The book explores the details and technical wonders of 60 wristwatch models that have made history due to their innovations in form, materials, and production methods. Each decade covered in the book is associated with a style icon that highlights the most favored and well-known model of that time. Readers will immerse themselves in the world of watches, starting from the early years of the 20th century to the various technical innovations that revolutionized watchmaking, leading up to the most modern and already iconic models.

Time is a great mystery, a mutable element that expands or disappears, yet appears concrete as it is marked by the passage of seconds, minutes, hours, days, and years. The journey to capturing minutes and seconds coincided with phases of scientific evolution that enabled people to create increasingly reliable watches, in line with changes in customs, social needs, and aesthetic canons.

This book addresses the art of watchmaking as well as 60 magnificent models, describing both their technical evolution and style trends. Each chapter includes in-depth studies that guide the reader through the history of the major manufacturers, the personalities associated with the discussed models, technical innovations, styles of the era, and records achieved by wristwatches. From the watch that helped Charles Lindbergh during the first solo transatlantic flight to the one worn by Sir Edmund Hillary at the summit of Mount Everest, the most iconic models are covered in detail.