A Man  His Watch: Iconic Watches and Stories from the Men Who Wore Them

A Man His Watch: Iconic Watches and Stories from the Men Who Wore Them

  • Downloads:1627
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-04-03 12:53:55
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Matt Hranek
  • ISBN:1579657141
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

“I’ve paged through stacks of books on the history of watches。 。 。 。 But I hadn’t come across a book that actually moved me until I picked up A Man and His Watch。 The volume is filled with heartfelt stories。”
—T: The New York Times Style Magazine

Paul Newman wore his Rolex Daytona every single day for 35 years until his death in 2008。 The iconic timepiece, probably the single most sought-after watch in the world, is now in the possession of his daughter Clea, who wears it every day in his memory。 Franklin Roosevelt wore an elegant gold Tiffany watch, gifted to him by a friend on his birthday, to the famous Yalta Conference where he shook the hands of Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill。 JFK’s Omega worn to his presidential inauguration, Ralph Lauren’s watch purchased from Andy Warhol’s personal collection, Sir Edmund Hillary’s Rolex worn during the first-ever summit of Mt。 Everest 。 。 。 these and many more compose the stories of the world’s most coveted watches captured in A Man and His Watch。 Matthew Hranek, a watch collector and NYC men’s style fixture, has traveled the world conducting firsthand interviews and diving into exclusive collections to gather the never-before-told stories of 76 watches, completed with stunning original photography of every single piece。 Through these intimate accounts and Hranek’s storytelling, the watches become more than just timepieces and status symbols; they represent historical moments, pioneering achievements, heirlooms, family mementos, gifts of affection, and lifelong friendships。

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Reviews

Sahil Parikh

What a great coffee table book!!! It’s not about how expensive a watch is but how one connects to the watch。 Love the real stories of men and their watches。

Kappa

"This collection was him, it was me, it was our best memories。" -Paul Boutros"It's my everyday watch, but it's also an heirloom; it's something you pass on to your children and grandchildren。 Heirlooms make you think about the people in your life。" -Frank Castronovo"It forces you to reflect, because during that tiny window you are literally giving yourself the time。" -Hamilton Powell"I'm forty-seven years old, and I never truly understood what the word passion meant until I discovered my love fo "This collection was him, it was me, it was our best memories。" -Paul Boutros"It's my everyday watch, but it's also an heirloom; it's something you pass on to your children and grandchildren。 Heirlooms make you think about the people in your life。" -Frank Castronovo"It forces you to reflect, because during that tiny window you are literally giving yourself the time。" -Hamilton Powell"I'm forty-seven years old, and I never truly understood what the word passion meant until I discovered my love for timepieces。" -Geoffrey Hess"In Japan, watches aren't traditionally status symbols- you don't give someone an object that tells them how much time they have left to live。" -Tom Sachs"You never actually own a Patek Philippe。 You merely take care of it for the next generation。" -Patek Philippe 。。。more

Will Swanson

Must read if you're enthusiast or if you just want to know why people are sentimental with their watches。 Must read if you're enthusiast or if you just want to know why people are sentimental with their watches。 。。。more

Carla JFCL

Every true watch lover needs this book, for the photographs if nothing else。 Simply stunning。

Thanh Ho

What i love about this book, is that apart from many of its brethren, it illuminates the very essence of why we love watches: the companionship。 Many watches carry hefty price tags, but the truly priceless piece is that one that you wear。

Chris

fascinating stories, superb photography and a whole book of very interesting watches and the people that wear them

Simone Salardi

Entertaining stories that made these watches unique。 I loved it。

Jay Baviskar

An enticing collection of vivid stories about people's watches- their memories of watches, their perceptions, and their collections。 A fascinating read for people who admire watches。 An enticing collection of vivid stories about people's watches- their memories of watches, their perceptions, and their collections。 A fascinating read for people who admire watches。 。。。more

Jay Salvaterra

Being a watch fan I loved this book。 From the textured front cover to the stories and photographs inside, everything about this book had me hooked。

Leigh

Interesting enough to finish in a couple of days。 I enjoyed the stories with horological and personal histories。Overall, this book proves that liking watches is still a boys' club。As a woman who wears watches with case diameters 34mm and above (traditionally men's sizes), I don't exactly feel out of place while reading the book。 I would've loved to see women on a book like this though。 The likes of Charlize Theron and Ellen Degeneres are also not out of place in a book like this。 Interesting enough to finish in a couple of days。 I enjoyed the stories with horological and personal histories。Overall, this book proves that liking watches is still a boys' club。As a woman who wears watches with case diameters 34mm and above (traditionally men's sizes), I don't exactly feel out of place while reading the book。 I would've loved to see women on a book like this though。 The likes of Charlize Theron and Ellen Degeneres are also not out of place in a book like this。 。。。more

Evgeniy Oleinik

Great coffee table book。 The stories aren't as deep as, say, Hodinkee interviews, but the photography is excellent and the pieces are very diverse。 Great coffee table book。 The stories aren't as deep as, say, Hodinkee interviews, but the photography is excellent and the pieces are very diverse。 。。。more

Mrigaen Kapadia

Nice read if you are into horology。

Mishari Bin husien

Understanding the times and watches like nothing elses。 I couldn't stop reading till I was done。 Understanding the times and watches like nothing elses。 I couldn't stop reading till I was done。 。。。more

Igor

Great book with great photography of vintage watches and stories。 It shows how the watches are intertwined with the stories and they are not just simple objects for the people who wear them。 My favorite was the one in which a Macedonian who lives in Los Angeles, Dimitri Dimitrov, got a watch from Bill Murray。

Nick Sotos

I have a number of watches and have really enjoyed them。 Each one has a story and it was really nice to read the stories of others and the watches that have。 I read the book on my Kindle but had to order the hardcover version so that I could see the pictures of all the watches in better detail。 This is nothing against the Kindle version, I just enjoyed the stories so much, I wanted to see better pictures。

Jack

This is a must-read for anyone who has a passion for watches。 This is one of the most interesting books on watches I've ever had,the stories are heartwarming, photography astonishing。 Though the history of individual timepieces is not looked at in depth, lovely nuggets of information about particular brands and watch owners can be found。 As a watch enthusiast this is a must buy, I purchased it from here; https://amzn。to/2yKMYBn This is a must-read for anyone who has a passion for watches。 This is one of the most interesting books on watches I've ever had,the stories are heartwarming, photography astonishing。 Though the history of individual timepieces is not looked at in depth, lovely nuggets of information about particular brands and watch owners can be found。 As a watch enthusiast this is a must buy, I purchased it from here; https://amzn。to/2yKMYBn 。。。more

Christian Sutardi

I love watches and personal stories。 This combines both。 I see myself again and again flipping through 4 or 5 interviews from time to time。

Omar

I am currently on a quest to find a watch that speaks to me, that vibes with my taste and personality。 But that can be quite challenging in a world where a solid watch could easily cost an arm and a kidney。 I was always open to options when it comes to watches; from affordable to exuberant。 But even those exuberant ones aren't always to my style; and even when they are, I'm just not comfortable enough to wear a watch the cost of a house on my wrist。 So this book opened my mind and heart to a who I am currently on a quest to find a watch that speaks to me, that vibes with my taste and personality。 But that can be quite challenging in a world where a solid watch could easily cost an arm and a kidney。 I was always open to options when it comes to watches; from affordable to exuberant。 But even those exuberant ones aren't always to my style; and even when they are, I'm just not comfortable enough to wear a watch the cost of a house on my wrist。 So this book opened my mind and heart to a whole different perspective。 The perspective of different passionate watch owners whom the watches mean so much more to them than just taste and personality。 A watch is one of a person's prime sidekicks in everyday life。 And this is apparent in this book's stories where each and every watch had an impact on its respective user。 Whether it has a memory embedded to it, an event, or even a life saving experience entwined in the watch's history。 。。。more

Mark S

Absolutely loved this book。 High recommendation for anyone who loves watches。

Elvin Montanez

Oh no! I’m hooked on horology。

Aran Chandran

Could have been more, feels more like a starting point It started of very interesting。 Individual stories of people and their watch。 Some poignant stuff。 But it gets less and less interesting and there isn’t enough photos to really gawk。 The individual pieces are varied。 Most of them interesting but I wished to read much more。 Overall i left wanting, more stories and photos。

JP Hellmich

Beautifully written and great pictures!

Patrick Book

A stunningly beautiful presentation and some really interesting stories。

Gabriel Ang

story telling of the various watches own by reputable people。 Its the memories and story behind the watches and not the luxurious price tag the watch is having

Rafn Sigurðsson

If you really like watches and stories people have with their watches this book is for you

Olafs Bērziņš

A good book about men and their watches, but one side note: the author called Stalin a "premier", that fact rubbed me the wrong way and gave a bad aftertaste。 Also almost all people in this book live in NYC。 A good addition in ones own personal library。 A good book about men and their watches, but one side note: the author called Stalin a "premier", that fact rubbed me the wrong way and gave a bad aftertaste。 Also almost all people in this book live in NYC。 A good addition in ones own personal library。 。。。more

Kurt Benze

This is such a beautiful book。Sure, some of the stories here are a bit too vain and inconsequential。 The Nas one is as banal and shallow as it can get —actually, all the contributions from celebrities are, well, very celebrity-like, as you'd expect (the one involving Bill Murray is awesome, though —but that one wasn't told by a celebrity)。 And I was pretty disappointed at Kikuo Ibe for putting on an impersonal, kinda salesman persona。 The creation of the G-Shock is one hell of a story, but sadly This is such a beautiful book。Sure, some of the stories here are a bit too vain and inconsequential。 The Nas one is as banal and shallow as it can get —actually, all the contributions from celebrities are, well, very celebrity-like, as you'd expect (the one involving Bill Murray is awesome, though —but that one wasn't told by a celebrity)。 And I was pretty disappointed at Kikuo Ibe for putting on an impersonal, kinda salesman persona。 The creation of the G-Shock is one hell of a story, but sadly Ibe told very little of it here。 But there are also some great, personal, heartwarming tales here too。 Not that there's anything super extraordinary about them, but I guess their ordinary nature is what makes them so relatable and impactful。 The best watch stories are about the bonds that are formed between people, and all the emotional significance and symbolism that is poured into these objects。 This is full of that kind of tales。So, this is not an elitist or snobbish book。 Of course there are plenty of Rolexes (a lot of them, really), Cartiers, Omegas and Patek Phillipes featured in it, but there are also Casios, Timexes and Swatches, and even an old Winnie-the-Pooh kids watch from a Sears catalog。 The idea is to celebrate the passion and joy that wearing and collecting watches (regardless of kind, brand or price) bring to people。 This book accomplishes its mission in that regard。The photography is stellar too。 This is definitely a must for anyone with even a passing interest in collecting watches。 It makes for a great gift as well。 。。。more

Ateeb

Must read for anyone even slightly intrigued by horology。 Loved the stories behind every watch!

Mike M

What an enjoyable trek through the worlds of both expensive watches and every day watches! The book provides narratives written by the owners of various watches (along with photographs) describing the sentimental value and love of the watch。 The variety of watches is impressive: there are mind-numbingly expensive watches such as a $40,000 Swiss watch and the more typical, but equally wonderful watches such as the Casio G Shock, the Timex indiglow, and the Timex Ironman。 In particular, the brief What an enjoyable trek through the worlds of both expensive watches and every day watches! The book provides narratives written by the owners of various watches (along with photographs) describing the sentimental value and love of the watch。 The variety of watches is impressive: there are mind-numbingly expensive watches such as a $40,000 Swiss watch and the more typical, but equally wonderful watches such as the Casio G Shock, the Timex indiglow, and the Timex Ironman。 In particular, the brief story of the creation of the G Shock and also the description of how Omega went to space with NASA were interesting。。。。 a fascinating read about the passion and appreciation of watches。 。。。more

Reading_ Tam_ Ishly

This book opened up a new world for me。Wow!I never thought that watches would hold much historical importance until and unless it is personal for someone else to talk about it in relation to his or her own life。The different unique, branded/crafted watches which were worn by each distinct personalities described in this precious book are so like a detailed story of their own - in short, the real glossy pictures put up in this book is so worth it!Each of the watch featured is not an ordinary one; This book opened up a new world for me。Wow!I never thought that watches would hold much historical importance until and unless it is personal for someone else to talk about it in relation to his or her own life。The different unique, branded/crafted watches which were worn by each distinct personalities described in this precious book are so like a detailed story of their own - in short, the real glossy pictures put up in this book is so worth it!Each of the watch featured is not an ordinary one; each has a remarkable story to tell。Stories that say much more by those who own them or wear them can ever tell and stories which can never be told by just mere onlookers who see them decorating the wrists of those who wear them。This one book happens to be one incredible read👍I thoroughly enjoyed turning page after page reading and fixing my eyes on the watches shown。。。wow。。。 I am still mesmerized。I can totally understand the watch craze。As I am with hoarding books, so does the watch hoarder does this kinda stuff。The presentation is awesome👍The pictures。。。 I can keep staring at them forever。Ah those personalized watch inscription at the back of the watches。。。。 Damn nostalgic moments!What I miss while reading this book was the littlest details of the personalities mentioned。 Otherwise 'watchwise' too I would have loved to go much into finer details of each watch mentioned。But still, it is a great book to read while travelling👍 。。。more