new version of the English translation of François Lecoultre’s reference book “A Guide To Complicated Watches”, first published in 1949, has been released by the Editions Simonin. This fourth edition of the masterpiece by Lecoultre, who worked as a professor at the Geneva School of Watchmaking, offers some important improvements.

Among these, all the plates containing drawings have been moved to the end of the book, in order to make this fourth edition easier to read and use. The figures are also clearly referred to in the text and the technical details and functions of the various mechanisms can be viewed on the numbered, fold-out plates. This same improvement already exists in the last French version and has been enthusiastically acclaimed.

The Editions Simonin entrusted the revision of the chapter on equation watches to Dr. Ilan Vardi, senior scientist at the EPFL.

Additionally, the Editions Simonin entrusted the revision of the chapter on equation watches to Dr. Ilan Vardi, senior scientist at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), STI IMT INSTANT-LAB. The original text by François Lecoultre now offers precise indications on the equation of time and explains all sources of confusion regarding this intricate subject.

As watchmakers all over the world agree that Lecoultre’s reference book still helps them solve the problems they meet on an everyday basis, this new edition is definitely a must for students. Watch lovers will also find it interesting and enjoy the new knowledge they acquire.

“A Guide To Complicated Watches” is the Editions Simonin’s landmark book since the creation of the publishing house in 1984. A fourth revised edition is now available in English, French and German.

THE CHAPTERS:

• Independent seconds-beating movements
• Jumping seconds watches
• Chronographs - Simplified chronographs - Split-seconds chronographs
• Minute recording mechanisms - Continuous-type minute registers - Semi-instantaneous minute registers - Instantaneous minute registers
• Double-button chronograph
• Hour recorder
• Repeating watches - Old repeating watches - Modern quarter repeaters
• Gearing and escapements
• Hammers and hammer trips
• Winding
• Release mechanism
• Snails
• Simplified repeaters - Half-quarter repeaters - Breguet half-quarter repeaters - Five-minute repeaters - Minute repeaters - The minute snail
• Clock watches
• Simple calendar mechanisms - Continuous-type perpetual calendars - Instantaneous perpetual calendars - Perpetual retrograde calendars
• Equation watches
• The Buttex recording chronograph
• The Glucydur balance
• The Bovet single fly-back hand chronograph

“A Guide To Complicated Watches” is the Editions Simonin’s landmark book since the creation of the publishing house in 1984. Approx. 160 pages, 47 fold-out illustrations, format: A5. It is available for CHF 75.- + shipping costs by clicking here.