Franco Cologni

Celebrating the centennial anniversary of the iconic Tank watch, which revolutionized the art of watchmaking. The Tank watch is one of Cartier's greatest masterpieces; this volume celebrates its 100-year legacy.

This volume commemorates Vacheron Constantin's uninterrupted 260-year history devoted to watchmaking excellence. Geneva-based Vacheron Constantin has maintained its reputation for producing exceptional timepieces, from its first watch circa 1760 to its extraordinary mechanical watches of today. Highly collectible, these prestigious timepieces are conceived as much to seduce by their elegance as to provide precision timekeeping. With specially commissioned photographs, the book traces the rich history of the manufacture and includes an informative catalog of timepieces and a guide to the watchmaker's art. An unwavering commitment to excellence is the firm's hallmark; the heritage of 260 years of unique artistic and technical expertise.

An homage to the many skilled hands behind the fabrication of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry A trip to the discovery of jewelry manufacturing. Founded in Paris in 1896, Van Cleef & Arpels is perhaps the most renowned maison of fine jewelry in the world. The book reveals for the first time the secrets of the Mains d'Or that make every piece by Van Cleef & Arpels a unique jewel. The human hand takes pride in its work, and with this book, Van Cleef & Arpels wish to pay homage to all those skilled and knowledgeable hands whose humility and selflessness make it possible for jewelry to exist. It is a life force, transmitted by jewelers, setters, polishers, and all those who are daily confronted by age-old and precious materials: shaping, transforming, and exalting them without ever betraying the reverence that a masterpiece should inspire.

The Minerva watch manufacture, established in 1858 in Villeret, Switzerland, produces fine handmade watches in a time-honored fashion. The expertise, precision, and grand tradition of watchmaking has been passed down for generations. An important and forward-looking brand, it encourages new and modern tools and production, while still maintaining the spirit of a small company. In 2007, Minerva joined forces with renowned fountain pen producer Montblanc, and created the Minerva Institute for Research in Fine Watchmaking to safeguard the company’s savoir-faire and craftsmanship. The carefully-chosen master watchmakers in the Minerva workshops continue to make watches by hand, respecting the traditional principles of the industry. Reviving the most sophisticated tradition of Swiss watchmaking, legendary models have made their appearance, from the two single button chronographs of the Villeret 1858 Collection, to the Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec that pays homage to the inventor of the “instrument of writing time” and is the first Montblanc movement entirely conceived in the workshops of the manufacture. In 2008, Minerva celebrated its 150th anniversary, marking one and a half centuries of watch making history, and a rich heritage of tradition and techniques that is preserved by Minerva and Montblanc in the Minerva Institute.

Cartier watches have been veritable cult objects for over a century, worn by kings, queens, aristocrats, and celebrities in sports, the arts, and show business. Over 450 pieces are presented here, representing over 150 years of the finest horology. Placed in both technical and artistic contexts, each object is accompanied by its individual history and detailed technical specifications.