Hands of Time by Rebecca Struthers, £22
There are a handful of books that every collector should have in their library, but none have had a more recent impact than Hands of Time by watchmaker Rebecca Struthers. One half of the husband-and-wife duo behind the Struthers label, Rebecca’s literary labour of love is a tour de force discussing the history of timekeeping, our relationship with time and how watches and clocks have shaped our world.
Don’t worry though, it’s not some dense, impenetrable tome. At a spritely 288 pages, it’s paced to move and yet still manages time to offer up some quirky stories, and things that even we here at Oracle Time didn’t know. In the words of inimitable British legend Stephen Fry, ‘An exquisite book, beautifully put together… What a very wonderful book.’
Available at Waterstones.
Inkdial Omega Speedmaster Professional x Astronaut Snoopy and Woodstock – Set of 3 Art Prints, £200
If you caught our last design issue you’d have noticed some phenomenal sketches of some iconic elements of iconic watches. Well, they were hand-drawn by Ben Li, better known as Inkdial. The prolific artist is a go-to for all things horological, creating incredibly detailed sketches of everything from Omega to Patek to A. Lange & Sohne. What we have here is an awesome set of three different pieces all themed around the Speedy Silver Snoopy which makes for a fun, eye-catching triptych.
As the artist himself puts it: “The Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy trio features Snoopy and Woodstock daydreaming on top of the dog house in the first piece and gradually achieving their dream of reaching the stars in the final piece. This illustration trio set ‘on and off’ has taken me a total of three years to complete and I am ‘over the moon’ to finally showcase them together.”
Available at Inkdial.
Berd Vay’e Horosphere, from $3,900
Ever wondered where all the leftover parts from old movements go? Well, here’s your answer. Berd Vay’e’s awe- inspiring sculptures are like nothing else out there, spheres, cubes and veritable walls of glass suspending hundreds of vintage watch parts in an explosion of horological art.
They’re absolutely mesmerising and a phenomenal showcase of the delicacy of fine watches. Of the collection though, the Horosphere is a stand-out. Available in a number of sizes from desk ornament to interior design statement, the 360-degree view of the parts is like nothing else out there, a crystal ball of glorious watch geekiness. What’s not to love?
Available at Berd Vay’e.
Wolf The Rocket Watch Winder, £599
Keeping your watch wound – particularly if it’s a complication like a calendar – can be a massive pain, particularly if you just want to slap it on your wrist and be able to tell the time. A winder not only solves that little issue, but can help keep your watch healthy by not letting it stagnate.
Think of it in the same vein as a classic car that needs to be driven to stay, well, driveable. The Rocket is Wolf’s signature winding system distilled into a handy travel size – the world’s smallest travel winder, in fact. It’s an easy addition to your suitcase wherever you’re heading and, even if you don’t have itchy feet, makes for a nice, svelte winder to keep on your bedside table at home. The fact that it’s a cool, sleek piece of watch tech is the icing on the cake.
Available at Wolf.
Lorenzi Milano Watch Repair Kit, €665 (approx. £575)
Should you decide that yes, you can service your own watch without destroying it, the next step is to get yourself a tool kit. There are plenty out there, with increasingly intense sets of tools, electronic gizmos, and professional standard sensors, but all you really need is this streamlined set, containing a magnifying lens, watch knife, tweezers, screwdrivers and a brush.
This also happens to be one of the best- looking sets out there. No DIY-style hard case, just a sleek box of soft Nappa leather and plenty of Italian flair. It’s both stylish and practical, something that’s harder to achieve than repairing a tourbillon.
Available at Lorenzi Milano.
Watch Supply Watchmaking Experience, from £329
If you want to stop watching from the sidelines and get hands-on with a movement or two yourself, you should probably get a bit of guidance while you do it. Nobody wants a permanently half- assembled movement on their hands. Watch Supply’s masterclass scratches that watchmaking itch nicely, offering two different courses (one for standard watches, another for GMTs) that both allow you to build a custom watch from the company’s extensive range of built-it-yourself kits.
It’s not as intensive as a true watchmaking masterclass of course, but if you want to dip your toe into the murky waters of horology, then this is a fantastic start. And getting your own watch out of it – a watch that you’ve built yourself – makes for a great reminder of a great day. Just make sure you book in plenty of time as dates sell out fast.
Available at Watch Supply.
L’Epee 1839 Time Fast II Chrome, CHF 43,500 (approx. £39,300)
Plenty of ink has been spilled diving into the parallels between cars and watches – perhaps too much, given that the relationship can be very succinctly summed up in this single, singular table clock. A celebration of the iconic racing lines of the 1960s, back when gentleman racers were still de rigueur, the aluminium H-chassis is built around an intricate clockwork mechanism – a GPHG Winning mechanism at that in the Mechanical Clock category – where the steering wheel sets the time, the gear stick sets the winding mode (wound using the rear wheels), and the driver’s helmet is set on top of the escapement.
It’s inspired. Not only does it look cool, it’s a serious piece of mechanical engineering, with a full eight-day power reserve, meaning you only need to remember to wind it once a week. Though honestly, you’ll want to play with it a bit too often, so a reminder won’t be needed.
Available at L’Epee.
Oracle Time Magazine Annual Subscription, £89.50
Well, we had to slot this one in, didn’t we? If you want to keep up with all the latest goings on in the watch industry, paired with deep dives into meaty horological subjects, then look no further than these very pages. We are the UK’s authoritative publication on all things watches, offering 10 issues per year, each with a different theme.
Expert writers, beautiful photography, we have the lot. Now, as you’re reading this, you probably already have a subscription. That’s great and we thank you for your support. But why not spread the love and make sure that your watch- loving friends are as well- informed as yourself? After all, it can only help them appreciate your watches all the more.
More details on our subscription page.
Oracle Time