EDITOR'S REVIEW
Have you ever wondered how man managed to encapsulate the measurement of time in a device small enough to be worn on the wrist? If so, this impressive 450+-page behemoth, an A to Z of timekeeping from its origins to the present day, is your book. Charting the technical resources invented by man to measure time, from the ancient gnomons to the atomic clock along with the major breakthroughs in the science and art of horology, Dominique Fléchon puts timekeeping into historical and social context. Beyond the fascinating chronology of technological advancements in horology, Fléchon exposes the intimate relationship time has played in man’s everyday life, from the observation of the heavens and deciphering the cycles of nature to the peal of church bells organising medieval man’s daily labours. Fléchon also highlights the symbiotic nature of timepieces evolving in conjunction with other cutting-edge sciences, from man’s navigation of the oceans to his exploration of outer space. Organised in six chapters, Fléchon’s tome is accompanied by a detailed glossary of watchmaking terms and a foreword by the most erudite man in the watchmaking sphere, Franco Cologni.
