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The Watch, Thoroughly Revised, the Art and Craft of Watchmaking — gift idea

Abrams Books

The Watch, Thoroughly Revised, the Art and Craft of Watchmaking

A full-color guide to vintage and contemporary mechanical watches from Abrams.

82/ 100
CTG scoreSafe betHow we score
Budget $50 to $100 Indicative range, today's price on the store
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Where it ranks in our guides

A medal marks a podium; the score on the right is the product’s score for that recipient.

Scores by criterion

Proven reliability 84
Satisfaction and consistency of user feedback over time.
Perceived value 86
How valuable it feels compared with the budget.
Bond and memory 83
What the gift says about the relationship, and what remains months later.
Originality 77
The opposite of the cliché expected for this recipient.
Novelty 74
Age of the product since it went on sale: top score for the first three months, then it declines over time.

Our verdict

82 / 100

It spans many brands instead of one, so it fits someone whose favorite maker you cannot name. It also explains how a watch is made, which turns a hobby into something the reader understands.

Best forA man starting to get into mechanical watches who wants a broad, well-illustrated overview.
Best occasionChristmas, birthday, Father's Day
Avoid ifThe recipient only cares about one brand and would prefer a dedicated monograph.
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Frequently asked questions

Which brands are discussed?

Rolex, Patek Philippe, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Omega, TAG Heuer and Breitling, among others.

Is it for beginners?

The description says it suits both beginner and expert watch collectors.

Is it illustrated?

Yes, it is described as a full-color guide.

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How we score

The CTG score out of 100 is the weighted average of five criteria rated for every product: proven reliability (36%), perceived value (18%), bond and memory (18%), originality (14%) and novelty (14%). Each criterion has its own published scale, identical for every product: it rates generously, because every product in our selection is already good. The score does not depend on the guide. 60 to 69: average gift. 70 to 77: good pick. 78 to 85: safe bet. 86 to 89: favorite. 90 and above: the perfect gift, a label reserved for excellent products that customers like, one winner per occasion. In a guide, the score for the recipient combines this score with the place in the ranking. The budget is an indicative range: the exact price is shown by the store at checkout. Read our full selection method →

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