Collector's Encyclopedia of Pendant and Pocket Watches 1500-1950: Identification and Values (Collector's Encyclopedia)

Rating:
Summary: Pocket Watch Collecters
Review: C Jeanenne Bell did a tremendous job of presenting these beautiful machines for the novice to professional to admire and study. The format, plates and overall style are exceptional. I highly recommend this book especially to persons that are learning the craft. Components of mechanisms are shown, described and explained clearly. I especially appreciate the listing of watch values, even though they should be considered at least a year old, so that they can be charted throughout time. This book is a bargain.

Rating:
Summary: entertaining, yes, accurate, ?
Review: Until "Collector's Encyclopedia", Shugarts "Price Guide" was virtually the only book avaliable for determining values. I like having a choice.

In this case however, do you chose between a rock or a hard place? As an encyclopedia, the book is entertaining and informative, though somewhat disjointed. After reading it, I had the feeling that "Collectors" was thrown together to take advantage of the growing watch collectors market. For values, there's no attempt to organize by any method that I can determine. In both tomes, value is based more on the "dart board calculation method" than actual prices paid. I have seen many of the watches illustrated in "Collectors" for sale at various online sites. Most are still there due to overpricing and their condition being misrepresented. Condition is very subjective, even with the various published guidelines avaliable for reference. One of my collegues said it best; before buying, "Stare and Compare."

In short, if you're looking for a coffee table book with good pictures and general information about watches, "Collectors" is the ticket. For watch values, stick with Shugarts "Price Guide".