The Watch Book: More than Time

For centuries, watch complications have represented the pinnacle of fine mechanical watchmaking, showcasing the ingenuity, craftsmanship, and precision of master watchmakers. From alarm functions, calendars, and moon phase displays to world timers, tourbillons, striking mechanisms, and chronographs, these sophisticated mechanisms transform timepieces into remarkable feats of engineering.

The possibilities are virtually limitless. By combining multiple complications—such as a split-seconds chronograph, perpetual calendar, and minute repeater—watchmakers create the legendary Grande Complication, regarded as the highest expression of traditional horology.

This richly illustrated volume explores the fascinating world of mechanical watch complications, tracing their history, explaining their technical principles, and presenting exceptional timepieces that exemplify the finest achievements in haute horlogerie.

Gisbert L. Brunner, born in 1947, has been passionate about precision timepieces—especially wristwatches—since the 1960s. During the quartz crisis of the 1970s, his admiration for mechanical watches only deepened. His growing collection inspired his first articles in the early 1980s, leading to over 15 published books on the subject. Today, he is recognized worldwide as an expert and sought-after lecturer.