Paru le 21/10/2011 | Relié sous jaquette 455 pages
Tout public
foreword by Franco Cologni | published by Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie
Writing a history of time means viewing human genius through the prism of the steady mastery of a crucial technology. The patient, long-term conquest of accuracy has been the result of successive advances from sundial to wristwatch up to the recent exploits of the heirs to this age-old quest, namely master horologists of the twenty-first century.
The Mastery of Time relates the story of the measurement of time, from the dawn of mankind to the present day. Timekeeping devices have had a major impact on the organization of life in society and on agricultural and industrial production and trade. In turn, they have reflected the advances and needs of their time while nurturing great discoveries.
Dominique Fléchon juggles historical, scientific, and human approaches to look at watchmaking as both a science and an art, dedicating this book to the genius of man, who never ceases to create instruments of ever increasing complexity and beauty in his untiring quest for precision. He retraces the story from the first attempts to divide time based on the observation of celestial bodies to the most advanced measuring devices (mechanical, electronic and atomic clocks). In so doing, he establishes the link between this story and that of mankind's progressive mastery of a world upon which the Sun of Reason will never set again.
This profusely illustrated panorama is accompanied by teaching tools that will make this book a working reference for specialists as well as a source of discovery for novices.
Dominique Fléchon, historian and fine watchmaking expert, is the author of numerous specialized studies including: The Tank Watch (1998), in collaboration with Franco Cologni, L'Orologiaio, Mestiere d'Arte (1999), Baume & Mercier (2002), and Secrets of Vacheron Constantin (2005).
Franco Cologni is an author specialized in the cultural, jewelry, and luxury worlds. Journalist, publisher, and editor-in-chief of various international magazines, he has also written several books dedicated to watchmaking, including: Made by Cartier (1992), Piaget Watches and Wonders (1994), The Tank Watch (1998), Secrets of Vacheron Constantin (2005) and Jaeger-LeCoultre: The Story of the Grand Maison (2006). He is Editorial Director of the online publication HH Magazine (journal.hautchorlogerie.org) and current chairman of the Cultural Committee of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie.
