Iconic Watches of the Sea

Rizzoli New York, Collage created for SEA TIME: WATCHES by Lucas Irwin.

“The following pages reveal a wonderful collection of dive watches from watchmakers all over the world, suited for all types of tastes and styles… whether you’re diving on a wreck or driving down the street to the dive shop,” says legendary adventurer novelist Clide Cussler.

Sea Time: Watches Inspired by Sailing, Yachting and Diving, published by Rizzoli.

Rizzoli has just released a 240-page volume focusing on the most iconic seafaring watches that will engage and inform even the most seasoned and knowledgeable aficionado. Sea Time: Watches Inspired by Sailing, Yachting and Diving takes readers through a historic journey on the most famous watches used above or below the waves, and as of today is available at Books & Books Bal Harbour.

A still from the chapter “The First Waterproof Watch: The Story of Rolex, the Rolex Oyster & Hans Wilsdorf” (photo © Rolex)

Written by Aaron Sigmond and Mark Bernardo, with a foreword by New York Times’ Clive Cussler, the authors delve into more than 100 vintage and modern watches starting with “The Icons”—a dozen industry classics, including the Rolex Submariner, Panerai Luminor and Patek Philippe Nautilus. The opening chapter is devoted to the historical quest to make the world’s most waterproof watch, from Hans Wilsdorf’s invention of the Rolex Oyster case, to Guido Panerai’s first project for the Italian Navy, all the way up to today’s “Extreme” water-resistant watches.

“A Day at Sea” photo essay, ©Peter Eaton Gurnz. Aquatimer Chronograph Edition “Expedition Jacques-Yves Cousteau”

With Father’s Day soon approaching, this lavishly illustrated coffee-table book, is a perfectly timed gift, whether he’s an avid collector or just beginning his discovery of the watch world. Packed with 150 color and B&W photographs, including vintage advertisements and archival images from the history of horology, this hardbound tome serves as a beautifully illustrated ode to the timeless link between seafaring and time-keeping. Contact Books & Books Bal Harbour for your copy of this ultimate guide of the most iconic nautical-inspired timepieces.

Vintage advertisement, ©Breitling SA.

All images © 2019 Sea Time by Aaron Sigmond and Mark Bernardo, Rizzoli New York.