; it has sparked numerous questions and topics I’m eager to delve into. My only wish is that the author, Rebecca Struthers, had delved even more extensively into certain subjects, like cultural perspectives on time. I hope that she writes a second book that fills in more detail within the broad strokes of the first!While I anticipated a tone reminiscent of “Sapiens,” the author surprised me by weaving in personal anecdotes from her journey in watchmaking. Her candid accounts of being a female watchmaker in a predominantly male domain, grappling with anxiety, and establishing a small business in a dwindling industry added depth to the narrative. Rebecca underscores how watchmakers often embed personal touches in their creations, reflecting the unique imprint she’s made on this book. Her style elevated the book from merely informative to profoundly beautiful, prompting me to reflect on the intricate devices that accompany us, and their wearers and makers, in all their imperfect humanity, through time.

Truly an absorbing read!

D. · September 29, 2025

What a lovely and informative read, especially if you are interested in watches

This is an amazing read!

J.M. · August 11, 2024

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.

A closer look at time

N. · November 22, 2023

Whether you are interested in why people appreciate luxurious watches, absolutely accurate timing, or concepts of timing, you will find this volume fascinating. It is unlike any book on the subject of watchmakers and will make you think about why we use clocks and watches.

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