As the public gained a window into the lives and possessions of the upper class, it drove the desire for luxury possessions.

I was pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of the Accutron, quartz, swatch, and digital watches, which felt like a fitting and complete way to finish the story.Some mention is made of the fact that modern springs are stiffer than in the past, but otherwise little mention is made of the improved alloys and new materials available today. At times it felt like the book drifted a bit into social commentary, but for the most part it seemed to stay on message, so to speak.

In a world whose digital workings are invisible to us, the joy and genius of craftsmanship, artistry and skill with materials is all the more welcome. I enjoyed the book quite a bit, expecting almost a how to about watches and their history, but learning a whole lot more.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.