Grégoire Rossier – författare

Navitimer. A mysterious name at first glance. It is in fact a contraction of two words, which correspond to the two major functions of a revolutionary watch: NAVIgation and TIMER. A chronograph designed for airborne navigation. But much more than that, an exceptional destiny, shaped by extraordinary and visionary actors. From the very beginning of its existence, in 1884, Breitling specialised in time measurement, namely the design of timers and chronographs. It was in the 1930s that the foundations of a close relationship with the world of aviation and aeronautics were laid, under the aegis of Willy Breitling. These ties have remained unbroken ever since. In 1952, in collaboration with the AOPA, the largest aeronautical association of the time, Breitling launched the development of the Navitimer, which offered what no other watch manufacturer had ever proposed: a chronograph combined with a slide rule for aircraft pilots. The Navitimer was available only to AOPA members in 1954, and then marketed to the general public in 1955. For 70 years now, the Navitimer has enjoyed glory, flown into space and weathered crises, integrating numerous evolutions without ever losing its original DNA. It has appealed to several generations of professionals, celebrities and lovers of exceptional watches, undoubtedly earning its status as an icon of watchmaking history.This second book in the Watch Stories series, dedicated to the history of emblematic timepieces, traces its heroic and unique destiny from its creation to the current models.

Cosmograph Daytona… a legendary name among watch aficionados, is one that conjures up montages of speed, engines and sound, but is also a symbol of prestige and admiration. The origin of the myth is linked to a city in Florida, Daytona Beach, famous for its motorcycle and automobile races on the beach. In 1959, the Daytona 500 race was born and three years later, Rolex became the official timekeeper of the Daytona International Speedway – hence, the start of the story of the legendary “Cosmograph Daytona”.The chronograph complication and the history of Rolex have always been inextricably linked. Rolex’s first foray into measuring time began in the 1930s with the manufacture's very first Oyster chronograph model. In 1963, Rolex launched the Cosmograph Daytona, a sports chronograph that has never stopped evolving in respect to the spirit of the brand, and which has always strived to improve existing technology by pushing the boundaries of what is technically possible.The history and diversity of this chronograph is such that two (independent) volumes have been devoted to it. This second volume is dedicated to self-winding Daytonas, manufactured after 1988. It is a celebration of its illustrious history, which has been forged by many people, but if we had to choose one person in particular, it would be Paul Newman.

The highly evocative Flightmaster name was first mentioned by OMEGA in 1956-57, but it was not until the late 1960s that it was used to designate an incomparable watch, initially intended for aircraft pilots. At the time, it was regarded as the watch industry equivalent of the Swiss army knife, meaning the ultimate professional instrument. The aesthetically and technically remarkable OMEGA Flightmaster symbolises a period rich in technological and design breakthroughs. Produced over a short period and relatively little known until now, it nonetheless enjoyed exceptional development and an outstanding destiny, notably on the wrist of Soviet cosmonauts in the 1970s. Revealing the entirely unknown and remarkably rich story for the first time, and based on their own methodology, the authors of the successful Moonwatch Only book dedicated to the OMEGA Speedmaster, provide a comprehensive account of the many variations and evolutions of the different Flightmaster models. The result is an essential reference work for all passionate brand enthusiasts and collectors.

"Moonwatch Only is certainly one of the best books ever written about a single watch model." - William Massena - Timezone.com"It is an indescribable reference work and a true must-have for every Speedmaster collector." - Forbes"This book sets a new standard. Not only for books on the Omega Speedmaster, but for watch books in general. I've never seen anything like it, and believe me when I tell you that I could fill an impressive sized wall with books on watches. Authors of other books or publishers should take a look at Moonwatch Only as well to see how it should be done." - Robert Jan Broer - FratelloWatches"The OMEGA Speedmaster Professional - the Moonwatch - has done things that no other timepiece has done and it's been worn in places that only a few human beings have been." - Captain Eugene Cernan, 'Last man on the moon'There are very few timepieces in the world that deserve a definitive and comprehensive book such as this one. The OMEGA Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch is one of them. Initially designed for automobile racing teams and engineers, the Omega Speedmaster embarked on a very different trajectory when NASA chose it to accompany astronauts heading for the Moon in 1965. Its involvement in the space adventure has propelled the Moonwatch to the top of the list of celebrated timepieces. After years of research and observation, the authors present a complete panorama of the Moonwatch in a systematic work that is both technical and attractive, making it the inescapable reference book for this legendary watch.This third edition has been enriched with numerous new features including a 16-page gallery of astronauts and their Speedmaster, QR codes to extend your exploration and a detailed story of a vintage Speedmaster.

Cosmograph Daytona… a legendary name among watch aficionados, is one that conjures up montages of speed, engines and sound, but is also a symbol of prestige and admiration. The origin of the myth is linked to a city in Florida, Daytona Beach, famous for its motorcycle and automobile races on the beach. In 1959, the Daytona 500 race was born and three years later, Rolex became the official timekeeper of the Daytona International Speedway – hence, the start of the story of the legendary “Cosmograph Daytona”.The chronograph complication and the history of Rolex have always been inextricably linked. Rolex’s first foray into measuring time began in the 1930s with the manufacture's very first Oyster chronograph model. In 1963, Rolex launched the Cosmograph Daytona, a sports chronograph that has never stopped evolving in respect to the spirit of the brand, and which has always strived to improve existing technology by pushing the boundaries of what is technically possible.The history and diversity of this chronograph is such that two (independent) volumes have been devoted to it. This first volume is dedicated to hand-wound Daytonas, manufactured between 1963 and 1988. It is a celebration of its illustrious history, which has been forged by many people, but if we had to choose one person in particular, it would be Paul Newman.

World-renowned for being prominently featured in all James Bond films since 1995, the Omega Seamaster nonetheless made its debut back in 1948, thanks to the wartime expertise the brand had acquired in developing water-resistant watches. Almost a decade later in 1957, Omega introduced its famous Speedmaster – Railmaster – Seamaster 300 trilogy marking a major milestone in the field of ‘professional’ watches.Worn by both civilian and military divers, the Seamaster 300 laid the foundations for a range that has been constantly evolving ever since. In the early 1970s, the Seamaster 600 (the famous Ploprof) and Seamaster 1000 models pushed the limits of diving watches, while the 1990s marked the start of the collection’s veritable ascent to fame with the Diver 300M (1993), Aqua Terra 150M (2002), Planet Ocean 600M (2005) and finally the incredible 6000-metre water-resistant Ultra Deep. The Seamaster has also captivated a wider audience thanks to watches produced for the Olympic Games.This historical and technical new volume in the Only Watches collection focuses on diving models and particularly on the Seamaster 300. With regards to the latter, the authors have adopted their characteristic in-depth analytical methodology now deployed for over a decade. This approach will enable novice enthusiasts and seasoned collectors alike to delve into the intricacies of these iconic models, from their creation through to the present day.